The Teryx 750 4x4 is the newest vehicle in the fast-growing side x side market and offers a great balance between work and play.  Kawasaki has aptly named it a Recreation Utility Vehicle (RUV) and is poised to compete with the immensely popular Yamaha Rhino.

Powering the Teryx is a powerful 750cc V-Twin powerplant that has been slightly modified from its typical assignment of powering the Brute Force 750 4x4 ATV. The 90-degree V-Twin is an ideal engine for a sidexside because its long and narrow design allows it to be placed in the middle of the chassis between the two seats. Unlike its Brute Force cousin the Teryx uses twin 34mm carburetors instead of EFI. Aside from being slightly harder to start than an EFI machine, the carbs work great. The engine is very responsive and has plenty of power to take the Teryx almost anywhere you need to go. Even in the sand dunes it would take a lot of driver negligence to get stuck.

The Teryx features a CVT transmission with high and low ranges for instantaneous acceleration. Two or four wheel drive can be selected easily by a button on the dash. This system worked remarkably well on our test ride with no spine-tingling gear crunches when switching from two to four wheel drive. The rear axle is always locked, while the front features a limited slip differential. This gives the option to distribute torque equally to both front wheels for maximum traction using a hand lever.

Although the Teryx can seat two adults comfortably inside the cab, it will still fit inside the bed of a full-size pick-up truck. Only a couple of inches bigger in length and width than the Yamaha Rhino, the chassis is built from large diameter thin-walled tubular steel and features sport-performance suspension. Front and rear suspension travel of 7.5” is achieved with long dual a-arms on the front and IRS on the rear. Adjustable gas-charged Kayaba shocks are used front and rear with remote reservoir units on the rear. Overall chassis works great on the Teryx, it handles corners and bumps very well.

One of the most impressive features of the Teryx is its braking ability. The front features dual 200mm disc brakes while the rear had a sealed hydraulic wet brake. The rear brake assembly is completely sealed from the elements so it has an almost unlimited service life. Black steel wheels come standard on all models (except for the NRA model which features camo wheels). The wheels are shod with 26 inch Maxxis tires that were specially developed for the Teryx and offered good traction on a range of surfaces.

Inside the Teryx, there are two bucket seats that are comfortable and supportive. Even when driving aggressively, the seats offered good support and kept us from sliding around. The seat belts are retractable three-point units similar to what is used in most automobiles, although the seat belts work well and are quick we would recommend that aggressive sport riders switch to harnesses. The padded steering wheel is located low for better control. The standard Teryx has a few warning lights and an hour meter whereas the Teryx LE features a digital meter. To assist in keeping the driver and passenger’s feet inside the cab at all times the Teryx has foot guards designed into the steel floor boards.

While the Teryx has many sport features, Kawasaki has not sacrificed the utilitarian nature of this type of vehicle. The cargo bed has a 500lb capacity, has tie-down hooks on all four corners, and comes standard with a cargo net. Also, the Teryx has a 1300-pound towing capacity and features a 2” receiver hitch. The LE model incorporates a tilting bed with gas filled shocks to assist in lifting, while the bed on the standard model does not tilt.

The Teryx is yet another sign of how quickly the side x side segment is growing and it is great to see another manufacturer offer a sport model, as this competition can only benefit consumers in the long run. Kawasaki will enter the sport side x side market strong with the Teryx as it offers consumers a great balance between sport and utility. Of course, we would have loved to see EFI, but the Teryx is a fantastic machine and is very capable on any terrain.

Liked this review? Check out our "first ride" video on the Teryx here!

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