There is nothing like the freedom of hitting the trails on an ATV. For 2021, the manufacturers have pulled out all the stops to release some of the best new machines ever to head out into the wilds. Which ATV is best for you? You’ll have to decide for yourself. Here are five of the best ATVs for 2021 to help get you on the trail this coming year.
Polaris Sportsman 570 Ultimate Trail LE
The Sportsman 570 by itself is a great machine. It is powered by a 44 horsepower, 567cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder ProStar engine. This platform has plenty of power for most situations and is perfect for trail riding. When you step up to the Ultimate Trail package, you get a machine that is just about as perfect as it gets for hitting the trail. It has dual arched A-arm suspension all the way around with 26-inch tires wrapped around 14-inch wheels. It comes with Ride Control Tech including a 3-mode throttle, Geo-fencing, speed limited and more. The Sportsman has LED lighting, a 2,500lb Polaris HD winch. And a factory-installed plow mount, so you can easily add a snowplow. This is one of the most trail-capable machines to roll off the factory floor and a great machine for you to get out and enjoy the ride.
Honda Fourtrax Foreman Rubicon DCT EPS Deluxe
One of our favorite machines for a while is the Honda Rubicon. The latest version of this machine has a 518cc PGM-FI, single-cylinder motor that runs through a dual-clutch transmission. The dual clutch system is unique to Honda and does not use a CVT belt. While you feel the ATV run through the gears in auto mode, you can also switch to a manual electronic shift mode and control the gears yourself. Here’s what’s sweet about that you have five gears plus reverse in both high and low range. In low range, the engine braking is phenomenal and perhaps the best in the industry. You also have two- and four-wheel drive with Traxlok and a locking front differential. The engine and transmission work together to make the Rubicon feel like it’s got a bigger engine. The seat is amazingly comfortable, too, and the overall feel and ride quality make this an amazing ATV for 2021. Add to that Honda’s legendary reliability and you have a great machine.
Can-Am Outlander Max Limited
When you want to have the highest-performance two-up machine available, take a hard look at the 2021 Can-Am Outlander Max Limited. It has a powerful 1,000cc, 91hp Rotax V-twin and it comes with all the features you’d expect like 2wd, 4wd and Can-Am’s Visco-Lok QE auto-locking front diff. It has a three-mode power steering system that lets you dial in the type of steer that works best for you. For suspension, the Limited has Fox 1.5 Podium QS3 shocks for an adjustable and smooth ride. Your passenger has a bolster seat raised slightly above the driver, and it has a high-back seat with independent foot rests and hand holds. The rear seat also comes off for more cargo capacity. The Outlander has a 7-6-inch digital display with all the information you need, plus the limited model has an integrated, removable Garmin Montana 650t touch-screen GPS to help guide you along the trails with ease. The Outlander also has handguards, mud guards, front and rear bumpers and a 3,500lb winch. This is the perfect machine for performance-minded trail riding for two.
Yamaha Grizzly EPS XT-R
One of our long-time favorite ATVs is the Grizzly from Yamaha. These are among the most reliable machines available today and they are a ton of fun to ride. The Griz runs on a 686cc SOHC single-cylinder motor that is a torque monster. It is fed by electronic fuel injection and runs through Yamaha’s legendary Ultramatic V-belt automatic transmission. This beast has Yamaha’s On Command 3-way locking differential to give you the best options for traction. You’d have to work hard to beat how simple the Yamaha system is. The XT-R package is worth every penny if you want the best performance off the showroom floor for when the terrain gets more extreme. The XT-R comes with 27-in Maxxis ‘Zilla tires that grab traction anywhere. These are tough tires, too. Full-body skid plates protect the underside of the machine and a integrated Warn 2500 VRX winch gets you out of trouble if you find you way there. And trust us, getting into trouble is a lot of fun with the Yamaha.
Polaris Scrambler XP 1000 S
If you feel the need for speed, the Scrambler XP 1000 S is the best ATV available to feed your adrenaline-rush hunger. This machine is a beast. It has an 89hp ProStar 952cc twin cylinder engine. It has all the things you’d expect from a Polaris, like On Demand AWD, but there’s some serious performance add-ons that Polaris designed into this ride. It is 55-inches wide and 6-inches longer for superb stability, especially at speed. It has a front differential and half shafts from the RZR XP 1000. 12.5 inches of front and 14 inches of rear travel from the Walker Evans Needle shocks and 14.5 inches of ground clearance. The Scrambler is insane fun and extremely stable at speed. if you’re wanting to go really fast over rough terrain, this is the best ATV for you.
