A couple of weeks ago, powersports specialist Polaris unveiled its revised lineup of RZR side-by-sides for the 2025 model year, and some of us are still pretty excited about it all. But rival Yamaha couldn’t care less about the levels of excitement we can handle, and it’s also released something truly spectacular for the segment: the 2025 Wolverine RMAX4 1000.
At a time when everyone’s talking about Wolverine, the one who teamed up with Deadpool to take the Marvel movie past the billion-dollar mark, this is making headlines as the most feature-packed Yamaha side-by-side ever made. And you can find out all about it below.
The Yamaha Wolverine range began in 2016 with the introduction of the two-seater variant, with the X4 models joining the range two years later. At first glance, not much has changed mechanically since then, but the range has become more powerful, more comfortable and more equipped with each incarnation.
The RMAX4 1000 stays true to its family lineage, as it is powered by a 999cc parallel-twin engine Double crankshaft engine. Thanks to YCC-T drive-by-wire technology and Ultramatic automatic transmission, it is more than enough to push or pull the vehicle from the most difficult situations and through the most spectacular scenery in the country.
The engine can be set to run in one of three modes, namely Sport, Trail and Crawl, which can be selected via a simple dial. These settings add to the impressive figures that the side-by-side naturally offers.
By that I mean a 118-inch (3,000 mm) wheelbase and 13.8 inches (35 cm) of ground clearance. Rounding it all out is a suspension system consisting of FOX shock absorbers that offer 16.9 inches of rear travel and 14.2 inches of front travel. The suspension spring rates and damping settings have also been improved.
Photo: Yamaha
30-inch Maxxis Carnivore tires are what put all that mechanical prowess to the ground. They have enough grip to allow the Wolverine to tow 2,000 pounds of stuff with ease, with 600 pounds of cargo fitting neatly inside the ram-assisted dump bed.
Yamaha will offer the Wolverine in two trim levels, XT-R and Limited. They share many components, but there are also things that set them apart.
On the similarities front both versions of the Wolverin use the On-Command 4WD system. Already present in Yamaha vehicles, it has been modified to offer faster engagement and disengagement of the front differential.
The system allows the vehicle to shift between 2WD, limited-slip 4WD, or full-diff-lock 4WD as needed, but it goes a step further by adding something called Turf Mode: it unlocks the rear differential to allow for more use cases. A 4,500-pound Warn VRX winch is another thing the two models share.
From a traveler’s perspective, the new side-by-sides are a major upgrade from their predecessors. The Wolverine now features a seven-inch display that provides information on things like navigation, readouts, and controls for the MTX audio system. The display supports Bluetooth connectivity, which allows riders to access call and text notifications.
The rest of the vehicle's cabin is packed to the gills with features you'd normally find in a passenger car. These include interior lighting, adjustable seat belts, a storage compartment in the center console, and even a wet storage area on the dashboard.
Photo: Yamaha
Speaking of storage areas, the rear of the vehicle also offers a new 23-litre dry storage space. It even has a USB port and cable slot to allow passengers’ devices to be charged when needed.
Because the Wolverine was designed to travel off the beaten path, it also features some elements not typically found in passenger cars. These include soft touch points for the knees, grab handles for the rear passengers, and textured footrests.
I mentioned earlier that the two Wolverine models also have differences. As you may have guessed, it’s not what the XT-R includes, but what the top-of-the-line Limited adds to that model.
The list of extras available on the Limited starts with a brand new rearview camera, which doesn’t exist but is pre-wired on the XT-R. Next up is a new TFT meter that displays details like speedometer, water temperature, battery voltage, and even maintenance reminders on a 4.3-inch color screen.
Yamaha is building the 2025 Wolverine RMAX4 1000 at its Newnan, Georgia, facility and says the first examples should be available at dealerships this fall. Just don’t expect them to be cheap.
The 2025 Wolverine RMAX4 1000 XT-R will be offered with a sporty paint job, matching interior, and beadlock wheels starting at $27,999. The top-of-the-line Limited, on the other hand, with all the extras that brings, will start at $29,199.