$22,199 MSRP / 110 HP

• Premium Suspension for less

• Great all-around sport rig

• oodles of factory options to choose from

More quality, less cash.

If you’re shopping for a pure sport rig, the 2025 Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000 is not to be overlooked. Fire-breathers like the Can-Am Maverick R or Polaris RZR Pro R grab all the headlines, but in terms of sheer value, Kawasaki outclasses them all.

Plain and simple, you won’t find better suspension for the money anywhere in 2025. Brute force is great, but as anyone who’s ever turtled a rig would tell you, control is better. If your budget doesn’t allow for both, suspension wins every time.

The KRX 1000 looks the business, has a hard-earned reputation for reliability, and does damn near everything well. Factor in great factory options, a four-door version, and a comfortable cab, and it’s one of the smartest buys around.

How much power does it make?

The entire Kawasaki KRX 1000 lineup shares the same 999cc parallel-twin engine. As such, they all make the same 110 horsepower at 8,500 rpm. That makes the KRX a bit more rev-happy than your typical sport rig, but it never feels high strung.

Kawasaki rates the KRX 1000’s torque output at 75.2 lb-ft @ 7,000 rpm. In our testing we’ve found this motor always has plenty of low-end grunt on tap, as well as outstanding engine breaking, which makes it an excellent choice in the rocks or on low-speed, technical trails.

What makes it special?

The single greatest stand-out feature of any KRX is the suspension. Even the base model comes standard with Showa 2.5 piggyback shocks, and absolutely floats at speed over rocks and rough terrain. That’s a major win for a rig that starts at just $22,199.

Step up to the $24,799 eS model, and the ride quality gets even better. We’re talking Fox 2.5 LiveValve hardware paired with Kawasaki’s electronic control system and three selectable modes of damping control. You’d have to shell out $34,000 to get this level of sophistication from Polaris, which brings us to our next point.

Regardless of which trim you choose, the bang-for-your-buck factor can’t be overstated here. Whether you choose analog or electric, ride quality, articulation, and control are in a league of their own at this price.

Why do I want it?

There are plenty of good reasons to choose a 2025 Kawasaki KRX 1000 over its competitors. That being said, value is the main attraction, especially if you’re the type of owner who values ride quality over horsepower.

The KRX also stands out for its roomy interior, aggressive good looks, and reliable powertrain. We’ve seen numerous examples go well beyond 10,000 miles without a single major mechanical issue: just change your oil on time, keep the air filter clean, and don’t neglect your clutch.

Why don’t I want it?

The single greatest downfall of the 2025 Kawasaki KRX 1000 is the motor. Don’t get us wrong, the 999cc twin is plenty punchy and far from slow, but there are competitors in the segment making double or nearly double the KRX 1000’s output for around the same price.

While the KRX outclasses them all in terms of suspension for the money, it just can’t compete as a wide-open desert ripper alongside rigs like the RZR Pro XP or Maverick X3 RS RR. If ludicrous speed is what you’re craving, the KRX may leave you wanting.

We’ll also note that the KRX 1000 is a large machine in any configuration, measuring just over 68 inches wide in its most petite iteration. That can make it a bit of a handful on tighter trails (east coast riders, we’re talking to you), and that goes double when stepping up to the 157-inch long KRX4 four-seater.

What trim should I get?

If the two-seat version of the KRX 1000 is what you’re after, we consider the eS model to be the best buy of the bunch. At $24,799, the eS is only a $2,600 premium over the base model, yet comes equipped with upgraded Fox 2.5 Live Valve suspension, three-mode active damping control, and an upgraded TFT dash, plus a poly roof and a steel front bumper.

The $22,199 base model is still an outstanding rig with damn good suspension, mind you, but because most owners will end up adding a roof and bumper anyways, the standard equipment of the eS stands out as the best buy.

Three other factory trim levels are available (the Trail Edition, Blackout Edition, and Lifted Edition), all of which offer a different mix of factory goodies at different pricepoints. They’re all worth looking at, truth be told, but we’d prefer to build a rig up ourselves from one of the two options above.

As for the four-door KRX4 1000, all the same trim levels are available save for the Trail Edition, but Kawasaki doesn’t include the roof or bumper as part of the eS model’s $26,999 asking price. The price difference is even smaller between the two at just $1,800 dollars, however, so we still recommend the same trims.

If I like this… what else should I look at?

If you’re digging the KRX but can’t get over it’s 110 horsepower output, Polaris’ RZR Pro XP ups the ante without completely breaking the bank, as does Can-Am’s Maverick X3 Turbo RR lineup. Honda’s Talon 1000R Live Valve models offer similar value, power, and Fox Live Valve suspension, but add a unique dual clutch gearbox to the equation.

2025 Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000 Specs

*Base model specs shown. Differences between two and four-door models are noted in parenthesis*

Length: 130.1 in. (157.3 in.)

Width: 68.1 in.

Height: 74.8 in. (76.2 in.)

Wheelbase: 98.8 in. (125.8 in.)

Claimed Dry Weight: 1,794.9 lbs (1,997 lbs)

Engine: 4-stroke, DOHC, 8-valve parallel-twin, liquid cooled

Displacement: 999cc

Transmission: Automatic CVT with centrifugal clutch (H,L,N,R)

Claimed Power: 110 hp @ 8,500 rpm

Claimed Torque: 72.5 lb-ft @ 7,000 rpm

Fuel System: DFI® with (2) 50mm throttle bodies

Steering: EPS; rack-and-pinion

Drivetrain: Selectable 2WD/4WD with locking front differential

Front Suspension: Double wishbone, Showa 2.5 shocks with piggyback reservoir, fully adjustable preload, and 24-position adjustable compression damping; 18.6 in. travel

Rear Suspension: 4-link trailing-arm rear suspension, Showa 2.5 shocks with piggyback reservoir, fully adjustable preload, and 24-position adjustable compression damping; 21.1 in. travel

Front Brakes: 258mm dual hydraulic discs with 2-piston calipers

Rear Brakes: 258mm dual hydraulic discs with single-piston calipers

Wheels F/R: 15 in. aluminum

Tires F/R: Maxxis Carnivore 31 x 10.00R15

Bed Capacity: 351 lbs

Towing Capacity: N/A

Seating Capacity: 4

Ground Clearance: 14.2 in.

Fuel Capacity: 10.6 gal