Yes, it did seem to lack in top-speed performance, but you could definitely tell it had more power capabilities with the help of some mods. Driving in the rocky Nevada desert with small boulders strewn all over the roads and trails, we had no worries with the Rhino. Just aim for them and know that the ground clearance of this machine would keep you from hitting them. Having the sport suspension was welcome as well. At high speeds, the Rhino soaked up everything from the smallest bump to some decent-sized rain ruts without flinching. When it comes to serious rock crawling, you can't beat having that locking front differential. Just push the button to engage it and you're clawing your way to the top of your obstacle.
There were a few things to dislike about this machine: The high saddle, the lack of a door or leg restraint system and the difficult to grab and release parking brake lever.
When it comes to the Polaris RZR, I may love its rocket power and smooth acceleration with instant throttle response, but its serious lack of ground clearance and overall suspension performance really lowered its score. It felt like the undercarriage hit every rock or pebble it went over, and every nook and cranny in the fast desert roads we traversed were passed on to the driver.
If I was getting one of these two units for the specific purpose of racing on a UTV circuit, though, I would choose the RZR. But for all-around use, the Rhino still dominates this class. In the long run, you would invest more money into the Rhino to get it to handle as well as the RZR, but with a few simple engine mods, you can get the Yamaha's powerplant up to par with the Polaris. Either one of these machines will suit entry-level drivers or pro racers. Only the common sense of the driver will determine if they are capable of handling either of these side-by-sides.
Note: We did not have any issues with the Yamaha Rhino. The Polaris RZR, on the other hand, had a battery light and check engine light flickering on intermittently while driving at night.
Eli Madero
6'1"/250 lb/Intermediate