A side-by-side vehicle (SxS or SSV), is an

off-road vehicle An off-road vehicle, sometimes referred to as an overland or adventure vehicle, is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with d ...

with a minimum of two seats positioned side-by-side and enclosed within a roll cage structure. They have a minimum of four wheels (or

continuous track Continuous track is a system of vehicle propulsion used in tracked vehicles, running on a continuous band of treads or track plates driven by two or more wheels. The large surface area of the tracks distributes the weight of the vehicle ...

s) and are operated by foot controls and a steering wheel. Depending on use and application they can also be called a utility task vehicle, utility terrain vehicle (UTV), recreational off-highway vehicle (ROV), or multipurpose off-highway utility vehicle (MOHUV). Side-by-sides may be included in the category of

all-terrain vehicle An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), also known as a light utility vehicle (LUV), a quad bike, or simply a quad, as defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI); is a vehicle that travels on low-pressure tires, with a seat that is strad ...

s (ATVs), but do not include vehicles with saddle-seats that are operated using handlebar-type controls that are the conventional meaning of that term.

Definition and standards

The

American National Standards Institute The American National Standards Institute (ANSI ) is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. The organ ...

(ANSI) publishes two standards for side-by-sides. ANSI/OPEI B71.9-2016 sets standards for ''multipurpose off-highway utility vehicles'' (MOHUV) specifically intended for utility use which are intended to transport persons and cargo, have a non-straddle seat, are designed to travel on four or more wheels, use a steering wheel and pedals for controls, have a top speed of at least 25 mph (40.2 km/h), are 2030 mm (80 in) or less in overall width, have a

gross vehicle weight rating Vehicle weight is a measurement of wheeled motor vehicles; either an actual measured weight of the vehicle under defined conditions or a gross weight rating for its weight carrying capacity. Curb or kerb weight Curb weight (U.S. English) or kerb ...

(GVWR) of no more than 1814 kg (4000 lb), and with a minimum cargo capacity of 159 kg (350 lb). ANSI/ROHVA 1-2016 sets standards for ''recreational off-highway vehicles'' as having speed capability greater than 30 MPH (48 km/h), GVWR no greater than 1700 kg (3750 lbs), and engine displacement equal to or less than 1,000cc (61 cubic inches) for gasoline fueled engines.

Safety

Side-by-sides come factory-equipped with a rollover protection structure. Many of the vehicles also come equipped with hard tops, windshields, and even cab enclosures. Many follow safety standards including "visual seat belt usage reminders; leg/foot barriers; shoulder/hip barriers; and arm/hand barriers to restrict occupant egress and excursion from the vehicle during a rollover event." These are voluntary standards under American National Standard for recreational off-highway vehicles, ANSI/ROHVA 1-2016, though the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has proposed making them mandatory. In 2009, CPSC warned: "The vehicles may exhibit inadequate lateral stability, undesirable steering characteristics, and inadequate occupant protection during a

rollover Rollover or roll over may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Rollover'' (film), a 1981 American political thriller *''Roll Over'', a 1992 album by Hound Dog * "Roll Over", a 2006 song by Zico Chain * "Roll Over", a 1989 song by Steven Wayne ...

crash." According to the CPSC, between 2003 and August 2009, 116 deaths occurred in ROV/UTV accidents.

Use and application

Motorsports

Since the

2017 Dakar Rally The 2017 Dakar Rally was the 39th edition of the event and the ninth successive year that the event was held in South America. The event started in Asunción, Paraguay on January 2, then ran through Argentina and Bolivia, before returning to Buenos ...

, the SSV category vehicles have competed in a separate class, which is defined as four-wheel side-by-side vehicles with 1000 cc maximum displacement. Previously, they were classified in the Cars T3.3 subclass. In 2021 Dakar Rally organizers and the FIA introduced common categories - Group T3 for light prototypes and Group T4 for production based side by side vehicles. The trucks were reclassified to Group T5. Other off-road racing series include side-by-side classes, such as the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, TORC: The Off-Road Championship, SCORE International, Best in the Desert, and Grand National Cross Country.

In combat

Ukrainian forces have used UTVs during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, using a crew of two, fitted with Stugna-P missiles, some with machine guns, to destroy Russian tanks and positions. They have been referred to as "Mad Max" buggies. The US Marines are amongst other military forces to utilise forms of side-by-sides. File:Vehicle at Birmingham Airport - geograph.org.uk - 1468946.jpg, Police vehicle at Birmingham Airport, UK File:Lifeguard on Duty (6587201551).jpg, Lifeguard on a beach File:Korea Coast Guard police vehicle, Busan, 2018.jpg, Coast Guard, South Korea File:7th Marine Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Fire Base Um Jorais.jpg, US Marine Corps File:FL DEP Ranger Teri Graves assisting on a prescribed fire at Lower Suwannee NWR (16237633275).jpg, Land Management File:Superlioran - 20140311 - Chenillette Polaris 2.jpg, Tracked MUHOV on snow File:Polaris RZR XP 1000 EPS - Calico Ghost Town (22699671725).jpg, Passenger transport File:Rally Terra da Auga 2018 (33).jpg, Motorsport

Manufacturers

Notable manufacturers of UTVs include: * Arctic Cat * KYMCO * Argo *

Bobcat The bobcat (''Lynx rufus''), also known as the red lynx, is a medium-sized cat native to North America. It ranges from southern Canada through most of the contiguous United States to Oaxaca in Mexico. It is listed as Least Concern on the IU ...

* Can Am * Caterpillar Inc. * CFMoto * Club Car * Cub Cadet *

Honda is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a producti ...

* John Deere *

Kawasaki Kawasaki ( ja, 川崎, Kawasaki, river peninsula, links=no) may refer to: Places *Kawasaki, Kanagawa, a Japanese city **Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, a ward in Kawasaki, Kanagawa **Kawasaki City Todoroki Arena **Kawasaki Stadium, a multi-sport stadium *K ...

Kubota Kubota machine is a Japanese multinational corporation based in Osaka. It was established in 1890. The corporation produces many products including tractors and other agricultural machinery, construction equipment, engines, vending machines, pi ...

Mahindra & Mahindra Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M) is an Indian Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing corporation headquartered in Mumbai. It was established in 1945 as Mahindra & Mohammed and later renamed as Ma ...

Polaris Polaris is a star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Minor. It is designated α Ursae Minoris ( Latinized to ''Alpha Ursae Minoris'') and is commonly called the North Star or Pole Star. With an apparent magnitude that ...

* Cushman * Toro * Yamaha

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Side By Side (Utv) ATVs