2018 Yamaha Wolverine X2 review

The terms “recreation” and “farm” are not necessarily mutually exclusive when it comes to side-by-side vehicles, and the 2018 Yamaha Wolverine X2 is a case-in-point.

While it is certainly bristling with farm-friendly features, the Wolverine X2 also has the engine, chassis, suspension and handling attributes to make a seriously potent machine on bush trails – as we found out first-hand at the Aussie launch in Mount Seaview, about 80km west of Port Macquarie.

That’s why Yamaha Australia is pitching the two-seater to a much wider client base than the company’s American counterpart – borne out of necessity somewhat in light of our smaller market, but a recognition that the Wolverine X2 does have a fair bit of chutzpah.

So that means farmers, commercial operators and, to a lesser degree, hunters, will be finding out a lot more about the Wolverine X2 in coming months – and from what we gleaned on a maze of trails at Mount Seaview, there’s a lot to get excited about.

Yamaha predicts that about 40 per cent of Aussie customers will use the Wolverine X2 for farm use, followed by recreational (30 per cent), commercial (20 per cent) and hunting (10 per cent).

The Wolverine X2 succeeds the 708cc Wolverine R-Spec in the local Yamaha line-up, which already paints a compelling picture of the updated X2 narrative. And that’s got to do with muscle, as the X2 has a 847cc long-stroke parallel-twin drive-by-wire engine, mated to a CVT transmission and an on-command four-wheel drive system.

Yamaha claims a 32 per cent power hike over the R-Spec, up to around 52hp, while the torque differential is even bigger – up by 47 per cent to 81Nm. And there’s no vibration, either, thanks to new engine mounts.

The Wolverine X2, as you’d expect with the long-stroke (bore and stroke are 82.0mm and 80.2mm) design, doesn’t focus on producing large chunks of fizz up top but instead going about its business with an extremely flat torque curve – it just keeps pushing, even when steep hills beckon. There’s around 80Nm of torque between 4000-6000rpm, which is where the 719.5kg (wet) X2 really gets up to speed.

And that breadth of torque is good news for farmers, too, as the X2 has received a 226kg increase in towing capacity (up to 907kg) – and the cargo bed capacity has also ramped up by 136kg (to 272kg) for good measure.

With a CVT (constantly variable transmission) there's no clutch to bother with so it's a two-pedal affair in the Wolverine X2 and choosing between four available modes: high range, low range, neutral or reverse. There’s also a car-style park brake.

There’s a dash-mounted dial on the left of the steering wheel to select between two-wheel drive, limited-slip four-wheel drive, or four-wheel drive with a locked centre differential. Drivers can switch between two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive on the fly, while locking the centre diff must be done at a standstill.

The Wolverine X2 also adds a speed management key, which limits the machine to a top speed of 40km/h (or roughly half of what it produces in full power mode), an adjustable seat and steering wheel, single-lever tailgate, LED lighting and more streamlined accessory integration if you want to go the extra step – including a fully enclosed cab. Ideal for a southern Australia winter…

The $21,499 X2 also has a tighter turning circle – albeit by 100mm – and a shorter line of sight from the cabin than the previous Wolverine.

Yamaha had a Wolverine X2 fitted with some accessories at the launch, including a windscreen (with fluid tank and pump mount fitted in the engine bay) and rear canvas enclosure, as well as an Adventure Pro, which is an Android-based Magellan GPS tablet.

The Adventure Pro not only allows integration with the Wolverine X2 (and all future Yamaha side-by-side vehicles for that matter), but advanced features include trail mapping. And you can also download apps on the Adventure Pro, which for farmers could mean information on weather, veterinary details and a slew of other management tools. Nifty device.

Yamaha Australia is only bringing in the up-spec US-made X2 into Australia, which includes fully adjustable KYB piggyback shocks. Aside from the engine, the suspension is the most impressive part of the Wolverine X2 package, with the comfort level on normal trails excellent – which is one thing, but there’s also heaps of poise in the rough and tumble when all that suspension travel is required.

In the case of the Wolverine that’s 221mm at the front and 226mm at the rear – excellent, but when you start talking pure sports side-by-sides like the Yamaha YXZ1000RR SS SE that travel jumps by a couple of hundred millimetres in one fell swoop!

I’ve driven plenty of rec-utility side-by-side vehicles with poor suspension detracting from otherwise solid packages, where the limits are quickly reached and the vehicle shunts and spears off in all directions – just prickly all over, leaving the driver a bystander.

The Wolverine X2 certainly doesn’t fall into that bracket, and the electronic power steering does a great job of minimising any harsh feedback.

The launch route certainly covered a diverse range of territory to form that opinion. There were steep ascents and descents, creek crossings, rocky crops and uneven surfaces. The ride was led by a senior instructor from Yamaha’s ATV/SSC Safety Institute, who knew his stuff back to front. If you’re looking at buying one of these, seriously think about one of the institute’s courses.

The Wolverine X2 has 12-inch cast aluminium wheels – another feature of the souped-up X2 over the standard model's steel units – and it rides on 26-inch Maxxis tyres.

The interiors of side-by-sides are all about function – they have to be hard-wearing to withstand the rigours of not only the elements but being put through the wringer by their owners. And you can clean them out with a jet wash!

The left-hand drive Wolverine X2 is no different, and you get what you need – nothing more and nothing less. The interior includes a couple of cup holders, a glovebox, 12-volt power socket, small console, a few switches and an LCD dash which has a clock, hour meter, two trip meters, fuel gauge and speedometer. The fit and finish throughout is top notch.

There’s a whopping 35-litre fuel tank, which is why Yamaha’s ATV and ROV Marketing Supervisor wasn’t too perturbed when we pointed out the X2 only had two bars left on the digital gauge when we started the launch – that’s akin to about 17 litres…

There is also a grab handle for the passenger, which is removable.

No complaints about the bucket seats, where I’d much rather strap myself into than a bench seat, for example – for both comfort and security reasons. And if you don’t put on your three-point seat belt, the Wolverine X2 won’t be going anywhere.

Even though we were in open cabins, excessive noise wasn’t an issue – at least not from the drive train. The Wolverine’s a quiet and smooth affair really, and I’d imagine the fully enclosed cabin would be an extremely idyllic setting…

I was once quite ambivalent about rec-utility side-by-sides, simply because I thought the recreational side of the equation was letting the team down. The Wolverine X2 turns that notion on its head as it’s a consummate all-rounder – functional, entertaining and a well-built machine for recreational users and farmers alike.

I’d happily own the Wolverine X2 to just use on trails, and if the tireless behind-the-scenes work to open up recreational registration opportunities for the Wolverine X2 and similar vehicles comes to fruition, their popularity will go through the roof.

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, DOHC, eight-valve, four-stroke parallel-twin
Capacity: 847cc
Bore x stroke: 82mm x 80.2mm
Compression ratio: 10.5:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 52hp
Claimed maximum torque: 81Nm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Yamaha 'Ultramatic' CVT auto
Drive: Yamaha 'On-Command' 2WD/4WD/4WD plus diff lock
Final drive: Shaft

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Steel
Steering: Rack and pinion steering assembly with electric power steering
Front suspension: Independent A-arm with anti-sway bar and 221mm of wheel travel, adjustable for preload
Rear suspension: Independent A-arm with anti-sway bar and 226mm of wheel travel, self-levelling
Front brake: Dual ventilated 207mm hydraulic discs with twin-piston calipers
Rear brake: Dual ventilated 207mm hydraulic discs with twin-piston calipers and park brake
Tyres: Maxxis MU75/76, AT26 x 8-12 front, AT26 x 10-12 rear

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 719.5kg
Cargo bed limit: 272kg
Towing limit: 907kg
Min. ground clearance: 280mm
Wheelbase: 2100mm
Overall length: 2920mm
Overall width: 1500mm
Overall height: 1900mm
Min. turning radius: 4500mm
Fuel capacity: 35 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $21,499
Colours: Alpine White
Warranty: Three-year extended factory warranty