What's the Difference Between a 200-300cc Go-Kart vs. a 200-300cc UTV?
- on April 03, 2024
- Categories: Articles
It's fun to have a recreational vehicle you can run around in at home or take with you on vacation, but if you're new to such outdoor adventures, what vehicle is right for you? One common confusion for beginners is the difference between a go-kart vs. a UTV. While inexperienced riders might use the names interchangeably, knowing the differences helps you get the best vehicle for what you want to do.
What Is a Go-Kart vs. a UTV?
A go-kart is a four-wheeled recreational vehicle that sits fairly close to the ground. Made to take on fast speeds and sharp turns, they are often used in off-road and on-road races. When used for off-roading, it's usually for recreation; they have a back-mounted engine and aren't meant for hauling goods, so there's not a lot of storage space.
A utility task vehicle is another four-wheeled recreational vehicle, but it sits a little higher off the ground than a go-kart, and you can get a six-wheeled variant for harder work. UTVs come with either a front- or back-engine and generally have space for storage. For these reasons, UTVs are perfect for hauling friends, family, and gear to a camping or hunting spot. They are work vehicles as well, so you'll often find them on farms and construction sites.
How Do Go-Kart and UTV Features Compare?
Aside from size and use, several other features need a look when comparing a go-kart and UTV.
How Fast Does a 300cc UTV Go?
When speaking of engines, "cubic centimeters" is the unit of measurement that indicates the power and therefore the vehicle's top speeds. A 300cc UTV can get up to 80 miles per hour with a strong and steady ride perfect for tough work. They aren't sluggish and won't slow you down.
How Fast Does a 300cc Go-Kart Go?
A 300cc go-kart can get up to 70 miles per hour, accelerating quickly upon the start. They're peppy for racing and having fun.
What Are the Top Speeds for 200cc Vehicles?
As with the 300cc off-roading vehicles, a 200cc UTV can go faster than a 200cc go-kart. UTVs reach about 62 miles per hour with a 200cc engine, and go-karts reach about 50 miles per hour with the same size engine.
How Many People Fit on a Go-Kart or UTV?
Because go-karts are meant for speed and racing, they don't seat as many people as a UTV. Go-karts generally carry two individuals, though some only seat one. UTVs typically can carry four, but with certain modifications, you can add a couple of extra riders.
Are Go-Karts or UTVs Good for Off-Roading?
A UTV is a versatile vehicle. While you can use them to run errands around a farm or large property, you can also take them down a canyon for off-roading fun. UTVs do best on wider roads without narrow turns but handle well on dirt roads for the adventurer.
A go-kart vs. a UTV is also versatile, but in different areas. Because there's not much storage space on a go-kart, you might not find one useful for heavy errands on a farm, but it can do a lot when you take it off-roading. Go-karts can make the narrow turns that UTVs can't. They handle rough terrain and can rocket quickly up and down a trail.
Which Is Safer, a UTV or a Go-Kart?
UTVs and go-karts are similar when it comes to safety features. Both vehicles usually have a roll cage that surrounds the vehicle, offering riders protection if it rolls. UTV frames are a little more complex, offering more safety. UTVs and go-karts also both have seatbelts or a five-point harness system for every rider.
Because go-karts speed up more quickly than a UTV, they can be less safe. Most go-kart drivers use their ride for fun and racing, going as fast as possible whenever possible, while UTV drivers are generally focused on work or comfort and don't often accelerate to the highest speeds.
How Easy Are UTVs and Go-Karts To Maintain?
UTVs and go-karts are fairly similar when it comes to maintenance and upkeep. Go-kart frames are small and made to easily access the engine and other parts that might need a repair. However, because drivers are generally harder on go-karts, they can require more maintenance if they experience more rolls and crashes. Both vehicles are easy to clean with a hose at home or a self-serve car wash.
What Are the Price Differences in a UTV vs. a Go-Kart?
Because UTVs are larger than go-karts, you can assume you'll spend more money on the former, but that's not everything you should look at. Modifications are available for both vehicles. If that's something you're considering, you need to factor the cost of modifications into your budget. You might purchase a stock UTV for close to the same price as a go-kart with several modifications.
Price also depends on the size of the engine. A 300cc go-kart such as the TrailMaster 300XRSE-EFI costs around the same as a 232cc UTV such as the Blade 250.
Which Is Better, a UTV or a Go-Kart?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer, as choosing a go-kart vs. a UTV depends on several factors:
- What is your budget?
- What will you use the vehicle for?
- How many people will use the vehicle?
- What features are important to you?
- What terrain will you drive on?
The style and size of the vehicle might also be important to you. For both options, there are a variety of colors and designs, making the selection process fun.
Convenience plays a role as well. Go-karts are great if you want to just hop on and go, while UTVs are able to handle a large load, so you need to decide which of these features are most important.
