I'm a big guy, 6'4", 240 lbs. and my 500 X2 has plenty of power for me, even with a small passenger. The fuel mileage is great. Riding it easy by myself in 2WD, 23-24 mpg. Riding it hard with a passenger in AWD, 16 mpg. Even at that, it's nearly 100 miles per tank.

The only time I've sometimes wished for more power is riding at 10,000 feet with a male adult passenger and lots of hunting gear.

If I had it to do all over again ................. I'd do exactly the same thing and buy a 500 X2 with the AWD engine braking system.

 

Also the 700 has no back-up recoil rope. I carry a set of jumper cables in my 700.

 

If they had the 700 when I bought mine I might have bought one. Especially since the price is only a couple hundred more than the 500. That being said, I weigh 350 and have had a 200 lb. passenger on with me and gone, up, down, and through everything I encountered. I've towed a lot of weight and it does great. I have never felt that it needs more power. Also, as others have said, the gas mileage is pretty good. I've got about 20-22 mpg on flat surfaces and 18-20 in mixed slow speed driving.

 

My wife finds her 500 X2 a dream to ride, Stable, Better Fuel mileage and very manageable with plenty of power even with me in the back seat. I am 6'3 and about 280 now