TrailMaster UTVs: Challenger vs Taurus and How to Choose
- on November 30, 2020
- Categories: Articles
TrailMaster builds two UTV families: Challenger, the recreation line starting around $3,300, and Taurus, the larger utility line starting near $5,900. Choosing between them comes down to three things — how many seats you need, whether you want fuel injection, and whether the machine has to do actual work.
Are TrailMaster UTVs any good?
For what they cost, yes — with the caveat that you should buy them for the job they are built for. These are recreation and light-utility machines: property maintenance, hunting access, moving feed and tools, trail riding at sensible speeds. They are not sport UTVs and will disappoint anyone shopping them against a machine costing three times as much.
The practical advantages are price, a real parts department behind the brand, and a lineup broad enough that you can usually find the right size rather than compromising. The practical limits are value-tier fit and finish, modest engine output, and a strong dependence on being assembled and serviced properly.
Challenger vs Taurus at a glance
| Challenger | Taurus | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | around $3,300 | around $5,900 |
| Typical engine | 169 – 300cc | 200 – 450cc, plus electric |
| Seats | 2 or 4 | 2 or 4 |
| Built for | Recreation, light property use | Utility, hauling, golf-cart crossover |
| Fuel injection | On EX / EFI models | On E-series models |
| Best fit | Family trail riding, smaller acreage | Working land, longer days, more load |
The Challenger line, model by model
- •Challenger 200 — the entry point. 169cc, two seats, live rear axle. Best for flat to rolling ground and casual riding.
- •Challenger 200X — a step up in trim and suspension while staying two-seat.
- •Challenger 200U — the back-woods oriented version, aimed at rougher terrain.
- •Challenger 200EX EFI — adds fuel injection. Worth it if you ride in cold weather or at altitude, where carburetors are fussiest.
- •Challenger 300E EFI — more displacement for hills and heavier loads.
- •Challenger 4-200EX — four seats. The right answer if a second row is ever needed.
The Taurus line
- •Taurus 200U / 200E-U — utility two-seaters, the E version fuel injected.
- •Taurus 200GX / 200E-GX — golf-cart crossover configuration, useful where you want a UTV that behaves civilly around a property.
- •Taurus 50EV — 60-volt electric, four seats, rear cargo. Quiet, no fuel, best where range needs are predictable.
- •Taurus 450-U / 450-GX — the top of the range at 450cc with high/low gear, and four-wheel drive on the U. This is the one to look at if the machine genuinely has to work.
How to choose: four questions
1. How many people, honestly?
Four-seaters cost more and are longer, which matters on tight trails. But retrofitting a second row is not an option. If children are in the picture, buy the four-seat version now.
2. Carburetor or fuel injection?
Fuel injection starts more reliably in cold weather, holds a steadier idle, and needs less fiddling. If you ride below freezing, above about 4,000 feet, or store the machine for months at a time, pay for EFI. Otherwise the carbureted models are fine and cheaper.
3. Work or recreation?
If you will tow, haul, or run the machine loaded on hills, go to the 300cc or 450cc models and look for high/low range. A 169cc machine will move a light load on flat ground and struggle with anything more.
4. Can you receive it?
A UTV arrives crated on a freight truck. Confirm you have a way to get it off the truck and space to finish assembly before ordering.
Current TrailMaster UTVs
Trailmaster Challenger 200 (2 Seater) 169cc UTV Live Rear Axle
169cc, 2 seat — the entry point
$3,299$3,599
View
TrailMaster Challenger 4-200EX (4 Seater) UTV side-by-side Great Family Fun
4 seat, EFI
$5,499$5,899
View
Watch the machines
Walkarounds of the three model families covered above.
TrailMaster Challenger 200 / 200X / 200EX-EFI
TrailMaster Taurus 200 U / G / GX EFI
TrailMaster Cheetah 200 E / X / EX
Frequently asked questions
Are TrailMaster UTVs any good?
For their price they are solid recreation and light-utility machines with real parts support behind them. They are not sport UTVs and should not be judged against machines costing several times more.
Who makes TrailMaster UTVs?
TrailMaster is a brand of BV Powersports, a US company. The machines are built in China and sold through authorized US dealers.
What is the difference between the Challenger and Taurus?
Challenger is the recreation line, starting around $3,300 with 169–300cc engines. Taurus is the larger utility line, starting near $5,900, with bigger engines and golf-cart crossover and electric options.
Should I get fuel injection on a TrailMaster UTV?
Yes if you ride in cold weather, at altitude, or store the machine for long periods. EFI starts more reliably and needs less adjustment. Otherwise the carbureted models are fine and cost less.
How many seats do TrailMaster UTVs have?
Both lines offer two-seat and four-seat models. You cannot add a row later, so buy the four-seater if you expect passengers.
