What is the best sport side-by-side for the money? That’s not an easy question to answer, but we’re here to help you make sense of your options.
We’re breaking down the cheapest sport side-by-sides to help you decide which machine is worth your hard-earned cash.
There’s two major types of side-by-sides: sport and utility.
Utility machines are pretty easy to understand—think the Kawaski Mule, Polaris Ranger, CFMOTO UForce, and other machines with a bed. If it looks like a tiny pickup truck, it’s probably a utility machine. They generally carry a lower price tag too.
Sport machines are a bit different. Picture the Polaris RZR, Can-Am Maverick, Kawasaki KRX, and other aggressive machines.
Normally sport machines prioritize performance over utility—not that you can’t use a sport machine for chores. But sport machines are mostly going to be used for trail riding, sand or dune racing, rock crawling, or mud bogging.
If you want to get the best side-by-side for the money, you need to know if the bang is really worth your buck. But how do you actually determine that?
The best way to determine value is by comparing individual machines’ performance specs, technology, and included accessories. And don’t forget warranty, service options, and reliability. In combination, these are all great indicators of value.
But none of these factors are necessarily more important than the others. It all depends on what you want from your machine.
Let’s get into it—what is the cheapest side-by-side? And is it really worth the money? We’ve selected all the cheapest sport models the top manufacturers for easy comparison.
The CFMOTO ZForce 800 Trail is the most affordable sport side-by-side on our list. Plus it comes packed with impressive features that you’d have to pay extra for from another manufacturer, like a roof, winch, skid plate, and more.
To be sure, the ZForce 800 Trail is an entry-level side-by-side and lacks the power you’d find in other more expensive performance machines. And the build quality can sometimes be iffy, but it doesn’t generally impact long-term reliability.
The ZForce 800 Trail is the most well-rounded cheap side-by-side on our list.
The Teryx is relatively cheap and easy to drive, and many riders see the Kawasaki brand as reliable and durable with a great balance of sport and utility.
It’s particularly capable on tight trails—but duners, beware! This machine may not be a good pick for you due to the rough suspension.
The Teryx is also known for being relatively loud, but it’s a great machine for those that care more about simplicity and reliability than cutting-edge features.
It’s a decent machine for the money, but the Teryx base model is pretty bare bones when it comes to features.
The Can-Am Commander is versatile and capable for both work and play. Like the Teryx, this machine is more of a “best of both” instead of a true sport machine. If you care about versatility, the Can-Am Commander could be the cheap side-by-side for you.
As far as comfort goes, the Commander is known for being easy to ride, especially for longer trips. And the suspension is great at absorbing impact from bumps and whoops.
However, the engine can feel sluggish compared to its big brother, the Can-Am Maverick (which could cost almost twice as much) and other sport machines. But that could be a compromise you’re willing to make if you need or want the versatility the Commander offers.
Overall, the Commander is a decent pick, but the ZForce outperforms it, includes more accessories, and costs less.
The Polaris RZR Trail is a fun little sport machine, especially on the trail (obviously). It’s generally considered exciting to ride but may seem underpowered compared to beefier RZRs.
Ratings are mostly positive, and riders praise the machine’s responsiveness and maneuverability. People especially love the suite of tech features and the RZR’s ability to take on both twisty trails and wide-open rides.
The man con of the RZR Trail is its smaller size and smaller engine compared to other RZRs. But if you’re looking for a cheap side-by-side, this RZR could be a solid pick.
With the wide variety of aftermarket upgrades and tons of support options, the RZR Trail is a solid choice for most riders.
The Yamaha Wolverine offers a solid combination of features and performance for the price. It’s Yamaha’s happy medium between performance, capability, and cost.
Like the Can-Am Commander and Kawasaki Teryx, the Wolverine X3 is a utility/sport crossover. This makes it more versatile, but you do make a sacrifice when it comes to power. However, Wolverine lovers call this machine a “mountain goat” for its capacity to dominate rough, rocky trails.
If you’re the type who loves rock crawling and rough trails, the Yamaha Wolverine X2-850 could be the right choice for you. For the price, it’s a solid machine, but you could spend less for similar features elsewhere.
The Segway Villain SX10 P is the most expensive “cheap” side-by-side on our list. Segway is relatively new to the market, which makes some riders hesitant to choose this machine because they perceive the brand as unproven when it comes to offroad machines.
Overall, riders praise the Segway Villain’s performance and handling, but a lack of aftermarket support make this machine a tough choice, especially if you prioritize repairability.
If you’re willing to shell out nearly $20k for a side-by-side, there are other options—like the Can-Am Maverick Sport DPS—that offer more aftermarket accessories, better support, and competitive performance specs.
If you’re looking for a fun ride but don’t really need a ton of power, you might consider a utility machine like the Honda Pioneer 700. The Pioneer 700 is very capable for tricky trail rides or creek riding—not to mention work around the farm or homestead.
Honda is known for reliability, leading to lower maintenance costs over the long-term. However, this machine truly is a compromise when it comes to power.
If you’re on the fence about a sport machine (or paying over $13k for one), you might consider the Honda Pioneer 700 or another cheap utility side-by-side.
For easy comparison, we’ve added all the specs you need to make a decision to the chart below.
| Cheapest Sport UTV Comparison Chart | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Machine | Engine Type | Horsepower | Displacement | Weight | Ground Clearance | Dimensions (L x W x H) | Included Accessories | Warranty |
| $13,099 | CFMOTO ZForce 800 Trail | V-Twin, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 8-valve | 62 HP | 800 cc | 1290 lb. | 10” | 121″ x 50″ x 72″ | Hardtop roof3,500 lb. winchHDPE skid plate | 1-year |
| $14,199 | Kawasaki Teryx | 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valve V-twin, liquid-cooled | ~49 HP | 783 cc | 1,570 lb. | 11.2” | 118.1” x 60” x 75.8” | 3-year | |
| $15,699 | Can-Am Commander | Rotax® ACE single cylinder, liquid-cooled | 52 HP | 650 cc | 1,520 lb. | 12.5” | 128.5” x 62” x 70.5” | Skid plate | 6-month |
| $15,999 | Polaris RZR Trail | 4-Stroke DOHC Twin Cylinder, liquid-cooled | 75 HP | 875 cc | 1,238 lb. | 11” | 110.9” x 50” x 67.9” | 6-month | |
| $16,499 | Yamaha Wolverine X2-850 | Parallel-twin, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve | ~75 HP | 847 cc | 1,704 lb. | 11.5” | 115” x 62.2” x 75.3” | 6-month | |
| $19,499 | Segway Villian SX10 P | 4-Stroke parallel-twin Cylinder DO HC, liquid-cooled | 105 HP | 1000 cc | 1,940 lb. | 15″ | 133″ x 72″ x 73″ | Hardtop roof4,500 lb. winch | 2-year |
| $12,499 | Honda Pioneer 700 | Liquid-cooled, single-cylinder four-stroke | ~71 | 675 cc | 1,292 lb. | 10.8” | 114.8” x 59.9” x 77.6” | 3-year | |
No matter which machine you choose, it’s important to make sure you’re doing proper maintenance. Who cares if you got a great deal if you don’t take care of it?
Your manufacturer provides maintenance schedules and other important documents—and you can find tons of maintenance tips and how-to’s right here on SuperATV’s Offroad Atlas.
When it’s time for repairs, you can trust SuperATV. Our Up & Running products are made to be just as good as OEM parts but cost way less. And we have a huge collection of replacement parts for virtually every manufacturer and machine.
Don’t worry too much if you have to make compromises on your machine right now to stay in your budget.
When you’re ready, SuperATV offers tons of accessories and upgrades for Can-Am, CFMOTO, Kawasaki, Honda, Polaris, Segway, and more.
There’s no cap to the customizations you can make with SuperATV. You can make the cheapest rig your dream machine with our parts, accessories, and upgrades. Check out our huge selection of offroad accessories today.
