THE RIDE STUFF! 2015 Kawasaki Mule PRO-FXT

By Ed Tahaney - January 27, 2015

The 2015 Kawasaki Mule PRO-FXT is one of the ugliest vehicles I have ever driven and it is also one of the very best. Ugly like an American Staffordshire Terrier, but also tough, loyal and loveable.

And here’s the best part — like the super fast, 300 horsepower, the two-wheeled Kawasaki HR2 — the Mule is assembled in Lincoln, Nebraska.

I recently had the pleasure of driving this rugged beast through the torturous trails of the historic Santa Margarita Ranch in Paso Robles, California. My assignment: to test out Kawasaki’s newest workhorse, which is meant for doing jobs around the ranch, not on the streets.

It was a tough job, requiring a helmet, safety goggles and balls of steel…well, maybe a stomach of steel. The night before my adventure, Kawasaki provided a feast of deep fried turkey nuts and pulled pork nachos at F. McLintocks Saloon in downtown Paso Robles. And, this being grape country, there was plenty of wine. (As a side note, I would recommend that you skip the turkey nuts and order the rib eye and an 805 beer instead.)

But back to the Mule tale at hand.

This is Kawasaki’s fastest and most powerful Mule to date, packing an 812cc, three-cylinder engine that produces 48 ft-lbs of torque. Is it fast? Well, it’s fast as far as Mules go. I managed to get it up to about 39 mph or so, but that’s not really the point here.

This little vehicle is built to haul asses, not just ass. Well, at least it can carry them safely at a good clip around the farm, winery or a dusty trail. It will also haul up to 1,000 pounds in its steel cargo bed and tow up to 2,000 pounds.

The four-wheeler has four plastic doors and the all-new Trans Cab can seat three or six passengers on cushy benches. (That’d be six small passengers and maybe four Bubbas and a cooler full of beer.)

The Mule transforms quickly and easily to the different seating arrangements and it still provides ample room in the 53.7 inches wide bed for small loads from 22 inches deep and up to 42.7 inches when extended fully.

The hood, side panels and gate are all tough plastic, which is an upgrade from last year’s dent-prone metal versions. The 2015 Mule also comes with a decent three-year warranty from Kawasaki.

As far as amenities go, it also comes equipped with a pair of cup holders on the dash, a multi-function LCD instrument cluster, an adjustable tilt steering wheel and multiple 12-volt DC outlets for your Androids and iPhones.

There’s also a highly recommended power steering option that makes driving the new “King of Mules” as easy for beginners as it is for seasoned riders. Plus, the turning radius of 16 feet is pretty tight.

A Digital Fuel Injection delivers fuel from its 7.9-gallon fuel tank which provides an extended range over most other models. The specially tuned CVT transmission allows for electronically selectable 2WD/4WD modes on the dash which came in handy in the steep California countryside.

The PRO-FXT has a shorter overall length at 133.3 inches than the competition and a wheelbase of 92.3 inches. There is 10.2 inches of ground clearance so you can clear uneven terrain and most small objects in your path — but definitely not cattle as seen above.

“The front and rear independent suspension travel is a generous 8.7” (left rear is 8.5”) thanks, in part, to the twin-tube, pre-load-adjustable shocks found at each corner,” according to Kawasaki.

Halogen headlights are standard and the LE and CAMO models get high-intensity, auxiliary LEDs if you find yourself out and about at night.

The workhorse is available in four models – a black base model, a green or super black EPS, a green or red EPS LE model and the model that was tested here which was a Mule PRO-FXT that is available in Camo or Realtree Xtra graphics.

MSRP starts at $15,599, plus there’s a $675 destination charge.

My Mule adventure continued after a brief and exhilarating zipline canopy tour provided by Margarita Adventures after lunch. (There are five different zip-lines that span a combined 4500 feet which allows adrenaline freaks the opportunity to soar high above the scenic vineyards.)

Back on the dusty trail we racked up miles of terrain in the comfort and safety of our trusty Mules. The day ended with a wine tasting at the Ancient Peaks Winery, followed by dinner and more vino at the nearby and highly recommended J Dusi Winery.