2012 Kawasaki Teryx4 750 4x4 SxS

We Review Kawasaki's First 4-Seat UTV

November 21, 2011

By Brit Mansell
Photos by Adam Campbell

Brimstone Recreation in Huntsville, TN is well known throughout the country for one of the best trail systems in the Southeast consisting of tight woods, large hill climbs, and enough trail mileage to thoroughly test any type of off road vehicle. However, at first thought, this seemed like an odd place to intro a four-seat vehicle. Tight trails and the long wheelbase of a four seater are an obvious recipe for broken parts and a long day in the dirt. I was very curious to see how Kawasaki moved us around the park avoiding the tight trails.

As we rounded the corner coming into Brimstone and got the first glance of the lineup of shiny new Teryx 4’s, it was immediately obvious why they brought us to Brimstone. The wheelbase on the Teryx 4 is extremely short for a four seater. It was at that moment that I realized Kawasaki might have just created a whole new market for family-oriented outdoor activities. This small wheelbase might now give a four-seater option to people who are limited on trailer storage capacity. There are quite a few toy haulers running up and down the road that literally don’t have enough length for some of the longer four seat UTV’s.

Not only is the wheelbase a major feature, there is a long list of highlights for this vehicle that make it standout in the crowd.

Standout Features:
-86.1” wheelbase (RZR-4: 103”)
-Wide stance – 52” (RZR-4: 50”)
-Tilting front hood – easier to maintain and clean
-Tubular steel front bumper
-New cartridge-style air filter element
-Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires
-Rear, sealed wet brake (extremely low maintenance)
-Precise engine braking
-Best in class interior room
-Rear piggyback shocks on all models
-Front piggyback shocks available on EPS and LE models
-All shocks are 3-way adjustable (compression, rebound, preload)
-Front sway bar
-Stadium seating (rear seats are slightly higher than front for a better view from the rear)
-Front and rear 12V outlets
-Front and rear drink holders

Vehicle Walkaround
The first thing I did when laying my hands on this vehicle was to hop in the back seat. I’m 6’2”, so I have lived most of my life needing more legroom in UTV’s. However, the Teryx 4 did not disappoint. I could ride all day long in the back seat without any issue, other than wanting to drive myself. There is ample room in the front and rear to accommodate even larger passengers. The extra height for the rear seats, dubbed “stadium seating”, provides great visibility to the rear seat passengers. This vehicle has also retained a very accommodating rear storage compartment. To give you an idea of the size, the compartment perfectly fits a large 100 qt. cooler.

The seating position and angle are very easy to enter and exit, making this vehicle great for work and play. The solid doors are easy to open and shut perfectly every time.