Five of the Best ATVs for Kids

Derrek Sigler
by Derrek Sigler
Hopefully everybody knows by now that kids shouldn’t ride adult-sized ATVs. Fortunately, there are plenty of options out there and we’ve put together a list of five of the best ATVs for kids.


There are a lot of reasons to buy your child a youth-sized ATV. It gets your kids out riding and not stuck in the house playing video games. It teaches responsibility and independence that your kids will use the rest of their lives. Riding ATVs is a great family adventure and pastime. Your family will always remember the memories of going on family rides. If you’re wondering what are the best ATVs for kids, there are a couple of factors that you should look for. Is the ATV the right size for your child? Does the ATV have the right safety features for you to feel comfortable letting your child loose on it? These are some of the things we looked at when deciding what are the five best ATVs for kids.

Polaris ACE 150

Polaris ACE 150

When Polaris first released the adult ACE, as I drove it I thought the platform would make an excellent youth model. When it unveiled the ACE 150, I knew it would be a winner. What makes the smallest ACE work so well is the overall layout. It’s wider than most youth-sized ATVs, so it is very stable. It also has a three-point seatbelt to keep your child’s butt in the seat, and a full ROPS cage for added protection. The ACE will come set at 10 mph, and you can move those speeds up as your child gets more used to driving it. The top speed is 29 mph, more than enough to fulfill all of your little stunt driver’s wishes. You can learn about what we thought of it as we tested one here.

Honda TRX90X

Honda TRX90X

The smallest Honda has been around for a while. While some other machines have benefited from technological advances, the Honda TRX90X remains very simple, but that is a good thing. It is powered by an air-cooled 86cc single-cylinder SOHC four-stroke engine fed by a 15mm piston-valve carburetor. It has a four-speed manual-shift transmission with an automatic clutch that teaches your little ones how to select gears as well as help you control the speeds as they get used to doing just that. You can also limit the throttle, so there’s less panic. The thing that makes these machines so great is the shear bullet-proof design that lasts for years. You can buy one for your kids, get years of use out of it and turn around and sell it when the kids have outgrown it for a tidy amount.

Yamaha YFZ50

Yamaha YFZ50

Yamaha’s entry level Youth ATV shares styling with the racing-inspired YFZ450, making it something the little trail ripper in your household will love. It is powered by a 49cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that will have just enough power to put broad smiles on your child, and not quite enough to make mom and dad stay awake with worry. This fun little machine has an electric start with a kick-starter for a backup. With an MSRP of just over $2,000, you’re not going to be hurting when it comes time to sell it when your junior rider is ready to move up to something bigger, either.

Polaris Ranger 150

Polaris Ranger 150

On face value, the Ranger 150 from Polaris is basically a two-seat version of the ACE 150 that already resides on this list. What makes the Ranger make this compilation is the addition of the Ride Command features that allow you, as the parent, to remotely control the speed and even the reach of the machine. You can use your smartphone and an app to connect with the Ranger and set the speed limits, map out a boundary and even cut the machine speed if your child is getting on the gas a little more than you’d like. This technology is groundbreaking in the youth segment and provides ultimate peace of mind for parents.

Can-Am DS 90X

Can-Am DS 90X

What do you do when your child’s skill set outgrows a traditional youth model, but his/her age and skills aren’t quite ready for a full-size machine? That’s a problem a lot of parents face, especially when that child wants to expand on the skills needed to ride off-road at a higher pace. Luckily there is the Can-Am DS 90X. Inspired by sport ATVs, the X is powered by an 89.5cc single-cylinder engine that runs through a CVT transmission. The suspension is also more sport-like with HPG piggyback shocks that have seven inches of travel up front and nine inches of travel out back. This is a sporty, fun machine geared towards the more experienced youth rider. It bridges a gap and helps develop skills your child will need to ride at a higher level.

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.

More by Derrek Sigler

Next