The 2023 Yamaha UTV Lineup

Many folks waited anxiously with high hopes last year for big news regarding the 2022 Yamaha UTV lineup, only to be disappointed with the results. Similarly, aside from price increases and “bold new graphics", the 2023 Yamaha UTV lineup was also somewhat of a letdown. Some Yamaha YXZ enthusiasts had their fingers crossed for a 400hp, 4 seat, or 72” wide buggy, while others wanted a factory GYTR Turbo edition YXZ. The realists out there would have even settled for factory cup holders that are actually usable from the driver’s seat... but even this was too much to ask for it seems.

You could have bought a 2019 Yamaha Viking Ranch edition with a rebate in 2020 for around $14,000. Today, the base model of the 2023 Yamaha Viking EPS costs $15,699 – and that doesn’t even include taxes, licensing costs, destination charges, and a handful of other fees. Where the Wolverine is concerned, the price hikes are even more stark. When it was first released, the 2022 RMAX2 XT-R had an MSRP of $24,399. Today, the 2023 RMAX2 XT-R has an MSRP of $27,199. When the prices increased from 2021 to 2022, at least you got some additional features – like factory beadlock wheels, roofs, and stereo systems – to help justify the extra cost; but this isn’t the case in 2023. All that being said, however, you can’t blame Yamaha alone if you’re unsatisfied with their 2023 side-by-side release. After all, part costs have increased a ton in the manufacturing space, and you’ve gotta ship those bad boys, which means transport fees are contingent on gas prices. Nevertheless, the 2023 Yamaha UTV machines are here, and here are the facts!

The 2023 Yamaha Viking Lineup

Some of the Yamaha Viking’s 2023 utility vehicles underwent slight changes in terms of coloring / graphics, while others did not. Aside from that, warranties appeared to change as well, and not much more.

• 2023 Yamaha Viking EPS

Yamaha removed the Realtree Edge color option for the 2023 Viking EPS and now only offers it in Tactical Green. And instead of costing $13,999 like the 2022 Viking EPS, the 2023 Viking EPS now costs $15,699.

• 2023 Yamaha Viking VI EPS

Like the 2023 Viking EPS, the 2023 Viking VI EPS now also comes exclusively in Tactical Green, and the price for this edition went from $14,799 in 2022 to $16,499 in 2023. Both the Viking EPS and Viking VI EPS will be available starting in February 2023.

• 2023 Yamaha Viking EPS Ranch Edition

The Copper Metallic color option remains the same with the 2023 Viking EPS Ranch Edition, and so too does everything else but the price – which went up by $1,700.

• 2023 Yamaha Viking VI EPS Ranch Edition

No color changes occurred with the 2023 Viking VI EPS Ranch edition, but the price increased from $14,699 in 2022 to $17,799 in 2023. The warranty also changed for the Viking VI EPS Ranch Edition on Yamaha’s website, where the 2022 edition had a 6 Month limited factory warranty and a 10-year belt warranty, and the 2023 edition has no warranty listed.

The 2023 Yamaha Wolverine Lineup

Moving on from the utility-style vehicles to the recreation vehicles, we have the 2023 Wolverine X2 / X4 and RMAX2 / RMAX4 machines.

• 2023 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 Limited Edition

The price went up $2,800 for the 2023 RMAX2 1000 Limited, and the color options went from Matte Silver / Pearl White to Titan / Midnight Blue.

• 2023 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 R-Spec

In addition to a price hike from $21,199 to $23,999, the color options for an RMAX2 1000 R-Spec went from Armor Gray / Yellow in 2022 to Cyan / Yamaha Black in 2023.

• 2023 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 Sport

Yamaha kept things the same with the color of both the 2022 and 2023 Wolverine RMAX2 1000 sport editions (Team Yamaha Blue), but the price of the latter increased by $2,800.

• 2023 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 XT-R

Instead of being offered in Tactical Black / Carbon Metallic for $24,399, the 2023 Wolverine RMAX2 1000 XT-R is selling for $27,199 with a Desert Tan / Tactical Black color option.

• 2023 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX4 1000 Limited Edition

The price increased from $27,199 to $30,300 for the 2023 Wolverine RMAX4 1000 Limited, and the color options went from Matte Silver / Pearl White to Titan / Midnight Blue.

• 2023 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX4 1000 R-Spec

Keeping things consistent, the only thing that changed between the 2022 and 2023 Wolverine RMAX4 1000 R-Spec are the price (from $23,199 to $26,399) and color (from Armor Gray / Yellow to Cyan / Yamaha Black.

• 2023 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX4 1000 XT-R

Rather than being available in Tactical Black / Carbon Metallic for $25,999 as was the case in 2022, the 2023 Wolverine RMAX4 1000 XT-R can now be purchased for $29,199 in Desert Tan / Tactical Black.

• 2023 Yamaha Wolverine X2 850 R-Spec

The price hike on the 2023 Wolverine X2 850 R-Spec wasn’t as substantial as the other editions. In 2022, you could get an X2 850 R-Spec in Armor Gray / Yellow for $14,899, or Realtree Edge for $15,399. Today, the 2023 X2 850 R-Spec comes in Cyan / Yamaha Black and costs a mere $400 more at $15,799.

• 2023 Yamaha Wolverine X2 850 XT-R

In 2023, the Wolverine X2 850 XT-R comes in Desert Tan / Tactical Black and costs $17,399, while in 2022, the same vehicle cost $16,499 and came in Tactical Black / Carbon Metallic.

• 2023 Yamaha Wolverine X4 850 R-Spec

The price for a Wolverine X4 850 R-Spec took a modest jump from $17,399 to $18,399 from 2022 to 2023, and the colors went from Armor Gray / Yellow to Cyan / Yamaha Black.

• 2023 Yamaha Wolverine X4 850 XT-R

The last of the Wolverine models for 2023 is the X4 850 XT-R, which now costs $19,999 and comes in Desert Tan / Tactical Black instead of costing $18,999 and coming in Tactical Black / Carbon Metallic like it did in 2022.

The 2023 Yamaha YXZ Lineup

The “Pure Sport” models of Yamaha’s 2023 lineup consist of the YXZ1000R, YXZ1000R SS, and the YXZ1000R SS XT-R. Word on the street is that Yamaha is bringing back the spring-style door hinges and adding new locking tabs to the radiator cover, but these rumors have yet to be confirmed. What is confirmed, however, are the color options and prices, which are as follows:

• 2023 Yamaha YXZ1000R

Both the 2022 and 2023 YXZ1000R editions come exclusively in Team Yamaha Blue, but it appears that the latter has a black roll cage instead of a blue one. As far as prices go, the 2022 YXZ1000R costs $19,499, whereas the 2023 YXZ1000R costs $19,499.

• 2023 Yamaha YXZ1000R SS

Team Yamaha Blue is also the color for the 2022 and 2023 YXZ1000R SS – the former costing $20,499 and the latter costing $21,899.

• 2023 Yamaha YXZ1000R SS XT-R

Instead of Team Yamaha Blue, Yamaha went with Tactical Black / Carbon Metallic for the 2022 YXZ1000R SS XT-R, and Desert Tan / Tactical Blue for the 2023 YXZ1000R SS XT-R. And for that, you get the pleasure of paying $24,699 instead of $23,299.

Closing Thoughts

In addition to new colors and “upgraded” prices, Yamaha also introduced some new factory accessories. But like the vehicles themselves, Yamaha’s 2023 side-by-side accessories are a bit pricey compared to their aftermarket counterparts. So yes, nothing gamechangine appeared from Yamaha’s 2023 UTV drop, and if that isn’t what you wanted, you can either wait until next year and hope for the best, or take action now with the appropriate aftermarket modifications!