To me, the highlight of the Rhino is the engine. It is the same powerplant found in the Grizzly, meaning you get 660 cubic centimeters of liquid-cooled (larger radiator than a Grizzly), four-stroke tractability and a fully automatic CVT with dual ranges and reverse. It is a strong, reliable engine that works well in the Rhino chassis. The disc brakes all around help the Rhino stop precisely and aid in handling rugged terrain. I am a tall guy — 6’ 2” — and was concerned about leg room in the Rhino. It wasn’t a problem. What’s even better is that the non-adjustable seat works well for both the tallest riders and shortest.

It may seem like a simple detail, but a 2-inch receiver hitch makes sense considering it has become an industry standard on most trucks from Detroit. And the winch mounting tabs up front were a good idea, too. Still, we didn’t get a chance to test it in a pure utility environment, though we doubt the Rhino would fail at such jobs. By far the best feature of the Rhino is the side-by-side seating. It was easy to carry on a conversation with the passenger and, for a split second, I felt like I was on a road trip with a friend. Powering up a rutted, rocky, steep hillclimb quickly put those thoughts to rest, though.