These Machines Are the Most Powerful ATVs on the Market Today

This ATV features a 999cc V-twin engine producing 101 horsepower, making it the first ATV to reach triple-digit output. It also cranks out 69 lb-ft of torque, which is impressive in its own right. The Outlander offers Work, Standard, and Sport ride modes to tailor the power delivery—helpful when you don’t want an accidental blip of the throttle to launch you into orbit.

The Renegade remains a powerhouse, even though it sticks with Can-Am’s older (but still excellent) 976cc Rotax V-twin instead of the newer 999cc unit. If anything, it’s quicker: In any trim, the Renegade is about 100–200 pounds lighter than its Outlander counterpart. By ditching the front rack and adopting sport quad-inspired plastics, it benefits from a better power-to-weight ratio, key for outright speed and wringing every bit out of its near triple-digit horsepower.

The most powerful Polaris comes in the corner of the Sportsman XP 1000 S. What started life as a utility-forward 4x4 has been turned into a 55-inch wide beast of a machine with 14.5 inches of ground clearance. But the heart of the beast is a 89-horsepower ProStar parallel twin engine that kicks the quad into high gear any time you prod the thumb throttle.

Polaris’ biggest and baddest sport-4x4 touts one measly (and frankly inconsequential) horsepower less than its utility-centric sibling. Under the hood is a 952cc engine with 89 horsepower. While it doesn’t get the same weight-shedding treatment as Can-Am’s sport-4x4, it makes up for it with aggressive looks and proven off-road performance

Most know Argo for its go-anywhere Sherp-style vehicles that look ready for the apocalypse, but the brand builds capable ATVs, too. Its flagship, the Xplorer XRT 1000 LE, is powered by a 997cc liquid-cooled, SOHC, four-valve twin-cylinder engine. While Argo doesn’t publish an official horsepower figure, trusted sources estimate it makes between 80 and 85 horsepower, healthy enough to earn it a spot on this list.

The Outlander 850 delivers 82 horsepower and 66 lb-ft of torque from a Rotax engine with shared DNA to the 1000R. The difference lies in ECU tuning—locked from the factory—so buyers can’t simply upgrade the 850 to 1000-spec performance. Still, that’s a seriously strong number for an 850-class ATV.

CFMoto may not get as much attention, but don’t count out this Chinese manufacturer. The CForce 1000 Overland is the brand’s flagship ATV, packing a 963cc V-twin engine that delivers 79 horsepower. That’s competitive with the best in the category—and a lot of motor for the price.

While many looking for a powerful Polaris go straight from the 570 to the 1000, you shouldn’t sleep on the 850. It has a surprisingly potent ProStar 850cc parallel twin-cylinder engine that cranks out 78 horsepower. Though Polaris’ 570 packs plenty for most riders, the 850 offers a significant step up in performance. But for a happy medium between mid-bore and big-bore, the 850 is perhaps the goldilocks, and its engine pulls more than its weight.

It doesn’t match the Renegade 1000, but the 650’s Rotax V-twin still delivers a strong 62 horsepower. That’s more than enough for trail duty, spirited riding, and everything short of a drag race. No, it won’t win a race against the 1000-class rigs, but it’ll hold its own in every other situation short of a drag race. For most, the 650’s 62 horsepower is plenty peppy.

Powered by a 749cc V-Twin engine generating an estimated 50 horsepower, the Brute Force 750 can reach speeds up to 75 mph, balancing power and utility. The big Brute received a thorough update recently, and while the company unfortunately didn’t make any changes to its tried-and-true 749cc 4-stroke, V-twin, SOHC, liquid-cooled engine, it’s still an explosive unit that we’re fond of to this day. Part of this is thanks to a sub-700-pound dry weight that’s ultra-light for the category, which makes the Brute’s 50 or so horses feel like more than it is in actuality.