Honda

Less than a year ago at the introduction of their innovative Pioneer 700 and 700-4 Side x Side, Honda promised they were on the gas and there would be several more models to come.  For a company that protects their secrets as if they are grandmothers jewels it was a stunning statement that definitely grabbed our attention.  Today Honda delivered on the first part of that promise with the release of a second new Side x Side, the 2015 Pioneer 500, and it’s every bit as unique as the first.

One of the best-selling models in the Honda lineup is their beloved Rancher 420.  It’s not the most powerful or the fastest Honda ATV, but it is, without a doubt, one of their best.  It simply does everything well.  So well in fact, we’ve even named it as ATV of the Year a couple times, and with the recent major changes Honda bestowed on the 2014 FourTrax Rancher, it has an excellent shot of claiming that title once again. 

Every brand has a loyal following, much like sports teams.  Even the hard luck Chicago Cubs, who haven’t won a World Series in more than a century, enjoy a rabid fan base.  Despite supposed curses from goats and other unlikely prospects, they gleefully root for their team as if they were on a rollercoaster at Mardi-Gras, all the while hoping their famous circle-C logo will adorn the top of a World Series Ring.

“We’re in with both feet, and we’re in it to stay.”  Honda’s Bill Savino left no doubt about the company’s position at a meeting before the official start of production of their new four-seat Side x Side, the Pioneer 700-4.  Not only did Honda open up about the innovative 700-4, but they were quick to share inside information about the recently announced two-seat version of the Pioneer 700 as well.  For a company that usually guards secrets like it was their grandmother’s jewels it was an unusually candid conversation.

The details are still a little sketchy but one thing is clear; Honda intends to take a big swipe at Polaris, Arctic Cat, Can-Am, and Kawasaki with the newest and most advanced Side x Side they’ve ever built, the all-new Pioneer 700-4.  The new Pioneer is meant for more than life on the prairie, and one look shows that Honda is serious about Side x Sides.  It’s been a long time coming, but the Pioneer 700-4 looks to break new ground for Honda and make tracks where they’ve never been before.