I have posted this question on a certain brand website but thought I would post it here so there are not as many bias opinions. My wife and I are going to trade our KTM dirt bikes in for quads. We are both in the 50ish range. My wife is 5'3" and 115 pounds. We are looking at the Honda 420 AT (Canadian edition) and the Polaris Sportsman 550 xp EPS for her. I was looking at the Polaris for me, 6' 225. We are going to be using them for mostly mild to moderate trail riding. My wife wants a nice comfy bike she can ride on for a long time. Wont be doing a lot of fast road-trail riding. Think we would both like EPS-EFI and IRS. Just not sure if the Polaris is more to handle than the Honda for her. Thanks for any info you can provide

 

The XP550 is a total different class vs the 420 Rancher,the price tags and physical size will tell you that.

The comfy trick is make sure the ATV has IRS and power steering and Auto, the EFI you will not notice other then not using a choke for the first cold start up.
The Rancher needs "constant shifting" which is more annoying then the snowmobile on wheels XP gas and go and forget it CVT drive on long day rides.

5,3 at 115lb the XP is a full size chassis ATV while the Rancher is a Mid size chassis. The XP might be a bit big and clumsy for her.

To bad EFI is important to you, The only other mid size ATV with Power Steering,IRS and CVT automatic I can think off is the Grizzly 450.It also has low range and true AWD diff lock.

Maybe the 400 Can Am outlander XT which also has efi but not sure about power Steering.

 

I don't think the Can-Am Outlander 400 offers power steering as an option but the 500 has the DPS. (Dynamic Power Steering).

As TLC said the two machines you mentioned are two different animals. Rancher is a mid-sized quad where the Sportsman XP is a full-sized. Polaris has full 4wd available, Rancher has a limited slip front end. Polaris is comfortable riding, Rancher is easier to throw around. Polaris has much better on board storage options, Rancher not much. Polaris also has better towing and toting numbers, along with better ground clearance. If the trails aren't going to be super challenging like rocky hillsides that you have to crawl up in 4wd or a lot of off camber trails I wouldn't worry too much about the size of the Polaris for your wife. If they are challenging a mid-sized might be a better way to go.

 

The smaller Chassis size is nice on many tighter twisty trail. Many times I find myself having more fun on the nimbler 350 Grizzly then my Full sized Sportsman. I can do a U- turn where the Sportsman needs a 3 point turn around.

The 500 outlander steps you back into the full size chassis once again.
Polaris had a nice mid size Sportsman 400 (455cc) a few years back but it did not have P.S or EFI. The new 400 Sportsman is a full size brute.

 

Thanks for the info. With my size 6 feet and 225 (fit) is the 420 too small for me? We wont be doing alot of aggressive riding. Will throw a plow on one of them though occasionally--not alot of heavy snow. Thanks

 

FYI - The Honda Rancher TRX420FPA is a great mid-size machine with plenty of power, features and comfort for both of you. 2 and 4 wheel drive, IRS, Auto transmission and/or electronic shift, power steering (really great on long runs), fuel injection (no messing with carburator adjustments at altitutdes), dealers/service everywhere, etc, etc.

Just my 2 cents worth...

 

I'm 6'3" and found Ranchers to be a little cramped for me. With me on there I wouldn't want a passenger too.

If you plan on doing a lot of 2-up riding it's better to get a dedicated 2 person machine. Arctic Cat, Polaris, and Can-Am all have 2-up machines. The advantage of a 2-up machine is that it is purpose built for 2 people with a longer wheelbase. If you put a passenger on a 1-up machine you get a very light front end and it can be dangerous going up hills with all that weight behind the rear axle, causing the quad to tip backwards. 2-up machines are built so that the passengers weight is forward of the rear axle. Much more stable.

 

The Rancher is not a Atuo like the Rubicon and Rincon it has to to be shifted into the prober grear at all times, be it e.s or foot shift model,but shifting is shifting.

Unless you riding in the Rocking mountains alitutees mean nothing in North America. I run my carb atv up and down our 1000 ft ski hill without a issue.

carburator adjustments ? whats that?

How come a 420cc ATV has little 24" Tires? Even My 350 came with 25" Stock.

 

The Polaris XP 550 with power steering and traverse engine will be easy for your wife and big enough for you.
Why would the wife want a crap atv thats slower and worse riding and handling.
I'd say get 2 XP550s! You do want her to enjoy riding dont you?