Best Side-by-Sides for 2026: Our Picks by Budget and Use
- on September 25, 2026
- Categories: Articles
The nine side-by-sides Motobuys currently sells run $3,299 to $10,999. A 2-seat, 168.9cc automatic anchors the bottom of that range; a shaft-driven 390.8cc 4x4 with high/low gearing tops the gas lineup, and there’s a 48-mile electric 4-seater in between. Here’s which one actually fits the job you have for it.
Search “best side-by-side” and Google hands you Polaris RZRs and Can-Am Mavericks — $18,000 to $30,000 machines built for people who already know exactly what they want. That’s not this list. Everything below ships from our Garland, Texas warehouse, is priced the way it’s priced today, and got picked for one job: a first side-by-side, a family hauler, real 4x4 work, or a quiet electric option — not a trophy.
Nine side-by-sides, by price
Nine models, current as of September 25, 2026. Ratings are from Motobuys’ own verified-buyer reviews; a dash means the model is too new on our site to have a meaningful review count yet.
| Model | Price | Seats | Engine | Drivetrain | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TrailMaster Challenger 200 | $3,299 | 2 | 168.9cc gas | CVT automatic, 2WD | 4.6★ (9) |
| TrailMaster Challenger 200EX EFI | $4,599 | 2 | 168.9cc EFI | CVT automatic, 2WD | 4.6★ (5) |
| TrailMaster Challenger 4-200EX | $5,499 | 4 | 168.9cc gas | CVT automatic, 2WD | 4.6★ (5) |
| TrailMaster Taurus 200E-U EFI | $5,899 | 2 | 177.3cc EFI | Shaft drive, 2WD | 5.0★ (7) |
| TrailMaster Challenger 300EX EFI | $5,599 | 2 | 275.6cc EFI | CVT automatic, 2WD | 4.3★ (6) |
| TrailMaster Taurus 50EV | $8,349 | 4 | Electric, 48-mi range | 2WD | — |
| TrailMaster Taurus 450-U | $8,699 | 2 | 390.8cc gas | Shaft drive, 4x4, hi/lo | 4.8★ (5) |
| TrailMaster Panther 550 | $10,099 | 2 | 498.6cc EFI | 4x4, hi/lo, CA legal | — |
| TrailMaster Taurus 4-450 | $10,999 | 6 | 390.8cc gas | Shaft drive, 4x4, hi/lo | 4.8★ (5) |
Best budget side-by-side: TrailMaster Challenger 200 — $3,299
The Challenger 200 is the cheapest side-by-side we sell and one of our better-reviewed UTVs at 4.6 stars across 9 reviews. It's a straightforward machine: 168.9cc, CVT automatic with reverse, live rear axle, roll cage, and a speed limiter you can dial back before handing the key to a teenager.
What it isn't: there's no 4x4, no locking differential, and the live rear axle means it rides trail washboard fine but won't articulate over rocks the way an independent suspension does. For flat property, trails, or a first side-by-side to learn on, that trade-off is the right one at this price. For hunting leases with real terrain, look further down this list.
Best side-by-side for a family: TrailMaster Challenger 4-200EX — $5,499
The 4-200EX stretches the same 168.9cc platform to four seats, with an adjustable seat and steering wheel and its own throttle limiter. It's rated 4.6 stars from 5 reviews so far.
Worth knowing before you buy: the engine is the same size as the 2-seat Challenger, not bigger. Loaded with four adults it feels noticeably less punchy than it does empty — that's physics, not a defect, and it's the reason the Taurus 4-450 further down costs twice as much. If you're mostly carrying two kids and gear, the 4-200EX is plenty; if you're regularly filling all four seats with adults, budget for more engine.
Best utility / 4x4 side-by-side: TrailMaster Taurus 450-U — $8,699
This is the one built for actual work. 390.8cc, selectable 4x4 with high/low range, front and rear differential lock, shaft drive instead of a chain (less maintenance, nothing to snap on a rock), and a 200-lb dump bed. It's rated 4.8 stars from 5 reviews.
If you're clearing a hunting lease, hauling feed, or need a machine that will actually climb out of a creek bed rather than just ride around one, this is the model on this list built for that — not the Challenger 200, whatever a lower price tag might suggest.
Best electric side-by-side: TrailMaster Taurus 50EV — $8,349
The 50EV runs a 60V, 5kW brushless motor rated for about 48 miles per charge, seats four, and carries a DOT light package. No oil changes, no carburetor or fuel injection to keep tuned, and it's meaningfully quieter than any gas model on this list — the reason people buy it is usually dawn hunting or a property with noise restrictions, not top speed.
It's new enough on our site that it hasn't built up a review count yet, so weigh that against the 4.6–4.8-star track record on the gas Challengers and Taurus models above. Real range will run below the rated 48 miles once you add cargo weight or steep terrain, the same as any electric vehicle.
Best 6-seat side-by-side: TrailMaster Taurus 4-450 — $10,999
The Taurus 4-450 is the only 6-seat machine we sell: the same 390.8cc, shaft-drive, selectable 4x4 platform as the 450-U, stretched to carry three rows and an optional dump bed. It's rated 4.8 stars from 5 reviews. At $10,999 it's the most expensive model here, but it's also the only one that will actually seat six people without anyone riding in a cargo bed.
What to check before you buy
Assembly varies by model. Most of what's on this list arrives close to ready to ride; a few need the roof, mirrors, or a windshield bolted on after it's off the truck. Call 877-667-6289 before you order if you want the exact scope for a specific model, or if you'd rather pay for our assembly service than do it yourself.
None of these are street legal out of the box. A side-by-side needs the right lighting, mirrors, horn, and in some states a VIN inspection before a state will title it for road use — and that varies by state. We cover what it actually takes, model by model, in our UTV street-legal guide.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest side-by-side you can buy new?
The TrailMaster Challenger 200 is the least expensive side-by-side we carry, at $3,299. It's a 2-seat, 168.9cc automatic with a live rear axle and a roll cage — enough for trails and flat property, not built for rock-crawling or serious 4x4 work.
Are there electric side-by-sides?
Yes. The TrailMaster Taurus 50EV is a 60V, 5kW electric 4-seater rated for about 48 miles of range per charge. It skips oil changes and carburetor or fuel-injection maintenance entirely, and runs quieter than any gas model we sell.
What's a good utility side-by-side for hunting or property work?
The TrailMaster Taurus 450-U, at $8,699. It's the model built for it: selectable 4x4 with high/low range, front and rear differential lock, shaft drive instead of a chain, and a 200-lb dump bed.
Is a 4-seat side-by-side just a 2-seat one with extra seats bolted on?
Not always, and it's worth checking the engine size before assuming otherwise. The Challenger 4-200EX carries two extra passengers on the same 168.9cc engine as its 2-seat sibling, so it feels noticeably less punchy loaded up than empty. The Taurus 4-450 and the Taurus 50EV carry more engine or motor under four-plus seats, so they don't feel the added weight as much.
Does Motobuys deliver these already assembled?
Most ship close to ready to ride from our Garland, Texas warehouse; a few need the roof, mirrors, or a windshield attached after freight delivery. Call 877-667-6289 before you order for the exact assembly scope on a specific model.
Are any of these side-by-sides street legal?
Not out of the box. A side-by-side needs the right lighting, mirrors, horn, and in some states a VIN inspection before a state will title it for road use, and the rules vary by state — see our UTV street-legal guide for the details.
Three to look at right now
Browse the full lineup on the UTVs & Side-by-Sides collection page, or call 877-667-6289 and we'll help you match a model to what you're actually going to do with it.
