Rodeo Drive
Oct 1, 2007 10:16 AM, By Karen McMahon
On a sunny summer day, Team FIN farmers gathered to test-drive nine utility vehicles in our third UV Rodeo. Once again, the UV field improved and our test-drivers encountered several surprises
John Deere XUV 850D 4x4
John Deere returned to our rodeo with a machine that was very different from the Gator the company brought two years ago. “This vehicle is the most improved since the last rodeo,” stated Scott McPheeters, Gothenburg, NE. He called the vehicle well engineered and durable and noted its conveniences like blinkers and a horn.
The drivers tested Deere’s diesel XUV that is powered by a 24.6-hp Yanmar engine and reaches 30 mph. “I liked the diesel engine,” Clark McPheeters said. “It was really quiet going down the road. It’s just a well-mannered, predictable vehicle to drive. It could use just a little bit more power on the hills.”
The XUV’s bucket seat drew positive comments. “Deere had an adjustable seat that we could scoot all the way back,” commented Gary Appleby, Tuscola, IL. “Some of the vehicles didn’t have enough leg room.”
Another plus for the XUV was its handling. “It steered like it had power steering but didn’t,” reported Jack Appleby, Atwood, IL.
Suggested price: $10,599
Engine: 854cc, 24.6 hp, liquid cooled, 3 cyl., diesel
Cargo box: 1,000 lbs.
800/535-2967
www.johndeere.com/vehicles
Score: 4.44
Polaris Ranger XP Browning
Described as a workhorse, the Polaris Ranger XP won praise for the power created from a 40-hp, twin-cylinder Polaris engine. Top speed for the vehicle is 50 mph and it features on-demand all-wheel drive that needs no engagement from a driver. According to Polaris, the Browning Edition runs higher in price than other Rangers.
“Polaris rode the nicest and had good power,” Gervais concluded. “Top speed isn’t crucial, but for my application it is nice to have it to go between fields. The Ranger was the best blended package and I could ride it all day.”
The only consistent negative that the drivers listed was that the vehicle has a six-month warranty and not a one- or two-year warranty like the other UVs have.
Other drivers noted that the Ranger handled anything on the ride — from carrying cargo to driving up a rutted, mud-slick stream bank. As a result, they gave it high marks.
Suggested price: $12,299
Engine: 700cc, 40 hp, liquid-cooled, EFI
Cargo box: 1,000 lbs.
763/542-0500
www.polarisind.com
Score: 4.41
Land Pride 4420 Treker 4x4
Land Pride, a division of Great Plains Manufacturing, improved its standing among the test drivers since the last rodeo with its new 4420 Treker model. This vehicle earned top scores in a couple of categories with its 20-hp, V-twin Honda engine that speeds up to 30 mph. And the ride earned it considerable praise.
“I really enjoyed riding the Land Pride,” Brown reported. “I’m older and heavier and didn’t want to sit and bounce. It had a lot of power, nice smooth transmission and handled everything I put on it. It is middle-of-the-road for size and features. I would probably write a check for it.”
One driver noted that the Treker easily started up a steep hill even while loaded. The vehicle’s controls were simple, another driver remarked. This was a negative for another driver who said the vehicle was “generic.” And the suspension that one driver liked, another thought was “too squishy” until the vehicle was loaded.
Suggested price: $9,199
Engine: 620cc, 20 hp, V-twin, air cooled
Cargo box: 900 lbs.
800/231-9533
www.landpride.com
Score: 4.28
Next page: More individual Ratings - Arctic Cat, Bobcat, Kawasaki Mule
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