For almost thirty years, Polaris has been at the top of the mountain when it comes to side by sides and UTV's. With the introduction of the Ranger, there was no other clear cut winner for the competition. Over the years though, companies have innovated, expanded, and created winning models to bridge the gap. The results are that the race is extremely close, and isn't a runaway anymore.
I firmly believe that Polaris is still the top dog, for now. They still account for the most units sold year after year and it's a sizable margin. However, we are at a point now where arguments can be made for other companies. Below, we will list a few companies that you could make an argument for being better already, and showcase how soon they might surpass Polaris.
Honda
Honda's prices are still higher than Polaris, but there is a consensus among users that puts Honda in the running. Users agree that the Honda Pioneer and Talon will ride easier, faster, and give you less trouble thanks to Honda's incredible reliability. Also, don't even get us started on Honda's insane cult following. If Honda could knock down their prices to compete with the Ranger and RZR, Honda would win hands down.
Yamaha
Three distinct model types, three distinct purposes. Yamaha keeps it simple with their models and has competitive prices that rival Polaris. So the marketing department has their side down pat, but the engineering needs to get their act together. Virtually no one believes in the Yamaha's power, whether it be speed, towing, hauling, or anything in between. Without significant improvements to any, Yamaha will remain in the rear view.
Can Am
Some would argue this is the closest rival to Polaris. Can Am offers tough models that on paper can rival the RZR, but on the actual dirt, Can Am is a one trick pony. The X3 can absolutely take off like a jet and cruise faster than any other side by side, but as far as an all over experience, the RZR handles the terrain so much better. If Can Am can keep the speed, but add comfort, they will have a direct rival.
There are some honorable mentions. John Deere makes an amazing work UTV, and Tracker is off to a hot start. But it will take quite a bit of ground work for these guys to catch up. Honda in our opinion is on the cusp, and within a few years there could be a completely new king of the mountain.
No Matter what you ride, make sure to get your used OEM UTV parts from Sun Coast Cycle Sports!