Review of KYMCO's 2008 ATV, UTV lineup

Anyone doubting KYMCO’s committment to the off-road powersports market only needs to peruse the company’s fast-growing lineup. KYMCO has steadily refined its all-terrain products and broadened its offerings with each model year. The Taiwanese company’s recent efforts included the so-so MXU 500 utility quad for 2007 and revamped 2008 Mongoose 250 and 300 sport quads. This time around, KYMCO is getting even bolder, and has arrived at the table with the highly anticipated UXV 500 UTV and all-new MXU 375 utility ATV. We recently traveled to the backyard of the company’s US division, scenic South Carolina, to ride KYMCO’s full line of 2008 products, and also spent some time behind the wheel of its first-ever UTV. At this point, one thing is for sure: KYMCO is taking notes and making serious strides to match its American and Japanese competitors in style, performance and product offerings.Setting The TableThe setting was Carolina Adventure World, a still growing privately-owned off-road riding area with more than 100 miles of trails, a mud bog and three motocross tracks. We’ve ridden there before while visiting for Polaris and Kawasaki intros, and, just like KYMCO, the facility keeps getting better as it continues to mature.Temperatures could have been a bit more spring-like, but skies were clear, the grass was green and conditions were ripe for some mud-splattered off-roading. UXV Is UTVYamaha, Polaris, Arctic Cat and Kawasaki have their big-selling recreational side-by-side players in place. Honda’s more work-minded Big Red is on the way soon, and Can-Am recently announced plans for what we expect to be a very athletic (RZR beating?) UTV. There had also been speculation KYMCO was readying its own entrant into the exploding category. Those rumors were confirmed after the company took the wraps off its new UXV 500 at the EICMA powersports show in Milan, Italy, last fall.Then we got to see it for ourselves. Going off appearance alone, it seems the company had the Rhino, Teryx and Prowler firmly in its sights.  Its traditional UTV design suggests a machine meant to split the difference between work and fun, just like the most successful players in the segment.  The spec sheet lists a 500cc four-stroke engine, independent suspension, locking front differential and a large tilting cargo bed capable of hauling 420 pounds — the main ingredients we call for when making a UTV. Pricing had not been finalized at press time and a few minor specifications on the prototypes were still subject to change before final production. Behind The WheelTime was limited, but we got the chance to experience KYMCO’s UTV from the driver and passenger seats, as well as through thick mud, over steep hills and fording it through deep water. We didn’t get the chance to haul any cargo around, but our ride time gave us the much-appreciated chance to peek under the hood and rack up some miles with the UXV.Lateral stability (i.e. rolling over) has been a thorn in the side of several UTVs. To this end, KYMCO decided to up the ante with a wide, stable platform that measures 59 inches wide. For comparison’s sake, the Prowler is 61.3 inches wide and the Rhino measures 54.5 inches across.