#Sidebyside

Kawasaki's Mule is perhaps the backbone of the UTV world, and its lineage continues to make its way through the years with the machine coming back in a wide variety of models and trims for 2025. This week, Kawasaki announced the return of the Mule Pro-FX 820, Pro-FXT 820, Pro-FXR 1000, and Pro-FXT 1000 side-by-sides for the 2025 model year.

CFMOTO has just unveiled its 2025 off-road lineup, and it’s clear they’ve been busy in the lab. This isn’t just a refresh with some new color schemes – we’re talking serious upgrades across the board. The new CFMOTO Z10 leads the pack with more power under the hood and tech that takes your off-road experience up a notch. But they didn’t stop there. Whether you’re into rugged UTVs or nimble ATVs, CFMOTO has something in store for every adventurer in 2025.

For quite some time, tangible guidebooks have been essential – occasionally life-saving – tools for riding, be it on a dual-sport, ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle), and in a UTV (utility terrain vehicle). They provide valuable information to properly plan an enjoyable, yet safe, experience on the trail, typically including comprehensive maps which are crucial for navigating unfamiliar areas. Importantly, these books often highlight the details of specific ATV trails: difficulty ratings, terrain variations, and points of interest.

Eva Star Malabanan is a 17-year-old high school senior from El Cajon, California. She looks very sweet and kind, which she is, unless she is in your rearview mirror in an off-road race - because she is about to pass you! The daughter of Sean and Tracy Malabanan, both competitive athletes; Sean was on the 2001 USA Surf Team, and Tracy was a competitive English Style Horse rider. Eva, and her 15-year-old brother Ozzy Dio Malabanan, come by their competitive streaks honestly. 

Our editor Kyra Sacdalan has spent her career planning and executing adventures, but for the first time, she was treated to an epic expedition courtesy of Destination Yamaha. This program intends to encourage every type of rider to get off the couch and traverse the amazing landscapes of North America by dirt.

The Dakar Rally is widely regarded as one of the most difficult off-road races in the world. The race's 12 (or more) stages have competitors crossing brutal terrain over 14 (or more...) days of what proves to be not just a battle to win, but a battle to finish. For 2025, Polaris Factory Racing is returning to the ring with a lineup of highly achieved racers in tow, with sights set on gold.

This guide is intended to help veterans and novices alike look – at a glance, so-to-speak – over a manufacturer’s full list of vehicles (per category of course)...all in one place! For those in the know, it’s just a great resource to make comparisons. And for those who are just learning, this is an opportunity to become familiar with the model year (MY) lineup they have to offer. Take a scroll, leave a comment, and try not to empty your wallets too fast.

The Kawasaki Ridge is a unique UTV, a rare combination of work-meets-play that just so happens to be powered by a beefy four-cylinder engine. As is the trend in the side-by-side world, it was only a matter of time before Kawasaki supplemented its two-seat Ridge with a four-seater, and that time appears to be coming for the 2025 model year. At least according to some public data recently released about Kawi's new certified lineup. And our team "decoded" the information to reach this exciting conclusion... (Let's review the evidence.)

The sport and performance UTV segment has been extremely hot over the last few years and recent news shows it isn't cooling off just yet. Instead, manufacturers are pouring more resources into the category, as is evident by Polaris' updated-for-2025 RZR Pro models and news that has come via the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that show Can-Am is expanding its Maverick R lineup even further for 2025. The documents also show that the big-bore ATV lineup has been revised, too.

In this new(ish) segment we're dubbing "Travels", we explore amazing places to ride off-road, telling you not only about our experiences but what you could experience in these unique locations – the popular haunts and hidden gems alike. These stories are meant to inspire you to grab the wheel (or handlebar) and wander past your comfort zone. From the distinct terrains to the unusual lodgings, the points-of-interest and the laundry list of engine-off activities, in these journeys, the destination and adventure are one in the same.

Believe it or not, off-road riding is not for everyone. (I don't get it either...) But at ATV.com, we like to think of powersports as the gateway to grime – in the best of ways. One such person is my very own big sister, Gigi. An avid outdoorsy mushroom hunter, rock collector, and road cyclist who, as it turns out, hates becoming muddy or dusty. So, I thought it would be fun to put her in a UTV and try to evangelize her into the Church of Dirt.

So, not too long ago, she joined me at DirtFish Rally School in the Pacific Northwest to learn some performance driving skills from their expert [WRC] rally instructors, then apply them to side-by-sides. While it was me who attended the three-day All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) class (in a Subaru, no less), Gigi was given a private, albeit abridged, lesson from the lead coaches before taking hold of the wheel. And that's all she needed to start ripping through the backlot of the facility.

No, she didn't go straight to the dealership and put down a deposit on a fresh SxS afterwards. But she did report having a great time in her subsequent story from the experience, and I suspect her view of being in the muck is a bit less muddy...

Imagine you’re deep in the woods or amid a sea of dunes, somewhere too far from civilization to still have cell service. When you’re riding such remote places,staying connected with your buddies while on the trail is crucial for the overall safety of the group. While many still turn to walkie-talkies or CB radios, the general interest and consensus for what works best has shifted to General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), a type of radio service which offers better clarity, longer range, and generally less frustration than the aforementioned, making it (arguably) the best option to take and off-road in general.

Watch as the crew from Fueled UTV transform a  Polaris XPEDITION into an epic overland rig ready to venture well beyond where most normal side-by-sides can go. With upgraded suspension, protection parts to keep it on the trail, additional lighting that allows the adventures to continue after dark, aftermarket wheels, a rooftop tent, and even heated seats...because why should you be cold or uncomfortable when you're busy exploring the backcountry?

As spring came to a close, we traveled to Johnson Valley in California to meet up with Honda Powersports for a scorching hot ride through the desert. Their flagship Talon 1000 (two- and four-seater) side-by-side is now sporting Showa suspension from the factory, and we had the opportunity to test them out through deep canyons, rocky hill climbs, and sandy washes. While you'll probably see how much fun we had in this gallery, you'll need to read our review to learn exactly how that new system handled the punishment.