Kawasaki's New 2-Row UTV Delivers

PHILIPSBURG, Mont. (DTN) -- Bigger and better are normal steps in the progression of, well, about anything, and the UTV market has followed along in those steps, with one notable caveat. UTVs keep getting bigger, keep getting better and they most certainly keep getting fancier and more luxurious. That was clear last week as Kawasaki rolled its latest offering out for a group of reporters in the Montana mountains.

Snow piled up at The Ranch at Rock Creek, near Philipsburg, Montana, as the new Kawasaki Ridge Crew rolled over trail, through mud and into snow.

The Ridge was first introduced a little more than a year ago, in early 2024, and now the Japanese manufacturer has introduced a two-row version of the vehicle, tagging "Crew" onto the title to signify it can haul as many as six occupants.

The machine comes in two models with increasing price tags and feature lists, the Ridge Crew and Ridge XR Crew, which tops out with an even more option-heavy Limited version. The Crew starts at $30,999 and comes in candy permission red, and a camouflage scheme is offered at $31,799. The upgraded Crew XR, in ice gray or metallic graystone, costs $33,099, and the fully loaded Limited, in metallic bluish gray, costs $38,099.

The Crew, compared to the one-row Ridge, is longer in the frame by 31.5 inches and has a strengthened frame, improved brakes and suspension.

Between the Crew models, the XR has higher horsepower (116 to 92), 30-inch tires compared to 27 and variations in the seats, grill, bumper, taillights and differential lock. The XR also has slightly greater ground clearance, between 13.4 inches and 15.1 compared to 13.2-to-13.8 for the base.

CAB LIFE

Kawasaki arranged for many of those capabilities to be put to the test in a series of activities in Montana using the Limited model.

March in the area can be chancy when it comes to winter weather, but a good storm laid down 4 inches of fresh powder the day before test rides, covering up bare and muddy trails. More snow came during the rides, too, helping highlight one of the Ridge's primary appeals for both the one- and two-row models. The HVAC system kept the cabin plenty toasty as the snow swirled outside, warm and contained enough to warrant taking off coats, stocking hats and winter gloves to be piled in the open back seat. Crank that heat to high, and it felt like it could thaw a rancher on the coldest of mornings as quickly as any automobile.

That cabin is the heart of what Kawasaki was aiming for with this latest Ridge XR Crew, as well as last year's Ridge XR, and what sets the line apart from the two other product lines the company has: the Mule, which is geared more specifically toward utility, and the Teryx, which is aimed at sport and recreation. Ridge tries to slot in the middle of those two in terms of capability. It has a bed, unlike the Teryx, for instance. Except the Ridge comes with that cab, and Kawasaki is betting big that the full enclosed cab with an HVAC system will find a sweet spot on the market.

"First off, they're looking for luxury and that has comfort across all seasons," said Tomi Lutz, product manager for Kawasaki, envisioning the Ridge Crew customer. "Second, they want to share that experience with their family and friends, whether that's off roading, whether that's doing jobs. They want to be able to do it as a crew. Third is versatility. They want something they can do -- some light utility, but also be able to be recreational friendly, taking on trials and having fun after the work is done. Lastly, they're looking for a quality-driven experience. They're a little more affluent buyer that's willing to pay up for that brilliant experience."

SNOW TEST

The machine proved plenty capable in its Montana tests.

At one point, the bed was stacked full of small haybales. It'll fit at least three without having to employ straps (though it's probably not a bad idea at that number).

Kawasaki claims a 1,000-pound capacity to the bed as gas-assist, single-lever operation for help dumping it. There's a 2-inch hitch below the gate for towing, with a 2,500-pound capacity.

The four-wheel-drive and two-wheel-drive options were complimented by three driving modes on the machine, and all were capable of handling the sloshy spring mix on the ground. "Sport" mode offered a little more action while "work" and "normal" felt capable, as well. A demonstration featuring a snow-plowing blade charged through a short wall of snow and, using a front winch system, the machines were able to drag large fallen trees off the trail without a hiccup.

The Crew is also plenty well equipped for modern-day expectations. There's a 12-volt DC power outlet accessible from the front seats and another from the rear, as well as four total USB outlets, two in front in the glove box on the passenger side -- not the most convenient for the driver, but reachable -- and two in back, in the back side of the center consol. They are older USB-A plugs, for what it's worth, so pack an appropriate charger. In the XR Crew, there's an 8-inch Garmin Tread navigation and infotainment system.

TIGHTENING UP

There are a handful of areas where the Ridge still had room for refinement. The rear doors on each side were installed as suicide doors, which made getting both people and equipment in and out of the back somewhat awkward. Then, some of the integration of the extra features packed into the XR version didn't feel seamless. That level includes front and rear cameras, but they're only accessible on the driver's side dash screen, not the 8-inch Garmin screen in the center of the vehicle, like the camera feed would be on a SUV or truck. Further, the back camera is notably off center, making backing up a little less than natural. Finally, the video feed doesn't automatically pop up when shifting into reverse and only comes up after being selected via an on-screen menu.

FITTING IN

Beyond those smaller issues, any machine like the Ridge Crew needs to be one of compromise. The market asks for both comfort and the UTV form factor, and those don't inherently align. For instance, Kawasaki went to great pains to keep its Ridge line of machines with 64 inches width, the limit for use on trails in some states.

But that width demands some compromises, especially when you load two farmers and a center console with room for a pair of big Yeti tumblers (or even a third farmer, if they're all willing to leave their tumblers at home) into those 64 inches. It's not uncomfortable. The seats, even sitting three across, offer more width than the seats in the economy section of most commercial airliners. But there's simply not room for, say, an armrest along the door.

The Ridge Crew may have the finest interior finishing of any UTV on the market right now. The doors shut tight. The sound in the cab is manageable. The molded-plastic dash fits tight, and there's no rattle where there shouldn't be. It offers a smooth ride even in less-than-smooth terrain. And yet it's not automobile comfort because it's not an automobile. The cab can be washed out with a hose.

The whole thing can fit down those 64-inch-width trails. But, with the windows up, there's not a place for one's arm, which isn't something everyone might expect with a vehicle that can cost as much as $38,099. As manufacturers continue to ramp up the "luxury" in the UTV market, the absence of some comforts can start to be more noticeable. Then again, those expectations are likely already baked in when it comes to buying a machine like the Ridge Crew, a machine that very much delivers on its promises to tackle work and trail and do so comfortably in any weather.

Joel Reichenberger can be reached at Joel.Reichenberger@dtn.com

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