A crossover (or hybrid) UTV is a hybrid category that falls between utility vehicles designed for work and pure sports cars. It’s an UTV that combines recreational features, offering comfortable cabins and well-calibrated suspension, with the practicality of a tilting bed for transporting large loads or working in the field as needed.
5th place: Honda Pioneer 1000
The Honda Pioneer 1000 is a surprising vehicle when you try it out. The engine/transmission combo does a remarkable job of moving the vehicle. The 999 cc parallel-twin engine has 77 hp and delivers good torque that suits the six-speed DCT transmission well. Although you can select gears manually with paddle shifters, there’s no need to do so. The transmission always shifts to the appropriate gear. The three engine modes make this vehicle surprisingly sporty, even though Honda says it wasn’t designed that way.
The Pioneer 1000 is available in 3- or 5-passenger versions. In the latter version, the rear seats fold into the bed, allowing it to be fully functional for transporting equipment. However, the rear seats are quite cramped. Speaking of transporting equipment, you’ll have a 1,000-pound load capacity in the bed and 2,500 pounds of towing capacity. That’s pretty powerful! Finally, the lockable rear differential will spare your lawn.
When driving the vehicle, you’ll notice that the double wishbone suspension offers a satisfying compromise between comfort and handling. You don’t feel the bumps in the road very much, and ambient noise is well controlled. However, the interior design is starting to show its age. Indeed, the modest monochrome LCD display in the center (but facing the driver), the rather flat full-width bench seat, and above all, the bulky side nets that impair side visibility at intersections are from another era. With a revamp of the interior design, Honda would make its Pioneer truly competitive.
4th place: Kawasaki Ridge 1000
With the Ridge, Kawasaki stands out with its 999 cc inline 4-cylinder engine, developing approximately 92 hp and 65 lb-ft of torque in the base version and 116 hp and 73 lb-ft in the XR version. In addition to delivering its power smoothly and with little vibration, this engine is clearly the quietest in the industry. Otherwise, the mechanics are more standard, with a dual-range (high/low) CVT transmission and 2WD/4WD drive with lockable rear differential (turf mode). The independent four-wheel suspension is double wishbone with long travel (12.7 inches front/rear) and 14.6 inches of ground clearance, ideal for overcoming obstacles and technical trails.
The Ridge is available in a Limited version with a three-passenger bench seat, while the XR version is more performance and comfort oriented with bucket seats and a more powerful engine. In 2026, Kawasaki decided to offer the Ridge only with a closed, air-conditioned HVAC cab for all versions. This places the Ridge in the premium niche of the market, and the prices are high. Also, Ridges with HVAC cabs are heavy vehicles, with net weights ranging from 918 kg to 1140 kg depending on the version.
3rd place: Polaris General 1000
The Polaris General has been on the market for a decade now and has created its own crossover niche.
The General is equipped with a 1000 cc parallel twin engine that develops 100 hp in all its versions. The trim levels are Basic and Premium. The latter offers a solid base with its FOX gas suspension. The XP models are equipped with Walker Evans gas suspension and huge 30-inch tires and come with a lot of standard equipment. All Generals offer a spacious and comfortable cabin, a pleasant ride, satisfactory engine performance, and good versatility in use. The formula was good ten years ago, and that’s why it’s still relevant today. However, the competition is starting to get tougher.
2nd place: Yamaha Wolverine RMAX
The Wolverine RMAX has been refined over the years, as Yamaha listens to its customers. It offers its impressive RMAX in three body configurations. In addition to the two-passenger RMAX 2 configuration, the RMAX 4, which we knew with two additional passengers seated in the bed, is still available and is designated the RMAX 4 Compact. The RMAX 4 now features a tilting bed behind the four-passenger cab. It has a 1000 cc parallel twin engine that develops 108 hp, placing it at the top of the average for recreational ATVs. It is unflappable on the trail with its independent suspension with well-calibrated gas shock absorbers and large 29-inch tires. Passenger comfort is excellent thanks to the well-shaped bucket seats. The Wolverine RMAX XT-R comes with the Yamaha Adventure Pro navigation screen, while the Limited version features suspension that can be adjusted on the fly via the central screen.
Also, if the RMAX is too much for your budget, its little brother, the Wolverine X2 1000 XT-R, has its own merits.
1st place: Can-Am Commander 1000R
The second-generation Can-Am Commander is a highly versatile vehicle thanks to its tipping dump bed behind the cabin, which can accommodate two passengers or, in the MAX version, four passengers. It can be powered by the rather modest 700cc HD7 single-cylinder engine or the 1000cc V-twin engine, which is the engine of choice. The Commander is a fun vehicle to drive with a sporty feel, which means that its trail handling is inspired, but the suspension is a little stiffer than the competition. The seats are snug and the cabin is well laid out, although the driving position is a little low for some people’s taste. In short, it’s more sporty than cozy. We also appreciate the impression of solidity and perceived build quality when taking it out on rough trails. Also worth noting is the Trail Activ feature, which calibrates the four-wheel-drive system so that the front wheels pull the vehicle more in corners. With this feature activated, the Commander seems to ride on tracks.
