2003 Yamaha Kodiak 450 vs Bombardier Outlander 400
Shoot Out - or Hunting Partners?
We generally have two ways to compare a quad - get on one and decide if we like it, or set one (or more) side-by-side to pick a winner - we considered reviewing these two quads both ways, and found that they were generally pretty happy just hangin' together.
With a shootout, we are trying to pick a clear winner. With an in-depth review, we want to find all the features that sets a quad apart. With these two mid-size utilties in the ORC stable for several weeks, we found it difficult to do either. With 6 - 8 different riders and reviewers, of varying riding skill levels and testing environments, there was no clear winner - in fact, in some cases, reviewers preferred one over the other for the exact same reason another reviewer disliked the first quad entirely.
Overall approach - Yamaha comes
from a sport-quad success, so their quads are designed and styled
with a "sporty" look and feel. The seat and gas tank are slighly
narrower, the riding surface in fact lower to the ground; most of
the controls, including shifter and foot brake (too tiny?), appear
to be made as small as possible.
Bombardiers are born and bred in the harsh demanding Quebec back woods - they are proud of a reputation of solid, reliable utility quads, built for work and the comfort of a Cadillac on long trail rides.
Knowing that, and expecting the differing approaches from the manufacturers, here's how the Kodiak and the Outlander fared with our reviewers:
Yamaha Kodiak 450
 |
Bombardier Outlander
400  |
|
| Suspension | 1. Very rigid & stiff 2. Very forgiving & comfortable |
1. Very plush &
comfortable 2. Stiff and rough |
| Racks / Storage | 1. Plenty of room to carry
everything you need 2. Limited, but sturdy |
1. Like the out-of-the-weather
storage 2. A lot of space and storage |
| Guages | 1. Very clear and readable 2. Easy to read and see |
1. Very clear and easy to read 2. Good, easy to read |
| Shifter | 1. Very simple, shifts very
smoothly 2. Smooth, easy to use |
1. A bit stiff; not sure why you
have to step on brake to put it in gear 2. Stiff, hard to shift |
| Power/speed | 1. Good top end power; could use
more "grunt" in lower end 2. Good power and speed |
1. Great low end and mid torque;
could use a bit more top end 2. Felt limited |
| Comfort | 1. Okay, but not as good as others
I've ridden 2. Excellent; very plush ride |
1. Very comfy seat, comfortable
bars, easy to use controls 2. Fair, enjoyed the seat |
| Traction in 4wd | 1. Good traction in 4WD, climbs
well 2. Good - climbed everything I tried |
1. Great traction, fells like it
could go anywhere 2. Good - climbed everything |
| Looks | 1. Very boxy and squared off 2. Good |
1. Sporty and well-rounded 2. Too much plastic |
| What I liked | 1. Top speed, full floor
boards 2. Steering, gear shift, indicators and display |
1. Most everything - seat,
independent suspension is awesome. Great storage, tough fenders
(well-supported) 2. Comfy seat; looks cool, brakes work well |
| What I didn't like | 1. Seat could use a bit more
cushion; suspension way too stiff 2. Small racks |
1. Lack of top end speed, having
to step on brake to put in gear 2. Steering very hard in rocks and under load; power felt limited |
| Overall Impression | 1. Fun to ride, would suit most
off-road enthusiasts 2. Very fun to ride |
1. Great 4x4 utility with a sporty
feel 2. Enjoyed riding, but wold prefer Kodiak for power and comfort |
Okay, even back at the office,
it looked to us like these testers got their quads mixed up; how
could one say that the suspension was too stiff on one, and the
other tester said that about the opposite quad? The only thing they
agreed on was the Outlander lacked the top-end speed they found on
the Kodiak. However, on a different day, two different testers took
them out for head-to-head speed tests. Even with a 50cc
disadvantage, the Outlander surprisingly proved faster in multiple
flat drag test runs.
Overall it's a very fair judge
of these quad to say there IS no clear winner. You need to get on
them and ride them yourself, before selecting your favorite. Your
body size will affect how they handle, your riding requirements may
show a clear preference. Cost may be a factor; available
aftermarket equipment differs for some models. Just looking at
these two quads you will see a very different approach to styling -
while the Outlander is going for the "SUV-look," many feel it has
just too much tank-looking plastic. You will probably either love
it, or hate it. The Kodiak has a much more-traditional look, with
nothing especially memorable about it.
What we will admit to, that may
help you out - 
Outlander takes it for
rock crawling. The independent rear suspension and visco-lock
win the day. If stealth is important, you will also notice a
definate difference in engine noise - the Outlander can sneak
though the woods, while the Kodiak will give you away long before
they see you comin'.
In rough high speed
sections and whoops, we'd rather be on the Kodiak. It tracks
straight and reliably, the front end never noses in.
Mechanical Note - We must say
we had some mechanical issues with the Outlander - a pinched gasket
caused massive oil leak after it's first trip to a rough snowy
trail; dealer took care of that under warranty in no time. Next
trip out, we developed a major "clunk" in what appears to be the
rear diff or CV joint; it's headed back to the dealer tomorrow.
We'll update this story if we have a diagnosis prior to press time.
The Kodiak - reliable, but has a clunk of it's own in 4wd, and
engine braking does make a rather grinding whine we'd rather not
hear.
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