These Are Not Cars. They Were Never Meant to Be.
Something unusual arrived in the Indian market this week. Not a motorcycle. Not a scooter. Not even a conventional SUV. Kawasaki India has launched five side-by-side vehicles; a category that is enormously popular across the United States and Australia but has remained largely unfamiliar to mainstream Indian buyers. Priced between Rs 38 lakh and Rs 78.90 lakh, these are not vehicles for daily commuting or school runs. They are purpose-built machines designed for places where roads simply do not exist. That fact alone makes the Kawasaki side-by-side India launch one of the more genuinely unusual automotive announcements of 2026.
What Is a Side-by-Side Vehicle?
Before the individual models are discussed, the category itself deserves a moment of explanation because most Indian buyers will be encountering it for the first time. A side-by-side vehicle also called a UTV or utility terrain vehicle is a purpose-built off-road machine with seats arranged side by side rather than in a traditional row.
These are engineered specifically for terrain that would stop a conventional vehicle entirely. Rocky trails, muddy farm tracks, uneven resort grounds and off-road adventure environments. The Mule family handles the utility and work-focused end of the spectrum. The Teryx family covers recreational and performance-oriented use. Between them, Kawasaki has covered most of what the category offers.
The Most Affordable Mule Pro-FXT 1000 LE at Rs 38 Lakh
The entry point to the range is the Mule Pro-FXT 1000 LE and it is a remarkably versatile machine for its price. A 999cc twin-cylinder engine produces 70hp at 6,500rpm and 83Nm at 4,500rpm. The transmission is a CVT a continuously variable unit common across the entire Kawasaki side-by-side range.
The most distinctive feature of the Mule is its Trans Cab system a convertible seating arrangement that switches between three and six passenger configurations. That flexibility makes it directly relevant for resort operators, agricultural estates, industrial sites and large private properties where moving groups of people across uneven terrain is a regular requirement and priced at Rs 38 lakh ex-showroom.
The Ridge Crew at Rs 47.86 Lakh Work and Recreation Together
The Ridge Crew occupies a middle ground between utility and lifestyle use. A 999cc inline four-cylinder engine produces 116hp at 8,500rpm and 100Nm at 8,000rpm making it the second most powerful unit in the lineup. Adjustable driver ergonomics, USB ports and an advanced instrumentation display with smartphone connectivity give it a more refined character than the Mule.
Fourteen-inch wheels are fitted. The Ridge Crew is positioned as suitable for infrastructure operations, resort mobility and recreational exploration essentially a vehicle that bridges the gap between the hard-working Mule and the performance-oriented Teryx models.
Teryx KRX 1000 and KRX4 1000. The Performance Pair
The Teryx KRX family brings a more sporting character to the range. Both the two-seater KRX 1000 and the four-seater KRX4 1000 use the same 999cc parallel-twin engine producing 110hp at 8,300rpm and 102Nm at 7,000rpm. Both models feature Showa long-travel suspension with adjustable damping, Electric Power Steering and 15-inch wheels wrapped in Maxxis Carnivore tyres an aggressive off-road tyre choice that signals the intent of these machines clearly and priced at Rs 43.40 lakh.
The two-seater KRX 1000 gets a longer wheelbase and a kerb weight of 952kg. The four-seater KRX4 1000 adds rear seating without compromising the performance hardware. These are the machines most likely to appeal to adventure tourism operators and serious off-road enthusiasts and the KRX4 1000 is priced at Rs 52.90 lakh.
The Teryx 4 H2 at Rs 78.90 Lakh. The Supercharged Top Dog
The most extreme and most expensive model in the range deserves its own moment of attention. The Teryx 4 H2 uses the 999cc inline-four supercharged engine lifted directly from Kawasaki’s H2 hypersport motorcycle producing 250hp at 9,000rpm and 198.3Nm at 8,800rpm. That is a supercar-level power output in an off-road vehicle that seats four people. Long-travel FOX suspension handles the terrain. Sixteen-inch alloy wheels with Maxxis off-road tyres provide grip.
Selectable 2WD and 4WD capability allows the driver to choose how power reaches the ground. Adjustable power delivery can be managed on the go. At Rs 78.90 lakh, this is a very specific machine for a very specific buyer but nothing else in the Indian market currently offers this particular combination of performance and off-road capability.
A Few Important Things to Know Before Buying
All five models in the range share some characteristics that buyers need to be aware of. None of them are road-legal in India. These are off-road vehicles designed for use on private land, resort properties, farms, industrial sites and dedicated off-road environments. All five use a CVT transmission. None of them are compliant with E20 fuel standards which means fuel availability needs to be considered for buyers planning regular use. These are not vehicles that can be driven to the dealership after purchase. They require private transport and appropriate off-road infrastructure to use effectively.
Who Will Actually Buy One?
The honest answer to this question is a very specific group of people. Resort operators developing adventure tourism experiences. Large agricultural estate owners who need to move people and equipment across terrain that conventional vehicles cannot manage. Industrial facilities with large private land requirements. And a growing community of adventure enthusiasts who have experienced side-by-side culture internationally and want to bring it to their own properties in India. This is not a mass-market launch. Kawasaki is clearly not expecting to move thousands of units. What this launch does represent is an acknowledgement that a market for these vehicles exists in India and that official channels are finally opening to serve it.
What This Means for India’s Off-Road Landscape
Side-by-side vehicles have existed on the fringes of the Indian market for years occasionally visible at motorsport events or adventure parks. The Kawasaki side-by-side India launch changes that. It does not make these vehicles mainstream. It does not suddenly make them accessible to the average buyer. But it establishes a legitimate, supported, warranty-backed presence for the category in India for the first time. If the segment generates the interest Kawasaki believes it will other manufacturers will follow. That is how new vehicle categories in India have always developed.
Read More About: The 2026 Kawasaki Ninja 500
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