most reliable 4-seater UTV?

Reliability, efficiency, easy maintenance are key.
Smaller dimensions is good. Quiet is good.
Speed is not even 6th on the list, way down there.

We like our Teryx4, has the shortest wheelbase of all the 4 seaters, same ground clearance as most, super comfy seats and good ride. Comes with a 3 year warranty, basic maintenance has been easy this far. Bed isn't that great, holds a cooler and two 5 gallon gas cans. If you're wanting more bed room, the new Mule FXt is pretty freaking nice. I will say the Teryx is a little noisier than I would like, but I figure after a few hundred miles of breaking in it will quieten down

Coming from a guy who owns a Polaris Ranger....I rode in a Mule FXt last weekend. That is probably the one to get based upon the Kawasaki/Mule history of being hard to kill. The suspension is as good as the Ranger and is not the old straight axle beat your fillings loose Mule. It reminded me of my 4010 TransMule but made to Ranger specs.

If I was shopping today I'd look at the Mule FXt and the Ranger. The one thing that might sway me toward a Ranger is the guy in Rowlett that only works on Polaris. He's done a service on mine and is 1/2 the cost of a dealership and is a super nice guy...he knows these machines inside and out.

FWIW - The Teryx and Razor are more trail riding/go fast machines.

I second the Mule FXT. Great ride and performance with Kawasaki reliability. If I were to own an a gas UTV (rather than an electric) it'd be this one.

I'd suggest the Kubota Diesel, but you did say that quiet was important. It's reliable, easy to work on, and will outwork everything else. And you can get it with AC and heat and doors. But the diesel isn't quiet.

I'm selling my Honda Foreman to get a UTV. I'm with the OP on what I want, why not a Honda Pioneer, never see 'em mentioned here, is it because they're relatively new? Looked at one on Saturday. They seem to be as good as any Honda, real transmission/no belts, and the bed converting to 2 additional seats also means a rather short 4 seater when you have 4 to carry.

Charlie

Charlie- we drove a Honda BigRed for many years, it's Honda's first SxS, and I wouldn't ever consider another one. The car like transmission was a constant headache, never shifting into higher gears, getting stuck in hears after stopping, not really all that great. The ride wasn't very good for independent suspension. It was LOUD! Overall not a very good vehicle

Bought a Pro FXT last month. My buddy that has a Ranger can't get over how good the Mule rides. Plus the warranty is for 3 years vs. the 6 months that the other manufacturers offer.

The Polaris crew cab is pretty nice. It also has power steering.

Not the smoothest ride and certain;y not the quietest and not the fastest. But if you want one that will last get the Kubota. I have had mine for over 4 years and put over 2000 hours on it and never a problem.

another +1 for the Kubota. My 900 diesel is pretty loud, but the thing is a tank. However, my brother in laws 500 gas version isn't that bad.

Honda has come a long way since the bigred in the utv market. Their pioneers are great machines.

Many things are 48 inches. Plywood is just one example. Make sure the bed is 49 inches wide all the way through the tailgate whatever you get. I saw one UTV with wheel wells in the bed. That sounds stupid to me.

X2

The kubota diesels are super reliable and easy to work on but not the smallest or most quiet. They can do more work than anything else on the market.

This is mine with the box completely loaded with fresh cut green logs (conservative estimate of 1500 lbs and probably closer to 1800 lbs). Handled it no problem including several stretches up hill (we added straps after the photo was taken). The hydraulic dump box also dumped it no problem.

We call the Wife's Kubota "the dump truck". An amazing work vehicle. I keep wondering if I should upgrade to the model with AC and heat and doors, like tlk did. I've kidded him a couple of times about having one, but I'm just jealous.

The Kubota is just a different breed of cat. It isn't so much a recreational/hunting vehicle as it is truly commercial work equipment. It's 2000 pounds of diesel driven steel.

Kubota

I have had the Ranger crew, the Mule 4010 and now the Pro FXT. The workhorse was the 4010. The Ranger was good and smooth but a lot of repair issues from rocky country. The Pro FXT seems to be a great blend of both machines. To the Kubota guys, they are a real workhorse and great for relatively flat land. In the Hill Country they are a bit too rough for my personal liking. It really all comes down to personal preference.

Bandera isn't flat and if the Kubota is too rough you must be going too fast.

I have a 4010 Trans-Mule loaded out with a dog box and water tanks etc.
I usually have 3-4 hunters with me anytime I go with alot of gear. With all of that weight, it has never even belched or groined. It has power steering and bilstein shocks on it for a pretty nice ride considering. Not fast by any stretch of your imagination but it is a tank. I think the next problem I have with it will be my first and I have not been very nice to this machine while quail hunting. I did add a full brush guard on the front and CV protectors on the axles. If there is a tougher make and model out there, they are going to have to prove it to me. It is easy to service which is the critical component to any UTV. It cranks everytime I turn the key. It does all I can ask of one very nicely.