Yamaha ATV and Side-by-Side 2018 Award Recap

Starting off the New Year right, we’re excited to recap the prestigious awards Yamaha earned last year for several ATV and SxS models and categories. This couldn’t have been achieved without a great, dedicated Yamaha family, so to all the employees involved, the Motorsports Group wishes to thank you for everything you do to help make Yamaha an award-winning company with the most Proven Off-Road ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles around! Now, for a closer look at the litany of awards last year.

Click each title below for the full article and award info 

Wolverine X2 Best of the Best Field & Stream
“The perfect hunting rig needs to be roomy enough to carry a couple of hunters and all their gear, powerful
enough to get them into hard-to-reach places, and quiet enough to not send deer bolting in every direction,” wrote Field and Stream contributor Rick Sosebee. “The new Yamaha Wolverine X2 does all that, with a killer warranty and a surprising extra that’s perfect for the outdoorsman.”

Wolverine X2 Sport Rec UTV of the Year Off-Road.com
“Tried and true elements remain on the X2 to make your trail adventures unforgettable, including the large capacity dump bed and a plethora of interior storage areas, but new items like the parallel twin cylinder 847cc engine and new interior layout are what really make this vehicle something very special in the marketplace.” – Casey Cordeiro, Off-Road.com 

Wolverine X4 Beast of the East UTV Driver
“When it comes to a family UTV that needs to negotiate tight wooded trails, muddy, slippery conditions, and terrain that can be changed in an instant by environmental factors beyond anyone’s control, the Yamaha Wolverine X4 is clearly the Beast of the East!” – UTV Driver

Wolverine X4 Shootout Winner UTV Action
“The new Wolverine X4 has better handling, more legroom for the back seats, less cabin noise and vibration, better brakes and EBS, and self-adjusting rear shocks. It’s aimed at exploring East Coast tight trails, but it’s very effective and popular out west and all points in between. We pick the more quiet and agile Yamaha.” – UTV Action

YXZ1000R SS One of the Best UTVs of 2018 Dirt Trax
“When it comes to the YXZ, I think that Yamaha is doing just about everything right with that vehicle. The overall layout, styling, the way that you shift and interact with it, the suspension … just a little bit of everything. Honestly, there are few things on that vehicle that I would change. Obviously, the most fun part is the driveability and the way it puts power to the ground …” – AJ Lester, DirtTrax TV

YXZ1000R Best UTV of the Year Off-Road.com
“The redesigned 2019 Yamaha YXZ1000R has over 70 enhancements for the new model year, and every single one of those enhancements make this vehicle a much better overall package. We love the gearing and transmission logic changes, radiator relocation, and larger 29” stock tires.” – Casey Cordeiro, Off-Road.com

Kodiak 450 Golden Bullseye Award NRA’s American Hunter
“Of paramount importance for Yamaha engineers in the design of the Kodiak 450 ATV was bringing to market a mid-sized ATV that would accommodate small, medium and large riders, bring immediate confidence to the novice ATV enthusiast, and meet the expectations of the seasoned ATV rider. This new design had to accommodate tight-riding conditions, the kind often encountered when navigating the backcountry. Equally important, this new ATV had to be offered at an attractive price point, one that would fit nicely into the family budget. Long story short, these are the very specifications of the 2019 Yamaha Kodiak 450, and they should satisfy the needs of many outdoor sportsmen.”– Lazelle Jones, NRA Field Editor

Kodiak 450 ATV of the Year ATV Illustrated
“The Kodiak 450 gets right to the heart of what utility ATVs are all about; getting the work done, and having a little fun. It’s a great machine that offers excellent value and it’s our pick as the Best ATV of 2018.” – ATV Illustrated​​​​​​​

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Kodiak 700 Best Budget ATV of 2019 ATV.com
“... there are some significant changes to the 2019 model that pushed it to earn our award for Best Budget ATV of 2019, and the biggest one isn’t something we don’t already know about – reliability.” - Derrek Sigler, ATV.com