$15,299 MSRP

• Full size Kubota With Gas Power

• Proven Reliability

• Great Value

You will work harder.

There are utility rigs, and then there are Kubotas. When a brand that specializes is building some of the hardest working diesel tractors on the planet sets out to build the most useful, capable rig they can, you’d be safe to assume it’s gonna be good.

Kubota’s Sidekick is just that rig, and yes, it’s just that good. As Kubota’s only full-sized gas-powered side-by-side, the Sidekick is as much machine as you can buy without stepping up to one of their diesel-powered rigs, and as you might expect, it’s also a hell of a lot more affordable.

With that being said, there’s no shortage of competition in the utility market. If you’re thinking of going team orange yourself, here are the cliff notes on the 2025 Kubota Sidekick.

How much power does it make?

Kubota specs the Sidekick with an 851cc parallel twin engine, which they say is good for up to 54 horsepower. Neither speed nor peak power has ever been part of Kubota’s mission, but for what its worth, the Sidekick does scoot along pretty good up to a top speed of 40 mph.

Not too shabby for a work rig.

Between the Sidekick’s flat torque curve, heavy-duty CVT, and locking differentials (rear locker, limited slip up front), there’s plenty of beef on tap to haul a full 1,000 pounds in the cargo bed, or to flat tow up to 2,000 pounds.

What makes it special?

For starters, the name Kubota makes pretty much any piece of equipment special. Buying a Kubota means you’re intentionally buying a rig that’s sole purpose is getting stuff done, whether that’s pulling stumps in the woods around your property or running fences on a 1,000 acre farm.

That name also carries a reputation for no-nonsense reliability regardless of how hard or how often you work. Kubota doesn’t chase horsepower numbers or any other comparative metric for that matter. They build their machines to be as reliable as possible, and everything else takes a back seat.

It’s also worth noting that the latest 2025 Kubota Sidekick starts at just $15,299. You’re getting a premium badge for the same price as a middleweight Kawasaki Mule or single-cylinder Can-Am Defender.

Why do I want it?

You want a Kubota Sidekick because you want a straight up, unapologetic utility rig, full stop. You don’t particularly care what it looks like or how fast it’ll go, you just want it to do everything you ask, and you want it to start every time you turn the key.

Speaking of which, you probably want a Kubota over anything else because the brand has such a hard-earned reputation for longevity and reliability. These things are just getting broken in at 1,000 hours, and judging by their above-average resale values, everybody knows it.

The Sidekick is beefy, and it’s built for long years of hard living. The closer you look, the more that’ll become apparent. There’s a reason the Sidekick comes with a proper Warn winch, heavy duty steel protection, hard-wearing bedliners, and headache racks. Kubota doesn’t built powersports products, they build tools.

Why don’t I want it?

Despite its hard-working pedigree and no-BS build, the main shortcoming of the Kubota Sidekick is actually its work capacity. You’d think that a rig built by a tractor company would be about as heavy duty as they come, but the Sidekick is actually pretty standard for the segment, with 1,000 pounds of cargo capacity in the bed and 2,000 pounds of towing out back.

Granted, those are both figures most utility rig owners can live with, but considering machines like Polaris’ latest Ranger XD 1500 offer dramatically improved capacities, it can be a bit of a downer.

The same goes for the Sidekick’s interior. Kubota hasn’t meaningfully updated this rig since 2018, and while a spartan interior is par for the course on a utility rig, there are much more plush and well appointed options out there from folks like Polaris and Can-Am.

What trim do I want?

Most Kubotas are built out a la carte through your local dealer, but the brand does offer two unique “packages” for the 2025 Sidekick. Successfully tracking either one down will be a challenge, but for reference, here’s what on offer.

The first is the “Marksman” package, which is a camo option geared toward hunters. Highlights of the Marksman include a Warn winch, a flip down windshield, a poly roof with dual 6-inch LED work lights, and additional protection on the lights, A-arms, brush guard, and skid plate.

The second is “Frontier” package, which is basically the “premium” option for the Sidekick. That one includes a full cab enclosure with glass windows, a Warn winch, a carbo box in the bed, and heavy duty front springs.

As to which one we’d recommend, that’s kind of between you and your dealer. Chances are if you’re buying a Kubota you’re gonna end up building it one piece at a time from the accessory catalog, but if you can find one with an accessory package installed at a decent price, go for it.

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

If you dig the reputation and reliability of Kubota machines but want the full diesel experience, the Kubota RTV-X is the diesel equivalent for a few dollars more. Or, if you just want an honest utility rig and don’t care who makes it, Kawasaki’s Mule Pro lineup is worth checking out, as is Can-Am’s Defender.

2025 Kubota RTV-XG850 Sidekick Specs

Length: 117 in.

Width: 63.2 in.

Height: 79.5 in.

Wheelbase: 80.5 in.

Claimed Dry Weight: 1,761 lbs

Engine: Liquid-cooled parallel twin

Displacement: 851cc

Transmission: CVT

Claimed Power: 54 horsepower @ 5,750 rpm

Claimed Torque: NA

Fuel System: EFI

Steering: EPS

Drivetrain: 2WD/4WD with high and low range

Front Suspension: Independent, Dual A-arms with adjustable spring preload, 9 in. travel

Rear Suspension: Independent with coil over shock, 8.5 in. travel

Front Brakes: Dual hydraulic disc

Rear Brakes: Dual hydraulic disc

Wheels F/R: 12 inch steel, alloy optional

Tires F/R: 25 x 10-12

Bed Capacity: 1,000 lbs

Towing Capacity: 2,000 lbs.

Seating Capacity: 2

Ground Clearance: 9.8 in.

Fuel Capacity: 8.6 gal