When it comes to choosing from a diesel or gasoline vehicle when purchasing a UTV, the cost-benefit analysis can get a little complicated. In the end, it is going to largely depend on what you need out of your UTV mostly. If you actually intend to use it as a workhorse around the ranch or worksite, then a diesel vehicle may save you some money in the long run. [1]
If you are looking for a superior utility vehicle that you can also take blazing through mountain trails, then a diesel model will probably not be the best option. While they do incredibly well as work or rancher UTVs, they do not have the horsepower necessary for sports entertainment driving. While the advantages of diesel side-by-sides are tied to the long-term money saved, you will still need to consider if it is the best vehicle for whatever performance you are expecting.
UTVs powered by gasoline tend to be more powerful and faster, but they also will have a shorter engine lifespan overall, and most of them are not built for the heavy-duty workload that diesel side-by-sides are created to handle.
There are a lot of significant points to consider when you are looking at buying a UTV. You must decide if you need something strictly to do work around your farm or if you want something you can use as a workhorse during the week and a cool toy on the weekends. This article will provide you with a breakdown of the differences, advantages, and provide comparison features among the top manufacturers of diesel UTV models.
Table of Contents
Performance on diesel UTVs
Generally, engines that are powered by diesel tend to last longer and have higher performance overall. However, with that longevity comes quite a drawback. It is not going to be capable of the same speed and power moves that gasoline alternatives would.
They make excellent work vehicles for rural worksites and around the home (e.g., transporting animal feed, building materials, firewood, etc.). Because these UTVs are designed for utility and not for a sport, they usually come with more substantial cabs, doors, windows, beds, and other features designed specifically to make transporting heavy loads easier. Many of them have dump beds as well. [3]
Utility packages & features
There are diesel utility vehicles and packages for almost any task you could want. For example, the Kubota RTV-X1100C has a climate-controlled cab and the ability to add plows for fields, snow, or dirt, making it great for field hand work in inclement weather climates. [2] You can see our article on other great utility UTVs here.
Most manufacturers that provide diesel UTVs have series with multiple package options or a “build your own” option to make sure that it has everything you are looking for without paying for a lot of aftermarket add-ons. Their high cargo capacity means you can haul a lot of materials. [3] A lot of the top brand names also have crew size UTVs to drive your whole group around the worksite.
Most diesel UTVs include but are not limited to, the following features:
- Dump bed and bed extensions
- Hard half or full doors
- Windshield, windows, back window, and hard roof
- Some have full climate-controlled cabs
- Snowplow, winch, and towing systems
- Bed toolboxes
Fuel capacity and economy
The UTVs which are powered by diesel have a better overall fuel economy. They tend to have better gas mileage, which is good because they usually have smaller fuel tanks. [1] While it will depend on where you live, whether there will be significant savings at the gas pump when you fuel up your UTV, overall savings will definitely come into effect. Less diesel will last longer in your UTV, so even for a higher pump price, they are highly cost-effective.
For additional information, check out our fuel economy article.
Engine sound
All diesel engines have a louder, rattling sound that is distinctive and caused by rapid combustion and pressure variation within the UTV engine process. Not only is there a louder sound, but the actual body of the UTV will move more than a gasoline counterpart. This can lead to a bit of a rougher ride overall.
Why choose a diesel powered UTV?
If you want to purchase a UTV for your worksite, then a diesel-powered option is likely to save you from a higher cost in the long run. Overall they are not priced much higher than traditional gasoline-powered UTVs, and their performance level is guaranteed to remain higher throughout their lifetime. Some of the cheapest diesel options come with a boatload of great features.
Take, for example, the John Deere HPX815E, which is a traditional Gator utility model. It comes with 4WD, high-back bucket or bench seats, heavy-duty suspension, a bed with removable tailgate, and a dump bed. You can also convert the bed into a flatbed for more effortless movement of equipment. All of that comes with a low price tag of less than $12,999. That is a genuinely cost-effective addition as a ranch or commercial business tool.
You are not going to be able to enjoy the same outdoor freedom that comes with surfing dunes or rock crawling with gasoline-powered utility/sports models. However, you will get some peace of mind in knowing that the UTV you have invested in will be with you for a long time pulling its weight.
Now that you understand what to expect out of a diesel UTV, we are going to give you a breakdown of some top series and models along with some of the features that make them ideal for hauling and heavy workloads. There are several manufacturers that we did not cover, including JCB and Honda. While they have some older diesel models, it is not easy to find official listings.
Manufacturers of diesel Side-by-Sides
Below we have a list of popular companies that provide diesel-fueled UTVs and alternative Utility vehicles. Some of these manufacturers also offer package options where you can choose for a model to be diesel or gas. All of the specifications listed below came directly from the manufacturer’s website to ensure accuracy.
Kubota
Series: RTV-X Series
Model: RTV-X900
MSRP: $13,699
Passengers: 2
Features:
- Engine: 3-cylinders, 4-cycle, diesel, OHV
- Horsepower: 16.1 HP
- Transmission: Variable Hydro Transmission (VHT-X)
- Fuel Capacity: 7.9 Gallons
- Cargo Bed Capacity: 1102 lbs
- Towing Capacity: 1300 lbs
Series: RTV-X Series
Model: RTV-X1120
MSRP: $14,299
Passengers: 2
Features:
- Engine: 3-cylinders, 4-cycle, diesel, OHV
- Horsepower: 18.5 HP
- Transmission: Variable Hydro Transmission (VHT-X)
- Fuel Capacity: 7.9 Gallons
- Cargo Bed Capacity: 1102 lbs
- Towing Capacity: 1300 lbs
Series: RTV-X Series
Model: RTV-X1100C
MSRP: $20,999
Passengers: 2
Features:
- Engine: 3-cylinders, 4-cycle, diesel, OHV
- Horsepower: 18.5 HP
- Transmission: Variable Hydro Transmission (VHT-X)
- Fuel Capacity: 7.9 Gallons
- Cargo Bed Capacity: 1102 lbs
- Towing Capacity: 1300 lbs
Series: RTV-X Series
Model: RTV-X1140
MSRP: $16,999
Passengers: 2
Features:
- Engine: 3-cylinders, 4-cycle, diesel, OHV
- Horsepower: 18.5 HP
- Transmission: Variable Hydro Transmission (VHT-X)
- Fuel Capacity: 7.9 Gallons
- Long Bed Capacity: 1102 lbs
- Short Bed Capacity: 661 lbs
- Towing Capacity: 1300 lbs
Polaris
Series: Ranger Series
Model: Ranger Diesel (2011-2018)
Price: $12,999
Passengers: 3
Features:
- Engine: 904cc, 3 cylinders, single-source engine
- Horsepower: 24 hp
- Payload: 1500 lb
Kawasaki
Series: Mule Pro-DX Series
Model: Mule Pro-DX
MSRP: $14,199
Passengers: 3
Fuel: Bosch in-line injection pump
Features
- Engine: 4-stroke, 3-cylinder, OHV, liquid-cooled, diesel
- Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with (H,L,N,R)
- Fuel Capacity: 7.9 Gallons
- Payload: 1581 lb
- Towing Capacity: 2000 lb
Series: Mule Pro-DXT Series
Model: Standard Model
MSRP: $14,399
Passengers: 3-person (1 row), 6 person (2 row)
Fuel: Bosch in-line injection pump
Features:
- Engine: 4-stroke, 3-cylinder, OHV, liquid-cooled, diesel
- Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with (H,L,N,R)
- Fuel Capacity: 7.9 Gallons
- Cargo Bed Capacity: 1000 lb (3-person) 350 lb (6-person)
- Payload: 1581 lb
- Towing Capacity: 2000 lb
Series: Mule Pro-DXT Series
Model: Mule Pro-DXT EPS
MSRP: $15,199
Passengers: 3-person (1 row), 6 person (2 row)
Fuel: Bosch in-line injection pump
Features:
- Engine: 4-stroke, 3-cylinder, OHV, liquid-cooled, diesel
- Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with (H,L,N,R)
- Fuel Capacity: 7.9 Gallons
- Cargo Bed Capacity: 1000 lb (3-person) 350 lb (6-person)
- Payload: 1581 lb
- Towing Capacity: 2000 lb
Series: Mule Pro-DXT Series
Model: Mule Pro-DXT EPS Diesel FE
MSRP: $15,399
Passengers: 3-person (1 row), 6 person (2 row)
Fuel: Bosch in-line injection pump
Features
- Engine: 4-stroke, 3-cylinder, OHV, liquid-cooled, diesel
- Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with (H,L,N,R)
- Fuel Capacity: 7.9 Gallons
- Cargo Bed Capacity: 1000 lb (3-person) 350 lb (6-person)
- Payload: 1581 lb
- Towing Capacity: 2000 lb
John Deere
Series: Work Series Utility Vehicle (Gator)
Model: HPX815E
MSRP: $12,869
Features:
- Engine: 3 cyl, 4-cycle diesel, liquid cooling system
- Horsepower: 18.2 hp
- Fuel Capacity: 5.3 Gallons
- Cargo Bed Capacity: 1000 lb
- Towing Capacity: 1300 lb
Series: Work Series Utility Vehicle (Gator)
Model: TH 6×4 Diesel
MSRP: $13,449
Features:
- Engine: 3 cyl, 4-cycle diesel, liquid cooling system
- Horsepower: 18.2 hp
- Fuel Capacity: 5 Gallons
- Cargo Bed Capacity: 1200 lb
- Towing Capacity: 1400 lb
Mahindra
Series: Retriever 1000 Diesel Series
Model: Standard
MSRP: $16,999
Passengers: 3
Fuel: Injected Diesel
Features:
- Engine: 1000cc, Kohler Engine
- Horsepower: 24
- Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
- Fuel Capacity: 9 Gallons
- Payload: 1600 lb
- Towing Capacity: 2100 lb
Series: Retriever 1000 Diesel Series
Model: Flexhauler
MSRP: N/A
Passengers: 3
Fuel: Injected Diesel
Features:
- Engine: 1000cc, Kohler Engine
- Horsepower: 24
- Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
- Fuel Capacity: 9 Gallons
- Payload: 1600 lb
- Towing Capacity: 2100 lb
Series: Retriever 1000 Diesel Series
Model: Crew
MSRP: N/A
Fuel: Injected Diesel
Passengers: 6
Features:
- Engine: 1000cc, Kohler Engine
- Horsepower: 24
- Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
- Fuel Capacity: 9 Gallons
- Payload: 1600 lb
- Towing Capacity: 2100 lb
Series: Retriever 1000 Diesel Series
Model: Long Bed
MSRP: N/A
Fuel: Injected Diesel
Passengers: 3
Features:
- Engine: 1000cc, Kohler Engine
- Horsepower: 24
- Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
- Fuel Capacity: 9 Gallons
- Payload: 1600 lb
- Towing Capacity: 2100 lb
A few things to keep in mind
If you have other equipment that runs on gasoline, then make sure that you store your diesel fuel in a marked container so that you do not mix it up with any gas you may have. Using the wrong fuel in your diesel UTV will significantly damage the engine.
If you live in a hot environment, it is best to get a UTV with a liquid-cooled diesel engine. Luckily, most of the popular manufacturers have it built-in with their diesel models. These machines are dependable and will be able to last you through decades around your worksite or home if you take care of them properly.
While diesel UTVs do not require the same level of maintenance as their gas counterparts, you will still need to make sure that you do address anything that does come up immediately, ensuring your vehicle lives a long and productive life.
On average, the price difference between a gasoline and diesel-powered UTV is between $2,000 to $3,000, which is quickly recouped in the money you will save, not needing to repair or replace costly parts which tend to happen as gasoline UTVs over time. The main draw of a diesel UTV is the money you will save not having to continually fix small or large issues that crop up due to overexertion.
Summary
If you saw a UTV in the list provided above that looked like it had everything you are looking for in terms of power and hauling capability, then remember that you will not be able to treat it like a sports/utility hybrid. These are meant for work, and while they can still be quite fun to drive, you will not get the same entertainment value out of them. It is best to get a diesel UTV only if your end goal is to have a long-term vehicle to help you do the heavy lifting.
You will have a few drawbacks in exchange, which include less power, speed, and an increase in noise level. The fantastic thing about diesel vehicles is that if you practice pro-active care and treat them correctly, they can potentially last a lifetime.
Sources
The sources for this article is listed below together with other useful links on the subject:
- https://www.progressiveforage.com/forage-production/equipment/mechanics-corner-diesel-vs-gas-in-rtvs-what-s-the-difference-and-what-s-best-for-you
- https://www.kubotausa.com/products/utility-vehicles/full-size-utility-vehicles/rtv-x1100c
- https://www.kubotausa.com/utility-vehicles#full-size-utility-vehicles
- https://ranger.polaris.com/en-us/
- https://www.mahindrausa.com/–series-utv-1000-diesel-standard
- https://www.kawasaki.com/sidexside/mule/mule-3-to-6-passenger/mule-pro-dxt-diesel?cm_re=GLOBALNAV-_-PRODUCTGROUPLIST-_-MPP
- https://www.deere.com/en/gator-utility-vehicles/