Kawasaki has been in the UTV market for quite some time, though it may not seem like it for those focused on the sport or recreational models. So much of the focus in today’s marketplace in on recreational and sport UTVs, that many probably forget that Kawasaki introduced one of the earliest side-by-sides with the Mule 1000 in 1988.
Since then, the Mule line has expanded and gained new features, added comfort, and more capability. You’ll find Kawasaki Mules across the country on farms and ranches, outdoor recreational facilities, or anywhere else that you need a reliable utility vehicle to get the job done.
The success of the Mule, and later the Yamaha Rhino, lead to Kawasaki venturing into the recreational market. In 2008 they released the very first Teryx 750 and by 2012 they had undergone a redesign and added a 4-seat model to remain competitive in a growing market.
Today, the Teryx and Teryx4 are extremely popular UTVs, but Kawasaki hasn’t had a pure-sport model to complete its lineup until October of this year. The Teryx KRX 1000 was a much needed addition to Kawasaki’s sport UTV lineup and will likely be immensely popular.
Still, there are many who will continue to flock to the bulletproof reliability of the Teryx and Teryx4. Either way, it’s obvious that Kawasaki will continue to expand and improve its side-by-side lineup. Continue reading below for an in-depth look at Kawasaki’s current sport UTV lineup.
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Teryx
The Teryx 2-seat UTV is known to be a reliable and fun vehicle. It has a 783cc V-twin engine and a dual range automatic CVT style transmission. It has selectable 2wd, 4wd and front differential lock and comes standard with electronic power steering. EPS is actually standard across the entire Teryx lineup.
Independent dual A-arm suspension provides 8 inches of front wheel travel and 8.3 inches of rear wheel travel. While those aren’t huge numbers by today’s standards, the suspension works surprisingly well, due in large part to the Fox Podium piggyback reservoir shocks. The adjustability of the Fox shocks allows the rider to dial in the suspension to suit their driving style and the terrain they’re riding on.
The 60 inch width is great for trail riding and the 85.8 inch wheelbase keeps the vehicle maneuverable, but leaves space for gear behind the bucket seats. It has 26 inch Maxxis Bighorn tires mounted on 12 inch steel wheels and ground clearance is a respectable 11.2 inches. It has hydraulic disc brakes up front and a sealed, oil-bathed multi-disc brake system in the rear.
The Teryx is also capable of work, featuring a tilting cargo bed with a 600 lb capacity and 1,300 lb tow rating. Vehicle information is provided by a multifunction digital display that includes a speedometer, odometer, trip meter, hour meter, engine temp indicator, and more. Half doors are standard and it has two halogen headlights for night riding. This base model Teryx is available in Super Black and has a relatively low MSRP of $12,999.
Teryx Camo
The Teryx also comes in a Camo edition for the hunters out there. It has the same 783cc V-twin engine and CVT transmission. Width and wheelbase are the same at 60 and 85.8 inches respectively. You also get the same great Fox Podium shocks at all four corners. Wheel travel numbers are 8 inches in the front and 8.3 inches out back. It also has the same black steel wheels and 26 inch Maxxis Bighorn tires.
The most obvious difference between the standard Teryx and the Teryx Camo edition is the Realtree Xtra Green Camo body panels, which look great! It also gets 4 LED headlights, instead of the 2 halogen headlights on the standard Teryx. The Teryx Camo also comes standard with a roof. Otherwise, you’re getting the same great machine as the standard Teryx. MSRP for the Teryx Camo comes in at $14,299.
Teryx LE
The Teryx LE is the top of the line 2-seat Teryx model. It has the same strong V-twin engine and dual range CVT transmission as the standard Teryx. You also get Fox Podium shocks with 8 inches of front wheel travel and 8.3 inches of rear wheel travel, through a dual A-arm suspension setup. It’s 60 inches wide with an 85.8 inch wheelbase. Ground clearance remains unchanged at 11.2 inches.
You still get the versatility of the tilting bed as well as ample sealed storage space. The digital information center provides all the info a driver needs and you can switch between 2wd, 4wd, and differential lock with a quick turn of the dash mounted selector. You also get those convenient half doors that are standard across the Teryx line. The LE sets itself apart with LED headlights, a roof, 14 inch aluminum wheels and larger 27 inch Maxxis Bighorn tires. It also has a fantastic looking Candy Lime Green paint job and a very reasonable MSRP of $14,999.
Teryx4
If you’re looking for a capable, versatile, and reliable 4-seat UTV that won’t break the bank, your search may very well end with the Teryx4. It has a solid 783cc V-twin engine, dual range CVT transmission, and selectable 2wd, 4wd, and differential lock. It has adjustable Fox Podium 2.0 shocks and a dual A-arm suspension setup, front and rear. Wheel travel is 8 inches in the front and 8.3 inches out back. 26 inch Maxxis Bighorn tires on 12 inch steel wheels come standard and ground clearance clocks in at 11.2 inches.
It has disc brakes up front and a sealed, oil-bathed multi-disc brake setup in the rear. The Teryx4 has bucket seats, front and rear, and still maintains a small cargo bed. The bed capacity is only 249 lbs, but the really great thing about the Teryx4 is that it maintains virtually the same wheelbase as the 2-seat version.
This makes it a great choice for tight trails, where other 4-seat UTVs would struggle due to their length. It has a multifunction digital display that has a speedometer, odometer, hour meter, trip meter, fuel gauge, and much more. The Teryx4 comes in Super Black and has an MSRP of $15,799.
Teryx4 Camo
Like the Teryx Camo, the Teryx4 Camo is the do-it-all vehicle of choice for hunters. The Realtree Xtra Green Camo looks great and you also get the added benefit of 4 LED headlights and a standard roof. The V-twin engine, CVT transmission, selectable 2wd, 4wd, and differential lock are all standard.
Width, wheelbase, and ground clearance also remain unchanged from the standard Teryx4. Additionally, the Fox Podium 2.0 shock are also standard on the Camo version and provide 8 inches of travel in the front and 8.3 inches of travel in the rear.
The black steel wheels and 26 inch Maxxis Bighorn tires remain the same, though they compliment the Camo version very well. Half doors, bucket seats, and multifunction digital display are just a few of the features that come as standard equipment on this UTV. MSRP for the Teryx4 Camo is $16,299.
Teryx4 LE
The Teryx4 LE gives you all of the features of the standard Teryx4, but with some pretty cool additions. You’ll get the awesome 783cc V-twin engine mated to a CVT transmission. You have selectable 2wd, 4wd, and differential lock, so that you’re ready for any terrain. Fox Podium 2.0 shocks are standard and wheel travel remains unchanged from the standard Teryx4 at 8 and 8.3 inches, front and rear respectively.
You get hydraulic disc brakes up front and a sealed, oil-bathed multi-disc brake setup in the rear. Half doors are standard on the Teryx4 models, but with the LE version, you also get a standard roof, LED headlights, and unique stitching and colors on the bucket seats.
In addition, the Maxxis Bighorn tires are one size larger at 27 inches and they are mounted on 14 inch styled aluminum wheels. Ground clearance is still a solid 11.2 inches and width and wheelbase are 60 inches and 85.6 inches respectively. The Teryx4 LE has 3 unique color options. It’s available in Atomic Silver, Candy Lime Green, and Fragment Camo, which might be one of the best looking color schemes in the UTV market. MSRP for this model starts at $16,999.
Teryx KRX 1000
New for 2020, the Teryx KRX 1000 is Kawasaki’s first entry into the ultra competitive pure-sport UTV market. The standard Teryx is a fun and sporty machine, but this is a different level. The KRX 1000 is designed to compete head to head with the Honda Talon, Yamaha YXZ, Polaris RZR XP 1000, and Arctic Cat Wildcat XX. This machine gladly sacrifices utility features for the ability to rip through trails and race through the desert. It has a 98.9 inch wheelbase and 68.1 inch width to help both straight line and cornering stability.
Kawasaki uses a DOHC 999cc parallel twin engine coupled to an automatic CVT transmission. The transmission has high and low range, but the KRX also has two distinct power modes that change the throttle mapping. Full power is for fast trail riding or out in the dunes, while low power gives you better throttle control for those tight, technical sections.
Kawasaki doesn’t advertise horsepower numbers, but it will most likely be competitive with other naturally aspirated sport UTVs in this segment. It has selectable 2wd, 4wd, and differential lock, though with high clearance A-arms and 14.4 inches of ground clearance, you may not need it as much as you would think.
Suspension is provided by dual A-arms up front and a 4-link trailing arm setup in the rear. Fox Podium 2.5 fully adjustable shocks are standard equipment on this model and provide 19 inches of front wheel travel and 21 inches of rear wheel travel. Helping absorb some of the punishment from rough terrain is a set of 31 inch Maxxis Carnivore tires mounted on 15 inch aluminum bead lock wheels. Additionally, it has disc brakes at all four corners to help slow the vehicle down.
In the cabin, you will find two-way adjustable bucket seats, tilt steering, half doors, and a multifunction LCD display with 23 unique readouts, including a belt temperature gauge. It has LED headlights and taillights and a small bed in the rear for up to 350 lbs of gear.
This model comes in two color options. You can get it in a Lime Green/Metallic Onyx Black combo or a Metallic Moondust/Metallic Onyx Black combo. MSRP for this vehicle is $20,499. This UTV looks great, has a tremendous amount of capability, and Kawasaki pointedly designed the vehicle to be durable, knowing that’s such a highly regarded quality in the Teryx lineup. This should be an extremely popular UTV for Kawasaki and an impressive first entry into the pure-sport side-by-side marketplace.
Team Green!
Kawasaki has steadily improved their lineup of sport UTVs, just as they have with their Mule utility side-by-side. the Teryx lineup is built around a reputation for quality and durability. They aren’t the fastest or flashiest vehicle, but they have a bulletproof engine, good handling characteristics, and added versatility that you won’t find on all UTVs.
It’s a very reliable machine, so no need to worry about walking back to camp. With that being said, there was an obvious hole in this lineup and the anticipation for a pure-sport Teryx has been sky-high.
Now, Kawasaki has the KRX 1000 to fill in that gap and offer a compelling alternative in the naturally aspirated pure-sport UTV market. This will be a great choice for those who want to ride wide open down the trails or in the dunes.
For those that also do a bit of work with their UTV, you still have the venerable Teryx and Teryx4 to get the job done and still have fun on the trails. There’s also the very real possibility that Kawasaki continues to expand their lineup, like Honda has done recently with their Talon UTVs. Either way, Team Green has a lot to be excited about!
