The best side-by-side for the money is the cheapest model that does your main job. For 2027, the Kawasaki Mule SX starts at $7,799, the Polaris Ranger 500 at $9,999 and the Honda Pioneer 520 at $10,999. For more seats, the Honda Pioneer 700-4 starts at $14,399. For trail riding, the Can-Am Maverick Trail starts at $15,499.
Starting prices below were read from each manufacturer's website on 12 October 2026. They are 2027 models and do not include destination charges, dealer fees or taxes.
| Model (2027) | Type | Starting price | What stands out |
|---|
| Kawasaki Mule SX | Compact utility | $7,799 | 1,100 lb towing |
| Polaris Ranger 500 | Compact utility | $9,999 | Standard winch, 500 lb dump box |
| Honda Pioneer 520 | Compact utility | $10,999 | 50 in. wide |
| Polaris Ranger 600 | Mid-size utility | $11,999 | 44 hp |
| Honda Pioneer 700 | Mid-size utility | $12,899 | 675cc engine |
| Can-Am Defender XU HD7 | Mid-size utility | $12,999 | 52 hp |
| Can-Am Commander DPS | Crossover | $14,199 | Built for trail and work |
| Honda Pioneer 700-4 | Four-seat utility | $14,399 | Four seats |
| Polaris Ranger 1000 | Full-size utility | $14,499 | 61 hp, 2,500 lb towing |
| Can-Am Maverick Trail X | Trail | $15,499 | 50 in. wide |
| Polaris General 1000 | Crossover | $16,999 | 100 hp, 600 lb box |
| Polaris RZR Trail | Trail | $16,999 | 75 hp |
| Polaris RZR XP | Sport | $19,999 | 114 hp, 64 in. wide |
Compare these models with side-by-sides for sale on Searchshop.
These picks come from published data, not test drives. For each type of side-by-side, the lowest-priced 2027 models from Polaris, Can-Am, Honda and Kawasaki were compared on starting price, seats, engine and the hauling figures each manufacturer publishes. Every price and specification was read from the manufacturer's own website on 12 October 2026.
Horsepower, towing and box figures are the manufacturers' own claims. Honda's pages give engine size rather than horsepower for the Pioneer, so Honda models are described by engine size. CFMoto's website could not be read on that date, so CFMoto models are not included, and other brands were not compared.
These three are the lowest-priced adult side-by-sides in this guide, and each has a cargo bed and a hitch.
- Kawasaki Mule SX: from $7,799. It has a 401cc air-cooled engine, 1,100 lb of towing capacity and a 400 lb cargo bed. The base model has two-wheel drive with a dual-mode rear differential. Four-wheel-drive versions start at $8,599 for the Mule SX 4x4 ST.
- Polaris Ranger 500: from $9,999. It has a 28 hp engine, all-wheel drive, a 500 lb dump box, 1,500 lb of towing capacity, a standard winch and a 58.5-inch width.
- Honda Pioneer 520: from $10,999. It has a 518cc liquid-cooled engine, an automatic transmission, a 50-inch width, a 450 lb tilt bed and 1,000 lb of towing capacity.
The Mule SX has the lowest price of the three. The Ranger 500 has the largest box and towing figures of the three, plus a winch. The Pioneer 520's 50-inch width suits narrow gates and trails limited to 50 inches.
Mid-size models in this guide start between $11,999 and $12,999. The Polaris Ranger 600 starts at $11,999 with a 44 hp engine, a 500 lb dump box and 1,500 lb of towing capacity, in two-seat and four-seat versions. The Honda Pioneer 700 starts at $12,899 with a 675cc engine and an automatic transmission. The Can-Am Defender XU HD7 starts at $12,999 with a 52 hp single-cylinder engine.
Within each brand, the step from compact to mid-size buys more engine: the Ranger 600 has 44 hp against 28 hp for the Ranger 500, and the Pioneer 700's 675cc engine is larger than the Pioneer 520's 518cc. Can-Am also offers the Defender XU with a 65 hp HD9 engine in higher packages.
For carrying more than one passenger, the Honda Pioneer 700-4 is a four-seater from $14,399 with a 675cc engine. The Polaris Ranger 600 also comes in a four-seat version, so compare its price for that version. The Polaris Ranger 1000 starts at $14,499 with a 61 hp engine, a 1,000 lb box and 2,500 lb of towing capacity, and comes in three-seat and six-seat versions.
The Ranger 1000 costs $100 more than the Pioneer 700-4 at the starting price. Its 2,500 lb towing figure is the highest Polaris publishes for the models in this guide. Check the price of the exact seat version you want, because the starting price is for the lowest-priced version.
Crossover side-by-sides suit buyers who ride trails on weekends and haul during the week. The Can-Am Commander starts at $14,199 for the Commander DPS, which has Dynamic Power Steering. The Commander XT adds a 4,500 lb winch and a hard roof, from $15,499.
The Polaris General 1000 starts at $16,999 with a 100 hp engine, a 600 lb dumping box, 1,500 lb of towing capacity and a 62.5-inch width.
For riding rather than hauling, the two lowest-priced trail models in this guide are both built for 50-inch trails. The Can-Am Maverick Trail X starts at $15,499 and includes a 4,500 lb winch and a hard roof. The Polaris RZR Trail starts at $16,999 with a 75 hp engine, a 50-inch stance and 10 inches of suspension travel.
A step up, the Polaris RZR XP starts at $19,999 with a 114 hp engine and a 64-inch width. Can-Am's 2027 Maverick Sport X starts at $18,499 and the Maverick X3 DS at $19,999. For sport models sorted by trail width, read the best sport UTVs guide.
A manufacturer's starting price is not what you will pay at the dealer. Each brand lists destination or transport charges separately:
- Polaris: $1,095 on the Ranger 500, $1,145 on the Ranger 600 and RZR Trail, $1,195 on the Ranger 1000, $1,245 on the RZR XP and $1,295 on the General 1000.
- Honda: $1,185 on the Pioneer 700 and Pioneer 700-4. Honda's page did not yet list a destination charge for the Pioneer 520.
- Can-Am: transport and preparation are not included in its starting prices.
- Kawasaki: the base price excludes destination, options, taxes, title, license and dealer fees.
Ask every dealer for a written out-the-door price on the exact model and model year. Dealer stock can include 2026 models, and their prices can differ from 2027 prices.
Start with the job, then pick the cheapest model that does it.
- Light chores on a budget: Kawasaki Mule SX.
- Chores with a winch and more towing: Polaris Ranger 500.
- Narrow gates and 50-inch trails: Honda Pioneer 520.
- Four seats on a budget: Honda Pioneer 700-4, or the four-seat Polaris Ranger 600.
- Heavy towing and hauling: Polaris Ranger 1000.
- Trail riding first: Can-Am Maverick Trail X or Polaris RZR Trail.
Browse side-by-sides for sale on Searchshop and compare dealer prices with the starting prices above. Before you buy, read the side-by-side buying guide, compare brands in Polaris vs Can-Am, and estimate payments with the ATV loan calculator or the ATV and UTV financing guide.
The Kawasaki Mule SX is the lowest-priced adult side-by-side in this guide, at a $7,799 base price for the 2027 two-wheel-drive model. Four-wheel-drive versions start at $8,599 for the Mule SX 4x4 ST. Youth models cost less: Polaris lists the 2027 Ranger 150 EFI youth model from $6,999. All of these prices exclude destination charges, dealer fees and taxes.
Destination charges add $1,095 to $1,295 on the Polaris and Honda models in this guide. Polaris lists charges in that range on its 2027 Ranger, RZR and General models here, and Honda lists $1,185 on the 2027 Pioneer 700 and Pioneer 700-4. Dealer fees and taxes come on top, so ask each dealer for a written out-the-door price before comparing offers.
The 2027 Polaris Ranger 500 has a standard winch from its $9,999 starting price. Can-Am lists a 4,500 lb winch on the Maverick Trail X from $15,499, the Commander XT from $15,499 and the Maverick Sport X from $18,499. For any other model, check whether the dealer's unit includes one before comparing prices.
