EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY FOCUS
are often customized to match a company ’ s fleet or brand color . Kawasaki makes Mules in two- , three- , four- , or sixpassenger configurations , including diesel-powered models .
Can-Am tends to set its design sights on trail-riding performance , but the company ’ s Defender UTVs have a work-ready side . The Defender 6x6 UTV is a six-wheel drive machine that can tackle nearly any terrain and carry a large load too .
Honda has a reputation for making vehicles high on creature comfort and intuitive user experience . Its Pioneer UTVs , for example , feature a dual-clutch transmission that offers both automatic operation and push-button manual shifting . With no belt , this transmission gives the UTV engine-compression braking that a more common beltdrive UTV can ’ t match .
VALUE OPTIONS While many UTVs sell for $ 25,000 or more , there are options for half that , and a few with MSRPs under $ 10,000 . CFMoto , a manufacturer based in China with a growing list of vehicles for sale in the U . S ., offers its U-Force utility vehicle for around $ 10,500 . And the familiar Cub Cadet brand , whose UTVs are made in China by HiSun Motors , sells its Challenger 500 UTV for just under $ 12K .
equips some of its machines with a hydrostatic transmission more commonly found in tractors . That will appeal to some buyers accustomed to the singular performance of hydro transmissions . You can also buy a Kubota with a belt-operated CVT .
The Kawasaki Mule has aged well and grown into a highly versatile fleet of vehicles . From sports field management to parking lot security to ranch maintenance , Mules are among the most popular vehicles that few people ever see — because these machines are always at work and
ACCESSORIES AND UPGRADES What makes UTVs so useful for owners , and so profitable for retailers , is the ever-expanding accessory market . Like in the growing attachment market for the small-tractor category , UTV add-ons and accessories help owners personalize vehicles and maximize their use for work or play .
While recreational UTV owners love aftermarket tires and wheels , utility users can find aftermarket cabs , plows , winches , storage options , lighting upgrades and more . Back to our survey data , we found that 47 percent of ATV and UTV shoppers are interested in customizing their vehicles . The top accessories of interest are tires ( 40 percent of buyers ), lights ( 32 percent ), and engine upgrades ( 18 percent ). While that last category might seem focused on sport or trail riding performance , engine upgrades go beyond just horsepower . Users with big loads to carry might alter engine-power curves to deliver more torque . SFM
Glenn Hansen is editor of OPE Business magazine , and contributing editor of PowerSports Business magazine , sister publications to SportsField Management . sportsfieldmanagementonline . com June 2023 | SportsField Management
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