2018 Textron Alterra 700 XT EPS vs. Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS: By the Numbers

Derrek Sigler
by Derrek Sigler
The 2018 Textron Alterra 700 XT EPS and Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS are a pair of 700-class Utility ATVs that we decided to compare…by the numbers.


Utility ATVs are the biggest selling segment of the market and the big-bore units get the most advancements in technology. This segment has grown radically over the years, too. Remember it was not that long ago that a 500-class machine was considered huge, displacement wise? From there, displacements went up to the point that now, there are a couple of 1,000-class monsters along with a few 850-class powerhouses and more. However, there are a few machines out there that prove that a 700-class ATV can get the job done extremely well, and for less than $10,000. Let’s see how two of them, the Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS and Textron Alterra 700 XT EPS, compare on paper.

2018 Textron Alterra 700 XT EPS2018 Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS
Price$9,099$8,499
Engine695cc liquid-cooled single708cc liquid-cooled DOHC 4-stroke; 4 valves
Horsepower4148
Driveline/DifferentialElectric 2/4WD with 4WD LockOn-Command 3-way locking differential; 2WD, 4WD, locked 4WD; shaft
TransmissionDuramatic H,L,N,R,PUltramatic V-belt with all-wheel engine braking; H, L, N, R, P
Wheelbase52 in49.2 in
Length x Width x Height83.4 x 48.5 x 49.5 in81.5 x 46.5 x 48.8 in
Weight790 lbs (curb weight)677 lbs (dry weight)
Ground Clearance11 in10.8
Fuel Capacity5.7 gal4.76 gal
Front Tires25 x 8-12AT25 x 8-12 Maxxis MU19
Rear Tires25 x 10-12AT25 x 8-12 Maxxis MU19
Front SuspensionDual A-Arm with 10-inch (25 cm) TravelIndependent double wishbone; 7.1-in travel
Rear SuspensionDual A-Arm with 10-inch (25 cm) TravelIndependent double wishbone; 9.1-in travel
BrakesSingle Lever 3-Wheel Hydraulic Disc with Hydraulic Rear Foot BrakeDual hydraulic disc (front), Multi-disk wet brake (rear)
Rack Capacity100 lbs front / 200 lbs rear110 lbs front / 198 lbs rear
Towing Capacity1,050 lbs1,322 lbs

Engines and Stuff

Yamaha made headlines when it reintroduced the Kodiak 700 a short time ago. This machine was fully redesigned, sharing many things with the flagship Yamaha Grizzly ATV. It has an awesome 708cc single-cylinder, DOHC, four-valve, four-stroke engine, which is also used in the Grizzly and the Wolverine Side-by-Side. It is a serious thumper with stump-pulling torque. Yamaha tunes it slightly different for the Kodiak, making it a little more utility-friendly. Don’t worry, though. All of that torque and power is still there, just tuned slightly different. Everything runs through Yamaha’s Ultramatic transmission, arguably the best CVT transmission system on the market.

2018 Textron Alterra 700 XT

The Textron Alterra 700 XT EPS started life under the Arctic Cat banner. It was brought back under the Textron Off Road flag and still boasts the same elements that made it a favorite among owners. At the core is the strong-running 695cc single-overhead cam, liquid-cooled H1 single-cylinder four-stroke engine. This engine is built in Minnesota along with the rest of the machine. The engine is fed through a closed-loop EFI system and it runs through Textron’s Duramatic CVT transmission, which has proven to be quite reliable. One dealer friend of ours that sells Textron machines along with two other major brands has said for a long time that while the Alterra 700 may not be the fastest machine in the class, compared to the other brands he sells, it is the one you want if you want a machine to grunt all-day long while working. He uses one to plow the parking lot at his dealership every winter.

Capability

The Yamaha Kodiak was designed to make it an easier machine for utility-type actions. That is, it has bodywork that makes getting on and off easier. It can tow a whopping 1,322 pounds and can carry 110 pounds on the front rack and 198 pounds of gear on the rear cargo rack, both of which are steel. It has a 49.2-inch wheelbase and weighs in at 677 pounds wet. The Kodiak runs dual wishbone suspension at all four corners with 7.1 inches of travel up front and 9.1 inches out back. As you might gather, the Kodiak 700 EPS has full power steering that works flawlessly. Remember, Yamaha was the company that brought power steering to the ATV world, so it knows what it’s doing.

Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS

The Textron Alterra 700 XT EPS sports the updated body work that Arctic Cat introduced shortly before becoming Textron Off Road. The XT package adds LED-trimmed headlights to go along with the LED taillights. You also get power steering, a must-have for a big machine like this. The Alterra has a 52-inch wheelbase and weighs in at 790 pounds wet. It has a 1,050-pound towing capacity and comes stock with a two-inch receiver hitch, something we’d like to see on more Utility ATVs. The front and rear racks are composite and take Textron’s Speedlok accessories. The front will handle 100 pounds and the rear will take 200 pounds of cargo. It has dual A-arms on all four corners and 10 inches of wheel travel all around.

Money, Money, Money

The Yamaha starts out at $8,499 for a green unit with steel 12-inch wheels. For $8,699, you get stepped up to the Armor Gray color and aluminum wheels, or go for the Realtree camo unit for $9,099. It comes with aluminum wheels, too. The Textron Alterra 700 XT EPS Starts out at $9,099 for a gray unit with aluminum wheels. You can drop a little more, $9,499, for the TruTimber Kanati camo model that also rolls on aluminum wheels. Both of these machines are great options for someone looking for a capable utility machine that can have some serious fun on the weekends, too.

Derrek Sigler
Derrek Sigler

Derrek's love for all things ATV started when he was a mere 11 years old, growing up on his family farm. His mom gave him and his sister a choice - get a horse, or a three-wheeler. The sister wanted the horse, and Derrek wanted the ATV. Luckily he won out, and was soon burning up the trails on a Yamaha Tri-Moto 200. By the time he was 14, he had saved enough of his own money by working on the farm and in his folks restaurant to buy a new 4-wheeler. That happened the day he and his mom were driving past the dealership and saw 1987 Banshee. His mom had no idea what he was buying, and he never looked back. He's been riding ever since, and been writing professionally for many years. He has ridden all over North America and been behind the controls of just about every machine out there. And yes, he still has his 1987 Yamaha Banshee.

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