Since most people get an ATV to go on off-road adventures where they ride on bumpy roads steep hills, going for a tougher model is always a good idea. You don’t want to hit a pothole and end up with a broken suspension system or any other damages that can cost a small fortune in repairs. Today, I will show you the toughest ATV on the market and the specifications that make it so good.
Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition is the best ATV for mudding. The quad is powered by a ProStar 850cc 4-stroke twin-engine, and it uses aluminum wheels alongside an independent Double A-Arm suspension system to withstand any shocks. The Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition is a premium ATV model that works best in rugged terrains, especially in mud. The Steel frame is paired with composite body material so that riders never have to worry about damage or cracks when hitting any sort of obstacle.
If you are curious to find out what other specifications Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition has to offer, you should consider keeping reading. Stick around for the end because I am also presenting a cheaper alternative.
What is the Toughest ATV?
First Place: Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition
Hands down, the Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition is one of the toughest ATVs ever built. Polaris is a popular brand that is renowned for making some of the best quads on the market. The Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition is not an exception to that rule falling into the “premium” category.
If you pay attention to the design and the specifications of the ATV, you will quickly realize that every component has been designed to make the Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition the toughest ATV available on the market. The designers equipped the four wheeler with 29.5-inch high lifter outlaw tires so that you can go over any type of obstacle. That’s not all!
The ATV is equipped with a shielded clutch and engine intake ducting. As a result, you can even go through to water and never have to worry about getting the quad flooded. Obviously, you need to be careful when riding through bodies of water not to let go of the gas. Nonetheless, this feature does add up to the credits that make Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition the toughest ATV on the market.
The powerful ProStar 850cc 4-stroke twin engine is liquid-cooled and delivers 85 horsepower. Since this is an ATV that we are talking about, 85 horsepower is more than anyone needs for an adrenaline-fueled experience. Most sedans are slower than this. What’s cool about having such a powerful engine is the fact that you don’t need to worry about going through mud or riding on hills. You will be able to get on top of anything without an issue.
Second Place: Honda Fourtrax Rancher 420 4×4
If you are looking for a budget-friendly alternative, you can never go wrong with the Honda Fourtrax Rancher 420 4×4. Honda makes some of the world’s toughest ATVs, and this model is the perfect example. The four wheeler can tow up to 848 lbs. and it is fueled by a 420cc engine that delivers up to 26 horsepower. Yes, this is much slower than the Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition, but it’s way more than enough to have a good time while riding trails.
Even though the Honda Fourtrax Rancher 420 4×4 is almost half the price of the Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition, you shouldn’t be fooled by this and think that it’s not a durable ATV, quite the opposite. The Honda Fourtrax Rancher 420 4×4 stands out with its automatic DCT transmission that delivers excellent control, fast shifts, and an automatic program that downshifts so that you can focus on enjoying the ride.
Honda used steel construction for the racks when designing the Honda Fourtrax Rancher 420 4×4, and you can feel this right from the moment you get on top of it. The four wheeler is designed to go through rugged terrain. You can be sure that it won’t break after a couple of hours of hard riding. It’s also important to mention that the ATV uses independent double-wishbone front suspension with 6.69 inches of travel and a swingarm with a single shock on the rear side with 6.69 inches of travel.
Final Words
As w can see above, Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition is the toughest ATV on the market right now. If you have the money and can afford to make such a big investment, I can’t recommend the ATV enough. You can use it for all sorts of activities. Starting with trail riding and ending with hauling cargo, the quad will not disappoint.
On the other hand, the Honda Fourtrax Rancher 420 4×4 is also an excellent option. The ATV sells for half the price of the Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition, and despite that, it still falls into the premium category. This is because Honda didn’t shy away from equipping the quad with durable parts and a powerful engine.
