Home Forums Gear Horses and ATV's Honda Pioneer 1000 or Polaris XP1000?

Going to buy my first UTV and Have narrowed it down to the 2022 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 Forest Edition or the 2022 Polaris Ranger XP1000 Trail Boss. Use will include general hunting and general land management work...nothing brutal. The Pioneer is just a little wider, holds 7.9 gallons of fuel, is 72 Horsepower and comes standard with 4500# winch and hard doors...will only need to purchase the windshield and top. The Polaris Trail Boss has 82 Horsepower, holds 11.5 gallons of fuel, has the soft canvas/netting type doors, has what seems to be a better suspension system and more ground clearance...will have to purchase a winch, top and windshield. $1300 difference in base price between the two with the Polaris being the higher price.

Which of the two has a better track record from a maintenance/breakdown standpoint? Does one or the other seem to have more inherent issues? Which would you choose and why?
I don't necessarily need the Pioneer 1000-5 which can hold 5 but that is all the dealer can get.

Your insight is appreciated. Thanks

Gene

If you beat the hell out of it, Honda.


If you prefer nicer cab options and aren't abusing the machine, Polaris.



Open cab I would go Honda.

That said our '16 900XP Ranger has been fine.
(full cab, heater, glass, it's nice inside on a cold day)

I looked at both options last year when I was considering buying one. For my needs that are strictly hunting I was leaning towards the polaris.
I leaned that way as I felt that it had more aftermarket options at that time for customizing it to my hunting needs. If
I was buying a straight up machine I would prefer the honda. And I may very well end up with the honda. I have both honda and polaris ATVs and bought both new 2000 and 2007 models. Hands down I feel honda makes a better built machine.

Thanks Sam, won't he beating it up at all...the Pioneer 1000-5 Forest has fold down seats in the cargo bed. I would rather just have the Pioneer 1000 Forest or Trail model without this extra feature as the full roll cage over the cargo bed with all the netting just doesn't look that nice...I can remove this section of the roll cage, so I guess not a big deal...and the dealer cannot get either of the other 2 models without this option. I feel like the Honda may be a little "beefier" and the Honda name has been around for years. I know the Polaris Ranger has been around for years also and should be pretty bulletproof by now. I do like how the Ranger Trail Boss sets up a little higher and the seats are really nice. I guess it's going to be more of a flip of the coin...the Pioneer has a few things that I don't need, but it does come standard with the winch and hard doors for a little less than the Ranger Trail Boss which I would have to install a winch and hard doors which would add more to the cost. I'm sure either one will serve my needs...just haven't been involved with these UTV's to know if there are inherent issues mechanically that puts one above the other.

Thanks
Gene

Thanks Boarmaster, I kind of was thinking the same thing about the Honda maybe just being a better machine overall...don't know why other than some experience with Honda dirt bikes from years past. I see a lot of Polaris models around also, so I am sure they are good as well. Thanks for your input.

Gene

No personal experience with those exact models. I do have a Pioneer 700 though that I've been impressed with. Although I haven't had it long. But I along with a group of friends have, and use ATV's hard. I traded in a 2017 Foreman and a 2008 Rancher to get my Pioneer. Of the guys I know we have had good luck with everything made by Honda and Yamaha. Polaris has been the brand we've seen the most problems with.

I got the Honda Pioneer 1000 because I had a good dealer nearby.
However for the light use I give it (I’m not hard on equipment) I think I’d have been better pleased with the Polaris.
Just seems to be a more finished machine.

Thanks for the input.

That is the thing that worries me with the Polaris...the drive belt seems to be the weak link and it seems as though it is a 50/50 shot of having problems with it or not having problems. I read on some forum just a little awhile ago where two guys bought the same Polaris at the same time and one has gone thru drive belts relentlessly and the other guy hasn't had a problem...doesn't make sense to me.

Gene

Thanks for your input. I tend to agree with you...while I think the Honda is probably going to be more reliable/worry free, the Polaris seems to be more appealing to the eye.

Gene

I've had both. Ran the Polaris XP for 5 years or so and now the Hondo pioneer 1000 for 2. Honda hands down for me. Better built machine over all and def more durable. Gas tank is smaller but that's about the only complaint i have. I work my machines pretty good and expect em to hold up. Seemed to always be working on the Polaris.

Thank you for this information.

I think I will be going with the Honda Pioneer just for reliability and durability...this seems to be the consensus so far and that is enough for me.

Gene

I have a 2017 Pioneer 700 with 23,000 miles on it and a dump box.

What I don't like is the Top/Roll Bar, could use a 4 inch chop, also wish it had a horn.

All of them make to much noise!!!

Polaris quads are junk, sure the sxs is too. Ride red👊🏻👊🏻 Honda for reliability, resale and the win

I would better one who is going thru belts doesn't use the low side when he needs to be.

No faster way to chew through a belt than using the high side when just putting around or working the machine.

If I do drop the $$ on a SxS and not a Jeep it will be a Honda.

My Brother, We got one of them Green things Called the Reparis. God damn your a sexy mother fkker

Haha they love to eat up belts, among other shiit. 👊🏻😂

2021 Trail Boss is one hell of a machine. Zero belt issues with the 2009 and zero with this one. Mine are always loaded to the max and in low range when needed. Looked at the Honda's pretty heavy but they weren't up to the weight and the aftermarket is way behind the Polaris.

The 2022 Honda Forest has a self leveling suspension, meaning when you put a heavy load in the dump bed the suspension will level itself for better handling-automatically.

Speaking of automatics, while a few have mentioned belt issues with the Polaris, most CVT transmissions across all brands will go through belts. How you drive them means a lot as how long your belt will last, but high horsepower and heavy loads means increased belt wear and slippage. The biggest selling point for the Honda, is that it uses a dual clutch automobile type transmission. No belt to wear out! The 2022's have increased hp and tq, the tranny is tuned to shift better, and the towing capacity was increased over prior model years. You will not regret getting the Honda.

Regarding the rear seats, they are out of sight out of mind, until the day you need them. Enjoy!

I'm on a waiting list at my dealer for a 22 1000-5 Trail model. My Can Am Commander 1000 Limited will be sold once the Honda comes in.

Manny

Well, I had decided on the Pioneer Forest 1000-5 (inquired about a Trail edition, but none to be had)that the dealer had but when we started going thru all the charges and stuff, the out the door price was just not adding up right...so I asked for a complete breakdown on everything and they got kind of [bleep] to say the least. They were charging $3000 for shipping/destination charges and charging sales tax on the shipping/destination charges as well as the extended warranty...even with all of that, there was an additional $1700 that they could not explain except to say it was for their "prep" charges. Needless to say I walked away.
Found another dealer and I have put a deposit on a Pioneer 1000 Deluxe that is due in any time now. No sales tax on the shipping/destination charges and no sales tax on extended warranty either. Shipping and destination was $1295...not $3000 like the other place.
Dealer ordered some accessories that I had wanted and they are now in, so just need to get the thing and I will be all set.

Great choice, you’ll be glad you did. 👍

Sounds like the best long term choice. You really have to watch these dealers for all the charges and added fees. We have an 2019 XP900 and have been happy with it. There are a lot of horror stories on Polaris problems and I still have that in the back of my mind even though we have put over 4500 miles on this one. I like the Polaris Sportsman ATVs but have bought Honda and Suzuki ATVs since the Ranger because I am a little more confident about them.

If you don't mind me asking what city was that in? I have bought from Anderson, Crawfordsville and Terre Haute and the purchases were OK but service has been a disappointment except Crawfordsville. The Rancher I bought was $1600 less in Anderson than Lafayette and the one I bought was Camo on top of that! Both dealers were owned by the same people. The first maintenance required seems to be nothing but a high price oil change for some of the dealer service departments. I have checked mine over after and found they never checked the valves, fluid levels low and stuff like that. You can tell what they have had off and my feeler gauges don't lie.

The place I had the "issues" with was in Charleston, Illinois...I have had good luck with them in the past but was really surprised when they pulled this crap.
I ended up putting the deposit at Terre Haute. Crawfordsville and Lafayette could not get me anything in a Pioneer 1000...said their best guess would be 4-6 months and that was not a guarantee.
Here is the breakdown on the Pioneer 1000-5 Forest at Charleston...MSRP $21299, $3000 ship/destination, $1300 ext warranty(they didn't list this on the sheet but brought it up when I questioned the final price)...sales tax 6.25% = $27198.93 they gave me an out the door price of $28,900...they never did try to explain the additional $1700 except for saying "well, we do have some set up time and all involved". Like I said, I have bought ATV's from them in the past and had real good luck with them but this really got to me.

I traded at Terra Haute and it went quick and easy. It's just a little far and they don't carry much for the Suzuki I got there so I get parts at Dreyer in Indy. If they don't have they get it in a few days. Terra Haute is a big dealer compared to most the others. Weird times compared to 2019 when you had eventory everywhere and deals to be had. May never see that again. Ford just announced the EVs you buy will be ordered not through the dealer but Ford directly. That will carry over to powersports industry I bet.

The Honda's have been hard to get. Sounds like that dealer is trying to jack the price to reflect that. I dont know if that is against their franchise rules or not, but it is a sign of the times these days with lots of merchandise.

The deluxe is a fine choice and you will be very happy with it. I was going to get the model and then add accessories, but the Trail came out so I decided to wait for the Fox suspension. 3 friends have the deluxe and they love it, with varied use from ranch, pleasure, to cross country high desert. Have fun!
Manny

Honda drive line is better

I picked up our 1000-5 last month, we have about 160 miles on it so far and could not be happier. It shifts extremely smooth and has much better manners then the belt driven machines I have been in. Loads of power and handles wonderful, the power steering is amazing. It took us about 8 months for one to show up at our dealer.

Glad to hear you are satisfied...I'm still waiting on mine to come in. Was supposed to be late June, but here we are starting into July...just have to wait.

Having a actual transmission and being shaft driven is what sold us and of course the honda reliability. I am going to put a windshield and roof on it and use it. I am not going to pretend it has the nicest cab like the can am but I am confident it will still be running in ten years. The back seats are alot more comfortable then I ever anticipated even for my 6 feet tall friends. I can't wait for hunting season to use it some more.