Honda Releasing 2023 Pioneer 500 & 520 Compact Side-By-Side UTVs

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The 2023 Honda Pioneer 520 is shown here in Sandstone Beige. It’s also available in Krypton Green, Avenger Red, and Black Forest Green. (Photo courtesy of Honda.)

The Pioneer 520 and 500 compact side-by-sides are the smallest UTVs Honda produces. At just 50 inches (1,270 millimeters) wide, they’ll fit into a typical full-size pickup bed and are usable on many width-restricted public trails. The Pioneer UTVs offer performance and value in the recreation and utility segment for family farms, commercial jobsites, and more.

Model year 2023 Pioneer units will become available in March. Both the Pioneer 520 and 500 come in Avenger Red and Black Forest Green, while the 520 also has Sandstone Beige and Krypton Green options.

The Tale Of The Tape

The Pioneer 520 and 500 side-by-sides share more similarities to each other than differences. The 520 has a 518-cc motor and a strut-assisted tilt/dump bed with a payload capacity of 450 pounds (204 kilograms). The dump bed is 38.7 in. (983 mm) wide, 25.9 in. (658 mm) long, and 9.8 in. (249 mm) high and is compatible with Honda Pro-Connect accessories. The Pioneer 520 has a 105-in. (2,667-mm) overall length and a 1,058-lb (480-kg) curb weight.

Instead of a dump bed, the Pioneer 500 has a flat rear carrier with hook points for tie-downs. The sizable rear rack is rated for 450 lbs of cargo like the bed of its big brother. The 500 shaves a few specifications here and there with a 475-cc engine, a 102.5-in. (2,604-mm) length, and a 1,027-lb (466-kg) curb weight.

Shared Features

Both Pioneers have a 73.1-in. (1,857-mm) wheelbase and a 1,000-lb (454-kg) towing capacity with a receiver-style hitch. Honda says they can be accessorized with winches, windscreens, cargo boxes, chainsaw mounts, covers, roofs, and many other accessories. The Pioneers’ occupant nets open along with their side doors to make it easier to enter and exit the cockpit. The bench seat has individual backrests and automotive-style, three-point seat belts with an emergency locking retractor mechanism.

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Instead of a dump bed like the 520’s, the Honda Pioneer 500 has a flat rear carrier rated for 450 pounds of cargo. (Photo courtesy of Honda.)

The liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke OHV engine powering both Pioneers uses a closed-loop electronic fuel injection system for easier cold starts and operation at high altitudes. The gasoline engine has a semi-dry-sump design and is configured to produce low-rpm torque. It’s mounted longitudinally to power the direct front and rear driveshafts. Honda’s TraxLok system lets the driver shift between two- and four-wheel-drive modes.

The two Pioneers both have independent front and rear suspension with 5.8 and 5.9 in. (147 and 150 mm) of respective travel, and the rear’s preload setting is adjustable. Honda equips the UTVs with dual-rate springs for better handling and a smoother ride. The side-by-sides have 8.5 in. (216 mm) of ground clearance.

The transmission in the Pioneer 520 and 500 is a five-speed-plus-reverse automatic outfitted with steel gears. The gearbox provides true compression braking for better control on downhill slopes, according to Honda. The driver can switch from automatic to manual gear shifting on the fly, and can use the UTV’s paddle shifters for the latter without letting go of the steering wheel.

The Pioneers have 24 x 8-12 tires on the front wheels and 24 x 10-12 on the rear. Dual-caliper front and single-caliper rear hydraulic disc brakes deliver positive control and stopping power. Both UTVs have 4.1-gallon (15.5-liter) fuel tanks.

Find The Right Honda For You

MotorSportsUniverse.com offers a big selection of listings for new and used Honda Pioneer and other Honda UTVs for sale .

Source: Honda