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A guide to family sized UTVs
Maybe you are looking to upgrade your current ride so that you can bring your whole family out for a day on the trails, or perhaps you just want to be able to bring a large group of friends hunting with you. Whatever the reason, you are here because you need to find the best five seater UTVs on the market. This article will go over the options for five seater side-by-sides as well as some general information about family sized UTVs and a guide to converting four or six passenger vehicles into a five seater.
The majority of manufacturers only offer one, two, three, four, and six seater UTVs in their available models, with Honda being the exception. We do have comparison guides on all of those sizes, so once you have read what we have to share on converting smaller (or larger) UTVs into five seaters, then you may want to check out our other comparison guides.
You can read our article on six seater UTVs if you would prefer to have a model with even more seats for friends, family, and pets. If you decide that five seats are too many after all, then you can also go through our comprehensive article on four seater UTVs. While family sized UTVs are great for outings or work, you might want to get a single seater for yourself. We have a guide to one seater UTVs.
Below is a list of the five seater options available from top brands. The fifth seat is usually available as an add-on bump seat or replacement bench seat. Most of these models have the option of including or removing seats as needed to make more space for gear or accommodate additional passengers.
Comparison guide between popular 5 seater Side by Sides
The following UTV specifications are taken directly from the product pages on their respective sites. We have listed the specs and features which will have the most impact on the UTVs speed, endurance, and space capacity. This is not an exhaustive list of all the four and five seater options available, so you may want to check out those comparison guide links. The UTVs below are exceptionally easy to convert to five seaters.
Honda – 2021 PIONEER 1000-5
Price: $17,299
Type: Sports/Utility
Seating Details: Seats 3 with a fold-down seating for an additional two passengers in the bed
Specs:
- Ground Clearance – 12.4 inches
- Front Suspension – Independent double-wishbone with 10.6 inches of travel
- Rear Suspension – Independent double-wishbone with 10 inches of travel
- Engine – 999cc liquid-cooled twin-cylinder Unicam four-stroke
- Transmission – Fully Automatic Dual Clutch Transmission with six forward gears and Reverse. Four drive modes include 2WD, 4WD, Turf and Differential lock. Paddle Shifters with three shift modes (standard, sport, and manual)
- Brakes – Dual 210mm hydraulic discs
- Fuel Capacity – 7.9 gallons, including 1.7-gallon reserve
- Bed Capacity – 1000 pounds for 49 states (600 for CA)
- Towing Capacity – 2000 pounds
Additional Features:
- i-4WD
- QuickFlip seats in the cargo bed
- LCD dash display
- Includes a one-year limited warranty
Model Summary: This ultimate sports utility vehicle is excellent for hauling employees around a job site or taking friends out for a fun time on the trail. It works great on multiple terrains, including ice, snow, mud, and dirt. [4] This is currently the only real five seater UTV available on the market. All other models require the substitution of a bench for individual seats or need to have aftermarket products used to provide additional seating space.
Read more at https://powersports.honda.com/sxs/recutility/pioneer-1000-5
Kawasaki – 2020 Mule Pro-FXT Series
Series Price: $13,099 to $16,999
Type: Sports/Utility
Seating Details: Seats 3 to 6 passengers with the ability to add or remove bench seats
Specs (Base Model):
- Ground Clearance – 10.2 inches
- Front Suspension – Double wishbone with 8.7 inches of travel
- Rear Suspension – Double wishbone with 8.5 (L) /8.7 (R) inches of travel
- Engine – 4-stroke, 3-cylinder, DOHC, liquid-cooled, gas
- Transmission – Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with (H,L,N,R)
- Brakes – Independent, Mechanical Disc
- Fuel Capacity – 7.9 gallon
- Cargo space – 42.7 x 53.7 x 11.0 inches (3-seats), 22.0 x 53.7 x 11.0 inches (6-seats)
- Bed Capacity – 1000 pound (1 row), 350 pound (2 rows) and 600 pounds for CA
- Towing capacity – 2000 pounds
Additional Features:
- Adventure, Open Range, and Utility packages available
- Optional package: Hard cab enclosure with rooftop A/C, Mule Pro-FXT power kit and AS1 Windshield
Series Summary: This series is great for job sites and other utility-based UTV needs. It has a three person bench seat in the front row and a folded bench seat in the rear row that can be kept out of the way to increase dump bed size. There are packages for every possible need, and they have a high carrying capacity for heavy loads. [6] Perfect for job sites, hunting, or offroading with a group.
Read more at Kawasakis website: https://www.kawasaki.com/Products/2020-MULE-PRO-FXT
Kawasaki – 2021 TERYX4
Price: $15,999
Type: Sports
Seating Details: Seats 4 off the product line, but can be converted to seat 5
Specs:
- Ground Clearance – 11.2 inches
- Front Suspension – Double Wishbone Fox Podium coil-over shocks with piggyback reservoir, adjustable preload and 24-way compression damping with 8.0 inches of travel
- Rear Suspension – Double Wishbone Fox Podium coil-over shocks with piggyback reservoir, adjustable preload and 24-way compression damping with 8.3 inches of travel
- Engine – 783cc V-Twin engine, SOHC, and liquid-cooled
- Transmission – Automatic CVT with a centrifugal clutch (H,L,N,R)
- Front Brakes – Dual hydraulic discs with two-piston calipers
- Rear Brakes – Sealed, oil-bathed, multi-disc
- Fuel Capacity – 7.9 gallons
- Bed Capacity – 249 pounds
- Towing capacity – 1300 pounds
Additional Features:
- 3 year limited warranty
- Soft cab enclosure, roof, and back available as an accessory
- Full windshield available as an accessory
- Cargo box (including a cooler box) available as an accessory
Model Summary: This series of sports UTVs comes with four seats, but the back row can be converted to a five seater with an aftermarket Teryx bench seat or, for a child, you can get a bump seat. [5] It features a steel double-x reinforcement frame. This UTV works great over mountain, rock, and muddy terrains and is a powerhouse sport design.
Read more at https://www.kawasaki.com/products/2021-teryx4-le#
Yamaha – 2020 Wolverine X4 Series
Price: $16,099 to $18,149
Type: Sports
Seating Details: Seats 4 off the product line, but can be converted to seat 5
Specs (Base Model):
- Ground Clearance – 10.7 inches
- Front Suspension – Independent double wishbone with anti-sway bar and 8.7 inches of travel
- Rear Suspension – Independent double wishbone with anti-sway bar, self-adjusting shock absorbers and 9.3 inches of travel
- Engine – 847cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled, DOHC with 8 valves
- Transmission – Ultramatic V-belt with all-wheel engine braking with (H,L,N,R)
- Front Brakes – Dual hydraulic disc
- Rear Brakes – Dual hydraulic disc, shaft-mounted parking brake
- Fuel Capacity – 9.2 gallons
- Bed Capacity – 600 pounds
- Towing capacity – 2000 pounds
Additional Features:
- 10 Year belt warranty
Series Summary: This is the perfect vehicle for any outdoor adventure. You can go mudding, rock crawling, trail riding, or use it to haul in your latest hunting catch. There are two rows with four seats. The back row is slightly raised for better visibility. [8] You can transform this into a five seater by either adding a bump seat for smaller passengers or replacing the back row with a bench seat.
Polaris – 2020 General 4 1000 Series
Price: $21,799 to $24,999
Type: Sports
Seating Details: Seats 4 off the product line, but can be converted to seat 5
Specs (Base Model):
- Horsepower – 100 HP
- Ground Clearance – 12 inches
- Front Suspension – Dual A-arm with stabilizer bar and 12.25 inches of travel
- Rear Suspension – Dual-arm IRS with stabilizer bar and 13.2 inches of travel
- Engine – ProStar 1000 4-Stroke DOHC Twin Cylinder
- Transmission – Automatic PVT (H,L,N,R,P)
- Brakes – 4-wheel hydraulic disc with dual-bore front and rear calipers
- Fuel Capacity – 9.5 gallons
- Cargo System – Lock-and-Ride
- Bed Capacity – 600 pounds
- Towing Capacity – 1,500 pounds
Additional Features:
- Park In-Transmission
- High-intensity LED headlights
- Dirt Commander Tires for improved traction
- Polaris HD 4500 pound winch
- Dumping cargo box
- Plug and play accessory bar
Series Summary: The General series is designed to traverse any terrain with strength, maneuverability, and speed. This sports model can do some heavy lifting and take care of your utility needs as well. It is the best of both worlds. [7] You can transform this into a five seater by installing a bump seat or a bench seat. This is one of the most comfortable rides around, too, with their exceptional suspension.
Can-Am – 2020 Commander Max Series
Price: $14,299 to $22,099
Type: Sports
Seating Details: Seats 4 off the product line, but can be converted to seat 5
Specs (Base Model):
- Horsepowers – 71 hp
- Ground Clearance – 11 inches
- Front Suspension – Double a-arm with sway bar and 10 inches of travel
- Rear Suspension – Torsional Trailing arm Independent (TTI) with external sway bar and 10 inches of travel
- Engine – Rotax 799.9 cc V-twin liquid-cooled
- Transmission – CVT standard engine braking (H,L,N,R,P)
- Front Brakes – Dual 220 mm ventilated disc brakes with hydraulic twin-piston calipers
- Rear Brakes – Dual 214 mm ventilated disc brakes with hydraulic single-piston calipers
- Fuel Capacity – 10 gallons
- Cargo Space – 4.8 gallons
- Towing capacity – 1,500 pounds
Additional Features:
- Rack Capacity – 600-pound dual-level cargo box (Upper level: 400 pounds and Lower level: 200 pounds)
- Anti-theft System – Digitally Encoded Security System (D.E.S.S.™)
- Prewired for winch
- 6-months BRP limited warranty
Series Summary: This model is great for longer outdoor rides with one of the highest fuel capacities of its size range. [9] This UTV will get you wherever you need to go, no matter what the terrain or the weather. Can-Am also has a wide variety of aftermarket upgrades and kits that you can use to increase storage capacity and speed. It can be easily converted into a five seater using a bump seat for younger passengers and replacing the current two back seats with a bench seat for three.
Aftermarket Add-On Seats
Some models have the option of purchasing more seats either at the time of sale or by using add-on aftermarket kits. One easy way to add extra space is a bump seat, which is great for kids. They work by being attached between two of the factory included seats. [1]
You can also choose to replace your seats with a bench seat, which will allow for more riders. If you have a four seater, then you can replace the back two seats with a bench to turn your UTV into a five seater. These benches will bolt into the seat base, so you want to make sure whichever one you buy is compatible with your UTV model. [2] The extra seat in the middle is usually smaller but will fit a child or pet.
Another option is to add a rumble seat that will fit into the dump bed of a sports utility UTV. These usually can flip up to give more bed space when they are not in use. [3] These come in sizes that can accommodate two or three extra riders, and the installation process is quick and easy.
Utility vs Sport Models
There are several reasons why you might need an odd number of seats for your UTV. Most of the sales floor vehicles that offer bench seats for additional passengers are designed for utility and hauling people and materials around private or commercial properties. However, larger sports UTVs are becoming quite popular as well, so keep an eye out for new models in the next few years.
You might need more seating than your four seater originally came with, or maybe you need more storage space in your six seater and decide to trade out benches for individual seats. Whatever the reason you find yourself in the market for a five seater side-by-side, 2021 already has one by Honda, and more manufacturers are starting to broaden the scope of their “build your own” UTV, including additional, family-sized seating.
Farming and Utility
Some models, like those in Yamaha’s Viking VI EPS Series, provide an excellent mix of increased cab seating and a bed for hauling materials. The solid build makes these workhorses excellent for taking the crew out for a recreational spin after a hard week’s work. They are ideal for work in rural locations. Also, all of the utility UTVs listed in our comparison guide have sport qualities that allow them to ride smoothly over almost any terrain and in inclement weather.
Sport Off-Roading
Enjoy brand new riding trails or old favorites with a family-sized sports model. These are fast, agile, and ready to take you wherever you need to go. There were some great sports UTVs listed above that could take you and your entire family on a fun adventure through nearby trails, mountains, or your local beach. However, we also have a page that provides a comparison guide for sports specific models for two seater UTVs in case you want to go riding on your own.
Where to Store Your Gear
You do not have to sacrifice significant storage space to accommodate the larger ride capacity. There are plenty of options for under-the-seat storage or strapping gear onto the cab panels using netting. Many of the four and six seater UTVs and the one five seater come with beds as well, and the seats can be folded down to make room for cargo boxes, dump beds, or other additional storage containers.
You can purchase accessories to extend storing capacity for hunting equipment, tools, and more. Also, there are hardcover and soft storage bags and boxes available in all shapes and sizes. These include the following.
- Overhead bags
- Door bags
- Trunk bag
- Kick panel bag
- Seat bags
- Center console bag
- Tie-down kits (of various sizes)
Conclusion
Family-sized UTVs are becoming increasingly common, as is the ability to fully customize your vehicle preferences before it ever leaves the assembly line. This allows you to purchase only the size that you need for the number of passengers that you intend to bring with you. There is nothing quite as unique as family road trips across untraveled terrain. Bring unforgettable memories to life with one of these fantastic UTVs.
Most of these brands also provide superior protection for their larger vehicles. This can come in the form of closed cab packages or fully netted windows. Heavy-duty steel-reinforced tube frames are also standard though you can get additional protection added on (e.g., enhanced roll cage, etc.). These popular companies are working hard to make sure you and your family can have a safe, fun time out in nature. Do not forget to check out our other comparison guides for additional sports and utility models that might be perfect for your lifestyle and UTV requirements.
References
- https://www.utvmountainaccessories.com/products/general-universal-bump-seat
- https://www.everythingpolarisranger.com/polaris-ranger-jump-seats-by-quadboss.html
- https://www.prpseats.com/product/gt3-1000-suspension-rear-bench-for-polaris-rzr-4-color-options/?attribute_pa_color=grey
- https://powersports.honda.com/sxs/recutility/pioneer-1000-5/features
- https://www.utvmountainaccessories.com/products/teryx-4-rear-bench-seat
- https://www.kawasaki.com/Products/2020-MULE-PRO-FXT-EPS?cm_re=VEHICLEDETAILS-_-COMPARABLEMODELS-_-VEHICLEDETAILS
- https://general.polaris.com/en-us/general-4-1000-eps/features/
- https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/recreation-side-by-side/models/wolverine-x4#
- https://can-am.brp.com/off-road/us/en/models/side-by-side-vehicles/commander.html