A Comparison Between ATVs vs. UTVs

If you want to go off-roading, then you need a powersports vehicle. Powersports vehicles like ATVs and UTVs are about the third of the size of a typical passenger car and they’re ideal for traversing difficult terrain, including hard-pack dirt, mud, grass, and sand, as well as rocky areas. However, it is important to understand the difference between these two types of powersports vehicles before you buy one, and this comparison should help.

ATV Overview

An all-terrain vehicle, commonly abbreviated as “ATV” and also known as a four-wheeler or a quad, is a type of powersports vehicle that is primarily designed to be ridden by one person at a time. With a set of handlebars and a straddle-style seat, riding an ATV is similar to riding a motorcycle. ATVs are agile and tend to handle well in mudding areas and on twisting trails. Some ATVs can handle work and may be useful for getting around a worksite or farm.

UTV Overview

Utility terrain vehicles or UTVs, also called side-by-sides and utility vehicles, resemble a car more than ATVs do. With pairs of seats that can seat anywhere from two to six passengers at a time, these vehicles are the more capacious option. UTVs are operated using a steering wheel and gas/brake pedals, and they tend to have features like seatbelts, canopies, and half-doors for safety and protection.

UTVs are excellent for transporting work crews, hauling cargo, and going hunting. Some smaller models may also be good for trail-riding with friends and family.

Which Vehicle is Right For Me?

If you want something small for a solo rider that is primarily for recreational off-roading, then an ATV will be a better fit. However, if you want to carry several passengers in your vehicle and you need it to handle heavy-duty work tasks, a UTV may work better for you. Each type of vehicle can typically be used for the opposite purpose, though, so it’s important to check out the features and hauling capacities to see if you can use the vehicle for every purpose you need it to fulfill.

Stop by one of our locations in either Winnipeg, MB, or Kenora, ON, to take a tour of our current inventory of utility vehicles and four-wheelers for sale. Winnipeg Sport & Leisure proudly serves our Canadian customers in the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba.