The best 6-seater UTVs for 2026 compared on horsepower, length, bed, towing and price: Polaris Ranger Crew, Can-Am Defender MAX, Kawasaki RIDGE Crew and Mule PRO-FXT, CFMOTO UFORCE U10 XL and Honda Pioneer 1000-6.
A 6-seater UTV (a “Crew” or “MAX” model) puts the whole family in one machine: two benches, three across, and a bed behind. Every major brand builds one, and they differ more than the shared seat count suggests. Some lead on horsepower, some on towing, some on price, and one skips the belt-driven CVT entirely.
We sell all of the machines below at Edge Performance Sports in Ontario, Oregon, about an hour west of Boise. Specs come from each manufacturer’s published spec sheets, and prices are manufacturer’s suggested retail before freight and setup.
Quick answer: the best 6-seater UTV for 2026
- Best all-around: Polaris RANGER Crew XP 1000. 82 hp, 2,500 lb towing, a 1,000 lb bed and the widest choice of trims, from open cab to the heated and air-conditioned NorthStar.
- Most power for work: Can-Am Defender MAX HD11. A 95 hp, 999 cc triple with 70 lb-ft of torque and Smart-Lok on the Limited.
- Most horsepower: Kawasaki RIDGE Crew. A 116 hp four-cylinder and a 12.9 gallon tank, with factory HVAC trims.
- Heavy-duty: Polaris RANGER Crew XD 1500 NorthStar. 110 hp, 3,500 lb towing and a 1,500 lb bed, the biggest numbers in the class.
- Best value: CFMOTO UFORCE U10 XL Pro. 88 hp and a 1,000 lb bed at $19,499.
- No belt to burn: Honda Pioneer 1000-6 Deluxe Crew. A 6-speed dual clutch transmission instead of a CVT.
- Switches between 3 and 6 seats: Kawasaki Mule PRO-FXT 1000. The Trans-Cab folds the rear bench away and gives back a full-size bed.
6-seater UTV comparison table
| Model | Engine | Length | Bed | Towing | Fuel | MSRP from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polaris RANGER Crew XP 1000 Premium | 999 cc twin, 82 hp | 152 in. | 1,000 lb | 2,500 lb | 11.5 gal | $23,499 |
| Polaris RANGER Crew 1000 Premium | 999 cc twin, 61 hp | 152 in. | 1,000 lb | 2,500 lb | 11.35 gal | $20,299 |
| Polaris RANGER Crew XD 1500 NorthStar | 1,498 cc triple, 110 hp | 164 in. | 1,500 lb | 3,500 lb | 13.6 gal | $49,999 |
| Can-Am Defender MAX DPS HD9 | 976 cc V-twin, 65 hp | 153.4 in. | 1,000 lb | 2,500 lb | 10.6 gal | $19,099 |
| Can-Am Defender MAX DPS CAB HD10 | 976 cc V-twin, 82 hp | 160 in. | 1,000 lb | 2,500 lb | 10.6 gal | $27,299 |
| Can-Am Defender MAX Limited HD11 | 999 cc triple, 95 hp | 162.4 in. | 700 lb | 2,500 lb | 11.9 gal | $37,799 |
| Kawasaki RIDGE Crew | 999 cc inline-4, 116 hp | 156.7 in. | 1,000 lb | 2,500 lb | 12.9 gal | $23,499 |
| Kawasaki Mule PRO-FXT 1000 LE | 999 cc twin, 70 hp | 135.8 in. | 350 lb (6 seats) / 999 lb (3 seats) | 2,000 lb | 7.9 gal | $18,899 |
| CFMOTO UFORCE U10 XL Pro | 998 cc triple, 88 hp | 148 in. | 1,000 lb | 2,500 lb | 11.8 gal | $19,499 |
| Honda Pioneer 1000-6 Deluxe Crew | 999 cc twin, 6-speed DCT | n/a | 1,000 lb | 2,500 lb | n/a | $22,199 |
Bed ratings drop to 600 lb on most California models. Honda does not publish horsepower for the Pioneer, and Honda’s listed price is for the 2025 model. Prices change through the year, so check current side-by-side inventory for today’s numbers.
Polaris RANGER Crew XP 1000: the all-around pick
The RANGER Crew XP 1000 is the 6-seater most families should drive first. Polaris rates it at 82 hp with 2,500 lb towing, a 1,000 lb bed and up to 1,600 lb of payload on the Premium, on a 113 in. wheelbase. It comes in more trims than anything else in the class: open Premium, a 2027 Cab with doors, and the NorthStar with a sealed cab, heat and air conditioning.
The NorthStar adds weight. Polaris lists the 2026 Crew XP 1000 NorthStar Premium at 2,471 lb dry against 2,018 lb for the open Premium, and payload falls from 1,600 lb to 1,125 lb. Choose the NorthStar if you ride in July dust or November cold; choose the open Premium if you haul.
Need more truck than that? The RANGER Crew XD 1500 NorthStar steps up to a 1,498 cc triple (110 hp), 3,500 lb towing and a 1,500 lb bed, at 164 in. long and 3,282 lb dry. On a budget, the RANGER Crew 1000 keeps the same body with a 61 hp engine at $20,299. See the RANGER lineup.
Can-Am Defender MAX: three engines, one long chassis
The Defender MAX comes with three Rotax engines, and the engine decides which Defender you are buying:
- HD9: 65 hp and 59 lb-ft. The entry Defender MAX DPS HD9 starts at $19,099 with a 1,000 lb bed and 1,700 lb payload.
- HD10: 82 hp and 69 lb-ft, offered in the DPS CAB with doors and a full windshield.
- HD11: a 999 cc triple making 95 hp and 70 lb-ft. The Limited HD11 adds a factory cab and Smart-Lok, Can-Am’s auto-locking front differential.
The HD11 Limited carries its cab and accessories in its payload: Can-Am rates it at 1,000 lb of payload and a 700 lb bed, against 1,700 lb and 1,000 lb on the HD9. If you plan to fill the bed and the seats at once, compare those numbers before you compare horsepower.
Kawasaki RIDGE Crew: the most horsepower
Kawasaki’s RIDGE Crew uses a 999 cc inline four-cylinder rated at 116 hp, more than any other machine on this list, with 2,500 lb towing, a 1,000 lb bed and a 12.9 gallon tank. It is 156.7 in. long on a 122.2 in. wheelbase, and it comes in HVAC trims up to the Platinum Ranch Edition. The RIDGE Crew ST HVAC uses a 92 hp tune of the same engine.
CFMOTO UFORCE U10 XL Pro: the value pick
The UFORCE U10 XL Pro gives you a 998 cc triple rated at 88 hp, a 1,000 lb bed, 2,500 lb towing and an 11.8 gallon tank for $19,499. That is more horsepower than the Defender HD10 or RANGER Crew XP 1000 for less money. At 148 in. it is also one of the shorter full 6-seaters, which helps on tight switchbacks and short trailers. Wondering about the brand? Read is CFMOTO a good brand.
Honda Pioneer 1000-6 Deluxe Crew: no belt
Every other machine here uses a belt-driven CVT. The Pioneer 1000-6 uses Honda’s 6-speed automatic dual clutch transmission (DCT), which you can run fully automatic or shift by hand, with a tow/haul mode. Honda pairs it with a 999 cc twin, a 1,000 lb tilt bed and 2,500 lb towing, and gives the back row full-size legroom. Riders who tow on steep grades or keep a machine for a decade pick it for the geared engine braking and the lack of a belt to replace.
Kawasaki Mule PRO-FXT 1000: three seats or six
The Mule PRO-FXT 1000 does something no other crew machine here does: its Trans-Cab system folds the rear bench and slides the cab wall forward, so one machine works as a 6-seater on Saturday and a 3-seat work truck on Monday. Kawasaki rates the bed at 350 lb with six seats and 999 lb with three. The 2027 PRO-FXT 1000 LE makes 70 hp, and at 135.8 in. it is the shortest machine on this list. The PRO-FXT 820 is the lower-priced version with an 812 cc triple.
How to choose a 6-seater
- Measure your trailer and garage. These machines run from 135.8 in. (Mule PRO-FXT 1000) to 164 in. (RANGER Crew XD 1500), and the cab models stand over 80 in. tall. See side-by-side dimensions for the full list.
- Add up the load. Six adults can weigh 1,000 lb before anyone packs a cooler. Compare payload ratings, not just bed ratings, and remember that cabs and HVAC eat into payload.
- Decide on a cab before you decide on a brand. A factory HVAC cab is available on the RANGER Crew XP 1000 and XD 1500 NorthStar, the Defender MAX Limited and the RIDGE Crew. On the RANGER Crew XP 1000 it adds about $9,700 to the Premium’s MSRP.
Frequently asked questions about 6-seater UTVs
What is the best 6-seater UTV?
For most families, the Polaris RANGER Crew XP 1000. It balances 82 hp, a 1,000 lb bed, 2,500 lb towing and the widest range of trims. Choose the Can-Am Defender MAX HD11 for more work power, the Kawasaki RIDGE Crew for the most horsepower, or the CFMOTO UFORCE U10 XL Pro to spend less.
What is the most powerful 6-seater side-by-side?
Among crew utility machines, the Kawasaki RIDGE Crew at 116 hp, followed by the Polaris RANGER Crew XD 1500 at 110 hp and the Can-Am Defender MAX HD11 at 95 hp. Sport four-seaters like the RZR XP 4 and Maverick MAX make more power but seat four, not six.
What is the cheapest 6-seater UTV?
From our current lineup, the Kawasaki Mule PRO-FXT 820 EPS ($16,999 MSRP), followed by the Mule PRO-FXT 1000 LE ($18,899), the Can-Am Defender MAX DPS HD9 ($19,099) and the CFMOTO UFORCE U10 XL Pro ($19,499).
Which 6-seater UTV has the best towing capacity?
The Polaris RANGER Crew XD 1500 NorthStar, rated at 3,500 lb. Most other 6-seaters are rated at 2,500 lb, and the Mule PRO-FXT at 2,000 lb.
Which 6-seater UTVs come with heat and air conditioning?
Factory HVAC is available on the Polaris RANGER Crew XP 1000 NorthStar and RANGER Crew XD 1500 NorthStar, the Can-Am Defender MAX Limited HD11, and Kawasaki RIDGE Crew HVAC trims.
What size trailer do I need for a 6-seater UTV?
Most full 6-seaters measure 148 to 164 in., which is 12.3 to 13.7 ft, so plan on at least a 14 ft deck and a 16 ft tandem-axle trailer if you add a winch bumper or rear rack. Check the trailer’s rated capacity against the machine’s dry weight plus fuel and gear: a RANGER Crew XD 1500 is 3,282 lb dry.
Can kids ride in the back seat of a 6-seater?
Yes, if they can sit with their back against the seat, their feet flat on the floor and their hands on the grab handle while wearing the seat belt. That is the fit test UTV makers print in their owner’s manuals and warning labels. Oregon and Idaho also set helmet and age rules; see our Oregon and Idaho OHV permit and trail rules guide.
Put the family in the seats
The fastest way to choose is to sit everyone down in two or three of these back to back. Our Ontario showroom carries RANGER Crew, Defender MAX, RIDGE Crew, Mule PRO-FXT and UFORCE U10 XL models on the floor. Schedule a test ride, or get pre-approved before you come in.