Another notch in the Yamaha's belt is the Rhino's storage bed. It's bigger, has a tailgate and acts as a dump bed, thanks to two gas struts underneath. Simply pull a lever and the bed raises up. Press down on the bed and it locks into place with a click. Simple, easy and effective. Polaris knew that riders seeking more of a workhorse model would gravitate toward the Ranger 700, so the RZR's rear storage area is smaller. It's not really a bed, but more of a platform, yet it does still have the same handy tie-down anchors of the Yamaha. The Rhino's bed also has a 400-pound capacity, while the RZR can handle only 300.
The Rhino's not giving up without a fight-but does it stampede over the RZR in terms of performance? No way. The 660cc carbureted engine is no slouch, and the Rhino is still very fun to drive. But the truth is, the RZR 800 has set the performance bar so high that the Rhino seems a little lethargic by comparison-especially at altitude. During testing at Big Bear, California (elevation approximately 6000 feet), the carbureted Rhino began to wheeze a bit up the hills, wheras the EFI-equipped RZR powered up them with no problem.
It's hard for the Rhino to compete with the 100 extra cc of displacement, one extra cylinder and electronic fuel injection that the RZR offers, but when the going gets tough, the Yamaha gets going. When the trails are rough and the traction grows scarce, a push-button locking front differential helps the Rhino find it. Greater ground clearance coupled with such a capable drivetrain equated to our Sport Edition Rhino 660 crawling over obstacles that hung up the hot-rod RZR. Braking on both models was good, and there are no wimpy drums here-only hydraulic discs all around.
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Wahoo! Brian hangs on for dear life while Tyler does his best "Dukes of Hazzard" impression. |
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Conclusion
Who wins? You do. It's great to have a choice between two excellent machines and if your goal is to outaccelerate your Rhino-owning friends, a Polaris RZR 800 belongs in your garage. But side-by-sides are about more than just raw power-they're about versatility, and the Rhino has more of a do-it-all mentality. The Polaris RZR slashes away at the Rhino in a few key categories, but we're forgetting one thing: rhinos have really thick skin. Since the Yamaha Rhino 660 appeals and will continue to appeal, to most people, our testers have declared it the winner.ATVR
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If settlers had these to drive instead of those clunky old covered wagons, the West would have been tamed a lot sooner. | |
Opinions
I really like the Yamaha Rhino's pickup truck capability, and the engine wasn't bad, either. It's restricted to a rather dull 40 mph, but you can tell it has some speed left in reserve by how easily it hits the rev-limiter. My favorite feature was the locking front differential. When the trail gets bad, shift into 4WD. When the trail gets worse, engage that locking differential and almost nothing stands in your way.
That said, my vote goes to the quick-handling Polaris RZR 800. The turning radius was excellent, at 101.5 inches versus the Rhino's 153.5 inches. For $9999, you sacrifice some utility in exchange for awesome performance that would take thousands to duplicate from a Yamaha Rhino 660 Special Edition, which is more expensive to begin with at $11,149. If "I Can't Drive 55" is your theme song, try that speed in a RZR 800-it'll have you singing a different tune.
Brian Purtymun
6'3"/175 lb/Novice
If I were to buy one just to have in the garage and use around the house, I would choose the Rhino. The Rhino has a dump bed to throw things into. It also has a locking differential and a standard-size tow hitch to pull things around with a lot of traction.
The RZR was very fast and handled great; the lower CG kept it from rolling over. The sway bar in the front and rear seemed to keep it very level and stuck to the ground. The engine-braking was very helpful when going down hills-instead of jumping on the brakes you could let the engine slow the vehicle. The adjustable steering wheel made the RZR easier to drive and comfortable, and the safety nets made you feel much safer.