Picture yourself in a dusty old town in the Wild West. The sun beats down on the wood-plank sidewalks and glints off the sheriff’s well-polished badge as he hitches his horse in front of a saloon. That lawman is Honda, and down the empty road a ways is a young gun out to prove himself—that’s CFMOTO.
And in this article, they’re squaring off for a duel—CFMOTO vs. Honda.
We’re pitting the old, reliable Honda Rancher 420 against the up-and-coming CFMOTO CForce 600—these are the most popular quads from each manufacturer. It’s not quite a fair fight—they have different engine sizes, and CFMOTO’s aggressive pricing gives it tons of value—but can Honda’s reputation and experience keep it a step ahead of CFMOTO’s aggressive ATV ambitions?
Let’s duck behind the bar and see how this shootout ends.
First, let’s compare the specs of the CFMOTO and Honda quads. We’re comparing the 2024 Honda Fourtrax Rancher 420 4×4 ES trim with the CFMOTO CForce 600 base trim.
Why these two? They are the most popular quads for Honda and CFMOTO, and they have the same MSRP of $7,399.
| CFMOTO CForce 600 | Honda Rancher 420 4×4 ES | |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $7,399 | $7,399 |
| Engine Type | 580 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valve | 420 cc longitudinally mounted liquid-cooled wet-sump single-cylinder four-stroke |
| Horsepower | 45 HP | Not listed; 26.6 HP measured |
| Fuel System | Bosch® EFI | Programmed Fuel Injection |
| Cooling System | Liquid-cooled | Not listed |
| Drive | 2WD/4WD/4WD lock | Traxlok selectable 2WD/4WD |
| Transmission | CVTech® Automatic P/R/N/H/L | Automatic DCT w/ manual mode using Electronic Shift Program |
| CFMOTO CForce 600 | Honda Rancher 420 4×4 ES | |
|---|---|---|
| Length x Width x Height | 80” x 46.5” x 48” | 82.8” x 47.4” x 46.2” |
| Wheelbase | 50.5” | 50” |
| Seat Height | 21” | 33.6” |
| Curb Weight | 870 lb. | 615 lb. |
| Ground Clearance | 10.6” | 7.1” |
| Rack Capacity | Front: 75 lb.Rear: 100 lb. | Front: 66 lb.Rear: 133 lb. |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 4.75 gal. | 3.9 gal., including 1.3-gallon reserve |
| CFMOTO CForce 600 | Honda Rancher 420 4×4 ES | |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | Front/Rear: Double A-arm independent | Front: Independent double-wishbone; 6.7-inch travel Rear: Swingarm with single shock; 6.7-inch travel |
| Wheels | Front/Rear: 12” Cast aluminum alloy | Not listed |
| Tires | Front: 25×8-12 Rear: 25×10-12 | Front: 24×8-12 Rear: 24×10-11 |
| Shocks | Front/Rear: Spring pre-load adjustable, oil damped | Not listed |
| Braking | Front/Rear: Hydraulic disc with parking brake | Front: Dual 190mm discs Rear: 160mm sealed mechanical drum |
| CFMOTO CForce 600 | Honda Rancher 420 4×4 ES | |
|---|---|---|
| Hitch Reciever | 2” | – |
| Towing Capacity | 1500 lb. | – |
| Winch | 3500 lb. | – |
| Steering | Electronic power steering | – |
On paper, the CForce 600 outperforms the Rancher 420. It has nearly double the horsepower, 3.5 inches more ground clearance, bigger tires, and a winch.
But it’s not exactly cut and dry. The Rancher uses Honda’s DCT transmission with automatic and manual modes, while the CForce uses a belt-driven CVT. We’d rather use Honda’s gear-driven transmission when getting work done and CForce’s CVT when we’re riding flat-out. Either way, nobody can deny that it’s nice not worrying about belts. And Honda’s DCT is proven to be reliable longterm.
Also, the CForce 600 weighs about 300 pounds more than the Rancher 420. That translates to about 19 pounds per horsepower for the CForce and 22 pounds per horsepower for the Rancher.
Still, the CFMOTO CForce 600 fires the first shot and comes out on top versus the Honda Rancher 420.
Can CFMOTO stand a chance against Honda’s legendary reputation?
That’s an impossible ask. Honda’s history outstrips any reputation that CFMOTO could establish in the relatively short time they’ve been on the scene, especially since they’ve only recently been recognized as a serious manufacturer.
But let’s take a look at what some people are saying about the CFMOTO CForce 600.
Dirt Wheels Magazine says:
“CFMoto has value and performance with a quality feel. It deserves its place in the class.”
ATV Guys says:
“It’s a great unit that can now rival with anything in its class. It will even open a can of whoopass on certain models.”
The story is similar all around. You pay less than similarly spec’d quads, and they don’t disappoint.
But what about the Honda Rancher 420? Here’s what people have to say about Honda’s quad.
Dirt Wheels Magazine says:
“We feel like this Honda gives you good bang for your buck with all that it has to offer. If you are a beginner or want a more laid-back ride, then this Rancher is a great choice.”
Go Rollick says:
“The Honda Rancher 420 4X4 is one of the most consistent and dependable utility ATVs on the market.”
If it wasn’t clear, people like both. What the Honda Rancher lacks in power and flat-out fun, it makes up for in dependability. The CForce is as good as similar vehicles in its class in 2024, although that wasn’t the case just a few years ago.
When it comes to reputation, Honda will outshine just about anything around it.
Still, we’re calling this one a DRAW!
One of the most important (and often overlooked) features of an ATV is the availability of aftermarket parts and accessories. Let’s take a look at what SuperATV offers for each to round out our CFMOTO vs. Honda ATV shootout.
Here are the SuperATV parts and accessories we have for the CFMOTO CFore 600:
CFMOTO CForce Heavy-Duty CVT Drive Belt—Our World’s Best Belts are built to beat OEM so you can ride harder and change your belt less often. We have belts for 2007–2021 models.
CFMOTO CForce Motobatt Battery Replacement—These batteries have 20% more capacity than OEM and are way more durable. It’s a sensible upgrade once your stock battery stops holding a charge.
CFMOTO CForce A-Arm Bushings—Our UHMW bushings blow your stock bushings out of the water. UHMW is ultra-strong and self-lubricated, so our UHMW bushings last almost indefinitely and run smoother the more they wear.
Here are the SuperATV parts and accessories we have for the Honda Rancher 420.
Honda ATV Motobatt Battery Replacement—Motobatt batteries outperform stock in capacity, cold-cranking amps, and durability.
Honda Rancher 420 Depth Finder™ Snorkel Kit—Our snorkel kits are designed to install easily, look slick, and get you through deep mud.
Honda Rancher 420 Radiator Relocation Kit—This relocation kit raises your radiator to keep mud out of it and puts a metal grille over it that looks great and protects it from debris.
Honda ATV Heavy-Duty Ball Joints—These adjustable and greaseable ball joints use a chromoly stud for extreme strength. They’ll outlast your stock joints by a country mile.
Honda Rancher Winch Mounting Plate—Since your Rancher doesn’t come standard with a winch, you’ll need a winch mounting plate to add one, and we’ve got you covered.
…and more.
With so many accessories that let you transform your Rancher into whatever kind of machine you want it to be, it’s hard not to give the win to the Honda Rancher 420 here. It’s customizable and upgradable in all kinds of ways.
Are you still with us? Climb out from behind your bar (hopefully, not too many bottles got blasted in the crossfire), and let’s see who’s left standing.
Unfortunately, real life is rarely as definitive and dramatic as the movies, and it looks like this town really is big enough for the both of us. Both machines have a lot to offer and it comes down to your personal preferences and needs.
Whatever you go with, be sure you outfit them with parts from SuperATV. We’ve got all the parts and accessories you need to ride off into the sunset.
4 Comments
Cforce is the clear choice.
I prefer the CVT and the belt is not a concern I have never blown a belt on my Grizzly ,Kodiak 700, Sportsman XP 1000
and Scrambler XP 1000.
You couldn’t give me a Honda with a manual transmission .
I have a 2020 Honda 450 4×4 with a stripped rear end so much for Honda quality.
But I will fit it some days so that the grandkids can play with it.
The Honda Rancher 4×4 ES does NOT have the DCT transmission.The ES stands for electronic shift, which was actually just discontinued by Honda (so much for the “most popular model”). The Rancher 4×4 DCT has an MSRP of $8,499. Now, the CFMoto’s CVT is up against Honda’s manual transmission. It seems this shootout should have a much different ending….
Not sure why your calling it a tie. Hondas reputation is earned but really this is the only clear win for honda. I like a DCT transmission but this seems more like a preference rather than one being better than the other. In every other respect the cforce 600 seems the clear winner. Choosing two machines with more in common than the price would have been a better barometer for value.
Hi Robert! We love hearing your opinion. Thank you for chiming in!