Definitely makes the choice between Rancher and Foreman harder than last year.

 

Looks like your right. The Foreman is not smaller but the Rancher is larger now.

Might as well buy the Rancher and buy larger tires and call it a Foreman. But the Foreman will be the only Honda ATV 4x4 with AWD diff locking front drive.

2014 Honda FourTrax® Rancher® 4x4 ES (TRX420FE1E) ATVs

 

Suzuki seem to have won on styling, the new 420 looks a lot like a King Quad. Has the 420FM got a new rear axle? This was the Achilles heel of the old one (and the 300 before that). It seems odd that the big makers have deserted the “mid range” utility market. I know people tend to think “I’ll get a bit bigger Quad next time” but the 300 to 350 4WD market used to be the big one, and both Suzuki and Honda are ignoring it.

 

I consider a 500 a mid bore.
A mid size chassis ATV sure can be fun vs a full size ATV.
My 350 can almost do a U-turn on a trail where my Sportsman needs to do a 3 point turn around.

 

I was faced with this same choice a few years ago and the salesman talked me into buying the Rancher. I've been glad he did ever since! My Rancher goes anywhere the Foreman goes and it costs a lot less. My opinion.

 

Maybe not now since the 2014 Foreman will be the first Honda ATV with true AWD diff lock.
4x4 can go place a 3wd drive cant.
Plus the Foreman has larger 25" tires then the Rancher. Those are two big advantages for the Foreman.

 

The only reason to choose the 2014 Foreman over the Rancher is front differential lock. If that's important to you get the Foreman, otherwise buy the Rancher and upgrade wheels & tires. An even better choice IMO, get a 2013 Rancher instead and do the tire/wheel upgrade.