In September, Glacier FarmMedia editors had a chance to spend a few days with one of Kubota’s newest side-by-sides, an RTV-XG850 Rancher Special Edition. Kubota calls this model line its “full size” UTVs.
The XG850 model comes in five different variations. The Rancher Special Edition offers a sort of mid- to higher-range level of features, which the brand expects will place it in the sweet spot for what options many farmers and ranchers like to have on their UTVs.
WATCH: Field-testing the Kubota RTV XG850 UTV
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The XG850 we tested included electric power steering, which made handling much easier than those machines that don’t have that feature. The Kubota system is speed sensitive. At lower speeds it provides more steering assistance, so even when standing still the front wheels can be turned easily with just one hand palming the wheel. At higher speeds, less power is supplied to the system to give more road feel to the driver.
The cargo box offers 15.2 cubic feet of cargo space that can be expanded with the tailgate down and flipping the cargo box extender outward, adding the dimension of the tailgate to the cargo box area for a full four-foot length. It also has a manual tilt with a pneumatic lift assist cylinder. Electric lift is an option, but our test machine wasn’t equipped with it.
Cargo box capacity is rated at 1,000 lbs. (453 kg).
At the rear is a two-inch hitch receiver, larger than some of the smaller hitches on other UTVs we’ve evaluated in the past. Along with that heavier hitch is a higher trailer tow rating than some other UTVs, which often top out at 1,500 lbs. (680 kg). The XG850 ups that by 500 lbs. and gets a 2,000-lb. (907-kg) trailer tow capacity. It had no trouble pulling what we put behind it during our testing.
Inside the cab, there is additional storage under the seat as well as a glove box on the dash. To keep a cell phone or other electronic device charged, there is a 12-volt power outlet on the dash too.
The model we tested wasn’t painted the typical Kubota orange. Instead, ours was a light tan colour, which Kubota calls “desert sand.” The testers liked it. But the XG850 with the Rancher package is actually available in a total of five different colours: typical Kubota orange, black, camouflage, desert sand and stone grey.
The XG850 is also available with five different trim levels, from the basic, relatively low-option General Purpose model to the Nordik package that offers a full climate-controlled cab.
The twin-cylinder, mid-mounted gasoline engine in the XG850 is rated at 54 horsepower. We found that even at low r.p.m. the engine had no lack of torque when starting uphill on some steep trails or pulling a trailer. The CVT-Plus transmission also offered a low-range gear for even better low-end torque.
Top speed is rated at 60 km/h and the XG850 accelerated smoothly throughout the speed range. The engine also offers some braking force when going downhill or decelerating.
Up front there is a winch rated at 3,500 lbs. (1,587 kg), which should be ample to pull the UTV out of most sticky situations.
Given access to the RTV-XG850 for about a week, Grainews editors had a chance to put the side-by-side through its paces. Overall, there were smiles all around and no real complaints.
