2011 John Deere Xuv 825I 4X4 2011 JOHN DEERE XUV 825I 4X4hoto

First Drive: 2011 John Deere XUV 825i 4X4

Is It Ready To Venture Into New Territory?

From the October, 2010 issue of ATV Rider

By Rick Sosebee

Photography by Rick Sosebee

When you hear the name John Deere thoughts of high-performance recreation are less than likely to be the ones you find while rummaging throughout the mind. Fact is, the slogan for many years has been "Nothing Runs Like A Deere," and its products (even the Gator models) are widely recognized as an American workhorse. For 2011, a shift in strategy and design for the Gator line of XUVs have them tipping the scale in the direction of those who seek adventure and possess a love for the outdoors. The goal of the company is to push the scale to equal a 50/50 work-play combination, meaning a true crossover vehicle that can accomplish hard work and satisfy those with a taste for camping, trail riding or whatever use a true outdoor recreationist can dream up.

John Deere chose Carolina Adventure World in Winnsboro, South Carolina, as the location for the launch of the new UTV lineup. As the announcement of the Gator 625i XUV and the Gator 855D XUV set off a couple of yawns, it was the unveiling of the Gator 825i XUV that snatched my attention. In fact, you can choose either bucket seats which are a little sportier or the traditional bench-style seating which lends to ease of work. At first I was a bit apprehensive about the 825i's ability to satisfy the true off-road recreationist, but I walked away from the launch pleasantly surprised by the results.

The 2011 Gator 825i XUV impresses with its newfound power, handling and its sleek new looks, which now takes on a sportier appearance in contrast to the working utility of old. The 812cc, fuel-injected, liquid-cooled engine propelling this beast is claimed to output 50 horsepower to the wheels and draws inspiration from the automotive industry. Its three-cylinder design and dual overhead cams set this unique powerplant apart from the crowd, as it's an industry first for the side-by-side market. The four valves per cylinder lets the engine run more efficiently regardless of altitude, and where fuel is concerned, the electronic fuel injection allows the most power with the lowest fuel consumption. We felt this engine had a strong low-end torque for pulling and/or crawling over obstacles such as the steep rock ledges that litter the CAW trails, and the Deere did so with a broad linear type of power delivery. It was the smoothest feeling throttle of any side-by-side I've driven to date, and I could feel the available torque for pulling stumps or towing a trailer as I rolled onto the pedal. The throttle action possessed the same feel as an automobile, very smooth, and the vibrations and noise we've come to accept in many UTVs were nowhere to be found in this machine. Our test runs proved the top speed to be 44 mph with a hint of 45-mph downhill. The rev-limiter seems to find its limit at around 6,000 to 6,200 rpm.

The 1,500 pounds of towing capacity and ability to pile 1,000 pounds of payload in the rear cargo adds to its overall versatility. The newly designed utility cargo handler has a steel Rhino-lined bottom, and with removable sides, this 16.4-cubic-foot carryall can be transformed into a flatbed hauler in minutes. The box has more than 20 mounting points for tiedowns and was a welcomed relief as we strapped our camera and lighting gear securely into place. The bed will also tilt for dumping with just the pressing of a switch located on the dash. This feature is convenient and great for those really heavy loads where gas shock-assisted dump beds would struggle.