Taylor Hutchinson 03.31.25
Within the mountains of Montana, a bunch of out of doors and motorsports writers descended on the Ranch at Rock Creek — a sprawling 6,600-acre property with entry to fly-fishing, snowboarding, and, most significantly, the all-terrain mountain trails. We gathered right here with the crew from Kawasaki for a shared outside expertise, spotlighting the all-new 2025 Ridge Crew side-by-side — their first enclosed UTV, constructed for each energy and luxury. Over the course of three days, we got down to uncover the Ridge Crew’s full potential.
As we arrived on the ranch, we obtained our first glimpse of the brand new 2025 Ridge Crew. I didn’t understand it on the time, however we have been in for an extended day of driving to place this premium side-by-side by its paces. Anticipating an extended, chilly day within the wilderness, I packed my thickest layers and jacket, able to set out. The Montana air was chilly this time of yr, with temperatures starting from 19 to 30 levels Fahrenheit. Wind and snowstorms cascaded from the mountains all through the day—good situations to check out a completely enclosed, climate-controlled UTV. I knew the Ridge Crew had a singular HVAC system, however I by no means anticipated I’d be shedding layers shortly after we began on the path.
After a great evening’s relaxation and a hearty breakfast, we headed to the Rod & Gun Membership positioned close by on the ranch. The brisk mountain air minimize deep by my beneficiant winter layers. The earlier night, we sat by a quick presentation over dinner, reviewing the options of Kawasaki’s new Ridge Crew lineup. We realized about 4 new fashions within the sequence: the Ridge Crew HVAC, Ridge Crew Camo, Ridge Crew XR, and Ridge Crew Restricted. Right now, we’d be testing the Restricted mannequin — fortunate for us, it’s positioned because the premium tier within the lineup. The Restricted mannequin comes customary with an 8” Garmin Tread infotainment unit. Leveraging this head unit, we have been in a position to share the expertise utilizing the group journey functionality, which allow us to observe the workforce and lead car with GPS on the path. I used to be advised later that the top unit integrates with different Garmin-compatible equipment. Brad, one of many writers in our group, introduced alongside a Starlink Mini that we tossed within the 1,000-lb capability cargo mattress. Whereas it wasn’t wherever close to 1,000 kilos, it was good for streaming music on these distant mountain trails. Admire the hook-up, Brad.
We realized that this wasn’t the one tech within the UTV. Every mannequin additionally comes customary with a 7” full-color TFT meter. Paired with the Kawasaki RIDEOLOGY app on our telephones, we may report journey logs, view further GPS knowledge to share with pals, and overview car data. Being out all day — taking footage, taking pictures movies, and jamming to tunes — was taking a toll on a few of our telephones’ and cameras’ batteries. Fortunately, every mannequin comes stocked with USB ports, 12V DC energy retailers on the dashboard, and one other within the rear.
Armed with data about this new machine, we equipped and headed out to the path. We have been all paired with one other author and a member of the Kawasaki crew. Because the solar crested the mountain ridges, filling the valley beneath, we stepped into the Ridge Crew for the primary time. Every mannequin contains a premium inside with an insulated roof liner and a dome mild. The Ridge Crew XR is provided with adjustable seats for each driver and passenger, whereas the Restricted and base fashions supply an adjustable driver’s seat. Already beginning to get chilly, I cranked the UTV on. Kawasaki’s 999cc inline four-cylinder engine got here to life. Because of a singular exhaust system, the Ridge Crew’s design retains the cabin snug and free from fumes. The engine’s orientation and dual-wall exhaust warmth protect permit the rider to keep up an excellent cab temperature in any atmosphere. Adjusting the HVAC was easy, with choices for fan energy, recent or recirculated air, and a defrost mode. It virtually made me overlook I used to be in a UTV.
Beginning down the path, we started to know what had beforehand solely been head data. Whereas constructed for consolation, the Ridge Crew doesn’t compromise on energy. The Ridge Crew comes geared up with Kawasaki’s 999cc inline four-cylinder engine, delivering 92 horsepower within the base mannequin and 116 within the XR, with prime speeds reaching 68 mph. It strikes a steadiness between low-end torque and high-RPM energy. Beginning out, I didn’t discover the same old jolt I’m used to from different UTVs when the transmission shifts into gear. Updates to the 2025 Ridge Crew, in addition to the XR’s CVT system, permit for smoother preliminary takeoff and fewer belt deflection, holding the belt taut so the CVT can interact it extra easily. The CVT gives a clean, sturdy response with predictable engine braking, utilizing a “catch and launch” technique that interprets to a steady, assured downhill really feel — including to the motive force’s confidence.
As we traversed the terrain, we stopped alongside the best way to check varied options of the Ridge Crew. A lot of the path was nonetheless lined in deep snow from the evening earlier than. In different areas, the snow had melted, giving option to free rock and steep inclines. Every Ridge Crew was constructed with beneficiant floor clearance — between 13 and 15 inches, relying on the mannequin — and full-length skid plates. Paired with metal wheels, the Ridge Crew affords superior sturdiness and occupant safety.
Driving to every station, I couldn’t assist however surprise about all of the use circumstances this specific side-by-side would match into. With its all-season design, there’s no excuse to not go farther and deeper into the hard-to-reach corners of the wilderness. Geared up with a 2” receiver hitch and a couple of,500 lbs of towing capability, you could possibly simply maintain searching plots, distant cabins, and survival caches stocked year-round. I assumed again to a fly-fishing spot I frequent in Western North Carolina that usually has its roads washed out, making it troublesome to get to with my full-size truck. The Ridge Crew’s tires are 27” Duro Energy Grip V2s, whereas the XR comes geared up with 30” SunF tires. Every mannequin options 14” aluminum wheels and hydraulic disc brakes, entrance and rear. Mixed with 4WD and 4WD with diff-lock drive modes, it’d be a cakewalk by these washed-out trails.
I didn’t must think about for lengthy. We have been tasked with loading hay bales into the cargo mattress — most likely a greater take a look at than the Starlink Mini. Loading and unloading hay bales with the assisted cargo mattress took no time in any respect. I discovered the Ridge Crew laborious to suit right into a single class. Whereas it’s stacked with premium options, it doesn’t fall quick as a workhorse both. After we got here throughout a number of downed bushes, we put the Crew again to work. The Restricted mannequin, geared up with a WARN VRX 45-S winch, made quick work of them — clearing the path for us to proceed on our journey.
The journey within the Ridge Crew was clean — we barely observed the tough terrain beneath us. And under no circumstances have been we taking it gradual, both. The ability drive modes encompass Sport, Work, and Regular. We spent most of our time in Sport mode. I’ve ridden loads of UTVs — on searching properties, mountain roads between cabins, and for good old style joyriding. However the Ridge Crew felt like one thing particular. It’s one thing I may see myself sharing with my partner — or possibly even a future toddler — no exhaust fumes, no mud within the eyes, no uncomfortable journey that cuts the day quick.
After driving all morning, I handed the wheel over to my driving companion, Joel, for the afternoon. This gave me the possibility to expertise the Ridge Crew from the passenger’s perspective. Each journey feels proper whenever you’re the one driving. But it surely’s all the time a special story from the passenger seat. The Ridge Crew XR mannequin comes with adjustable seats for each the motive force and passenger, whereas the Restricted and base fashions embody an adjustable driver’s seat. I stand at 5’11” on a great day and weigh in at 165 kilos — exceptionally common — however I by no means felt cramped within the passenger or rear seats. Rear legroom extends underneath the entrance seats, letting you stretch out on these longer rides. The rear security bar rubbed in opposition to some taller riders’ knees, however I can see the place the engineers have been coming from — balancing security and legroom.
The afternoon introduced new challenges for the Ridge Crew — steeper inclines, heavier snowfall, and stronger winds as we climbed larger into the mountains. At a number of factors, the path narrowed into sharp 30-degree turns with steep cliffs simply past the sting. Leveraging the Ridge Crew’s entrance and rear cameras gave us some peace of thoughts as we navigated these tight spots. They’d additionally come in useful when hooking up a trailer or backing as much as a lately harvested deer. Sadly, the cameras don’t activate mechanically when shifting into reverse — a element we flagged for the Kawasaki techs, who have been onsite and taking all our suggestions with grace.
As we headed again to the ranch after summiting the mountainside, I rolled the facility home windows down — it was beginning to get heat contained in the cab. Glancing at my cellphone, I noticed the skin temperature learn 19 levels. I turned down the warmth and was shocked by how nicely insulated we have been. The cab cooled down, and we rode comfortably again to the ranch, already dwelling on the recollections we’d simply made.
The outside is all about expertise. Christopher McCandless — higher referred to as Alex Supertramp — ventured into the Alaskan wilderness alone, seeking to escape fashionable society and the routines of day-to-day life. One lesson I take to coronary heart from his story is that this: the world is greatest seen by a shared expertise. The Kawasaki Ridge Crew UTV affords that in a premium package deal. It’s constructed for peak efficiency with consolation and energy in thoughts. I see it giving those that wouldn’t usually enterprise farther up the path — or keep out longer, in any season — an actual probability to expertise the wild. An opportunity to create new shared experiences.
The enjoyment of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and therefore there isn’t any larger pleasure than to have an endlessly altering horizon, for every day to have a brand new and totally different solar…Happiness is barely actual when shared. —Alex Supertramp
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