E.g. “Yamaha Kodiak”, “Can-Am Outlander”, “Kawasaki Brute Force”
3 of 3 selected:
Arctic Cat 500 4x4×
Arctic Cat 250 2x4×
Can-Am DS 90×
Key Specs at a Glance
Engine
493cc / 30.08
249cc / 15.19
89.5 / 5.46
Full Specifications
| × Remove | × Remove | × Remove |
|---|
| Engine Spec |
|---|
| Engine Detail | SOHC, 4-stroke, 4-valve | SOHC 4-Stroke | – |
|---|
| Exterior - Safety and Design |
|---|
| Folding Foot Pegs | No | No | No |
|---|
| Floor Board Location | Driver | Driver | Driver |
|---|
| CV Boot Cover | Yes | No | No |
|---|
| Brush Guard | Yes | Yes | No |
|---|
| Body Material | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic |
|---|
| Bash Plate (Front) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Colours |
|---|
| Metallic | No | No | No |
|---|
| Lighting |
|---|
| Halogen Headlights | Standard | Standard | Standard |
|---|
| Headlights | Standard | Standard | Standard |
|---|
| Lighting | Halogen | Halogen | Halogen |
|---|
| Instrumentation |
|---|
| Temperature Warning Type | Gauge | Gauge | – |
|---|
| Tachometer | Standard | – | – |
|---|
| Speedometer | Standard | Standard | – |
|---|
| Exterior - Safety and Design |
|---|
| Frame | Steel | Steel | Steel |
|---|
| Instrumentation |
|---|
| Service Reminder | Standard | – | – |
|---|
| Fuel Level Warning Type | Gauge | Gauge | – |
|---|
| Clock | Standard | Standard | – |
|---|
| Trip Odometer | Standard | Standard | – |
|---|
| Digital Instrumentation | Standard | Standard | – |
|---|
| Towing |
|---|
| Towing Capacity (Kg / Lbs.) | 476 / 1050 ✓ | 227 / 500 | – |
|---|
| Rear Hitch | Receiver | – | – |
|---|
| Tow Hook | Standard | Standard | – |
|---|
| Seats |
|---|
| Seat Adjustable | No | No | No |
|---|
| Seat Type | One-Piece | One-Piece | One-Piece |
|---|
| Seat Material | Vinyl | Vinyl | Vinyl |
|---|
| Seat Location | Driver | Driver | Driver |
|---|
| Number Of Seats | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
| Storage |
|---|
| Glove Box / Dashboard Storage | Standard | – | – |
|---|
| Instrumentation |
|---|
| Hour Meter | Standard | – | – |
|---|
| Storage |
|---|
| Tool Bag Mount | Standard | – | – |
|---|
| Exterior - Safety and Design |
|---|
| Front Bumper | Standard | Standard | Standard |
|---|
| Front Fender | Standard | Standard | Standard |
|---|
| Bash Plate (Rear) | – | – | No |
|---|
| Comfort |
|---|
| Adjustable Throttle | – | – | Standard |
|---|
| Lighting |
|---|
| Other Lights | – | – | Standard |
|---|
| Seats |
|---|
| Seat Height (mm / in.) | – | – | 686 / 27 ✓ |
|---|
| Storage |
|---|
| Front Storage Well | – | – | Standard |
|---|
| Engine Spec |
|---|
| Speed Governor | – | – | Yes |
|---|
| Kill Switch Tether Cord | – | – | Standard |
|---|
| Exterior - Safety and Design |
|---|
| Shock Cover | – | No | No |
|---|
| Rear Stabilizer Bar | – | No | No |
|---|
| Light Guard | – | No | No |
|---|
| Hand Guards | – | No | No |
|---|
| Transmission (Gearbox) and Final Drive |
|---|
| Primary Drive - Rear Wheels | – | Shaft | Chain |
|---|
| Primary Drive Engine / Transmission | – | Belt | Belt |
|---|
| Exterior - Safety and Design |
|---|
| Front Fender Flairs | Standard | Standard | – |
|---|
| Transmission (Gearbox) and Final Drive |
|---|
| Transmission Make | – | Duramatic | – |
|---|
| Suspension |
|---|
| Suspension Rear - Material | – | Steel | Steel |
|---|
| Manufacturer and Warranty |
|---|
| Warranty Info | 6 Limited ✓ | – | – |
|---|
| Parent Company | Arctic Cat | Arctic Cat | Can-Am™ |
|---|
| Recommend Minimum Age | 16 | 16 | 10 |
|---|
| Manufacturer Country | USA | USA | Canada |
|---|
| Steering |
|---|
| Steering Type | Manual | Manual | Manual |
|---|
| Exterior - Safety and Design |
|---|
| Rear Fender Flairs | Standard | Standard | – |
|---|
| Rear Fender | Standard | Standard | Standard |
|---|
| Radiator Guard | Yes | – | No |
|---|
| Power Outlet | Standard | – | – |
|---|
| Hand Grips | Standard | Standard | Standard |
|---|
| Full Length Skid Plate | Yes | – | No |
|---|
| Front Stabilizer Bar | No | – | No |
|---|
| Suspension |
|---|
| Swing Arm Skid Plate | – | No | No |
|---|
| Exterior - Safety and Design |
|---|
| Handlebar Pads | – | – | Standard |
|---|
| Storage |
|---|
| Underseat Storage | Standard | Standard | – |
|---|
| Racks and Payload |
|---|
| Rack Capacity Rear (Kg / Lbs.) | 91 / 200 ✓ | 45 / 100 | – |
|---|
| Suspension |
|---|
| Rear Adjustable Rebound Damping | No | No | No |
|---|
| Rear Travel (mm / in.) | 254 / 10 ✓ | 127 / 5 | 160 / 6.3 |
|---|
| A-Arm Skid Plate (Rear) | Yes | No | No |
|---|
| Suspension Rear | Double A-arm; 10 in. travel ✓ | Swing arm; 5 in. travel | Swing Arm |
|---|
| Front Adjustable Rebound Damping | No | No | No |
|---|
| Front Adjustable Fork Pre-Load | Yes | Yes | No |
|---|
| Suspension - Front Travel (mm / in.) | 254 / 10 ✓ | 127 / 5 | 86 / 3.4 |
|---|
| A-Arm Skid Plate (Front) | Yes | No | No |
|---|
| Front Suspension | Double A-arm; 10 in. travel ✓ | Double a-arm; 5 in. travel | Independent A-Arm |
|---|
| Brakes |
|---|
| Linked Brake System Front to Rear | Standard | Standard | – |
|---|
| Brakes Rear | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic Disc | Drum |
|---|
| Brakes Front | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc | Dual Drum |
|---|
| Engine Spec |
|---|
| Ignition | Electric / Pull | Electric / Pull | Electric / Kick |
|---|
| Suspension |
|---|
| Rear Adjustable Shock Spring Pre-Load | Yes | Yes | No |
|---|
| Engine Spec |
|---|
| Fuel Type | Petrol | Petrol | Petrol |
|---|
| Carburetor Size MM | 36 ✓ | – | – |
|---|
| Fuel System Brand | Keihin | – | Keihin |
|---|
| Fuel System | Carburetor | Carburetor | Carburetor |
|---|
| Bore Stroke(in) | 3.45in. x 3.23in. | 2.86in. x 2.36in. | 1.95in. x 1.89in. |
|---|
| Bore Stroke(mm) | 87.5mm x 82mm | 72.7mm x 60mm | 49.5mm x 48mm |
|---|
| Displacement To Weight CC | 0.75 | 0.52 | 0.37 |
|---|
| Engine Cylinders | Single-Cylinder | Single-Cylinder | Single-Cylinder |
|---|
| Engine Cooling | Liquid-Cooled with fan | Liquid w/fan | Air |
|---|
| Engine Type | 4-stroke | 4-Stroke | 4-Stroke |
|---|
| Total Valves | 4 ✓ | 2 | 2 |
|---|
| Valve Configuration | 4-valve ✓ | 2-Valve | 2-valves |
|---|
| Engine Valves | SOHC | SOHC | SOHC |
|---|
| Engine Capacity (cc / Ci ) | 493cc / 30.08 ✓ | 249cc / 15.19 | 89.5 / 5.46 |
|---|
| Carborator Count | 1 | – | 1 |
|---|
| Storage |
|---|
| Storage Capacity (Kg / Lbs.) | 45.4 / 100 | 22.7 / 50 | – |
|---|
| Suspension |
|---|
| Number of Rear Shock Absorbers | 2 ✓ | 1 | 1 |
|---|
| Dimensions and Weight |
|---|
| Length (mm / in.) | 2154 / 84.8 | 1872 / 73.7 | 1518 / 59.76 ✓ |
|---|
| Racks and Payload |
|---|
| Rack Capacity Front (Kg / Lbs.) | 45 / 100 ✓ | 23 / 50 | – |
|---|
| Fuel |
|---|
| Fuel Tank Capacity (l / gal.) | 25 / 6.5 ✓ | 13 / 3.43 | 6 / 1.6 |
|---|
| Tires and Rims |
|---|
| Rear Solid Axle | No | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Rim Material | Steel | Steel | Steel |
|---|
| Rear Rim Width (in) | 8 | 8 | – |
|---|
| Rear Rim Diameter (in) | 12 ✓ | 10 | 8 |
|---|
| Rear Tire Width (in) | 10 | 10 | 9.5 |
|---|
| Rear Tire Diameter (in) | 25 ✓ | 22 | 18 |
|---|
| Tires Rear | 25 x 10-12 ✓ | 22 x 10-10 | Duro Power Trail 18 x 9.5 - 8 |
|---|
| Front Rim Width (in) | 7 ✓ | 5.5 | – |
|---|
| Front Rim Diameter (in) | 12 ✓ | 10 | 8 |
|---|
| Front Tire Width (in) | 8 | 7 | 7 |
|---|
| Front Tire Diameter (in) | 25 ✓ | 22 | 19 |
|---|
| Suspension |
|---|
| Air Adjustable | No | – | No |
|---|
| Tires and Rims |
|---|
| Tires Front | 25 x 8-12 ✓ | 22 x 7-10 | Duro Thraser 19 x 7 - 8 |
|---|
| Transmission (Gearbox) and Final Drive |
|---|
| Reverse | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Number Of Speeds | 5 ✓ | – | – |
|---|
| Hi / Low Range | Yes | Yes | No |
|---|
| Diff Lock Location | Front | – | – |
|---|
| Primary Drive - Front Wheels | Shaft | – | – |
|---|
| Drive line Modes | 2 ✓ | 1 | 1 |
|---|
| Final Drive | Selectable 4X2 / 4X4 | 4X2 | 4X2 |
|---|
| Transmission | Manual | Continuously Variable (CVT) | Continuously Variable (CVT) |
|---|
| Dimensions and Weight |
|---|
| Dry Weight (Kg / Lbs.) | 296.7 / 654 | 216.4 / 477 | 113 / 250 ✓ |
|---|
| Wheelbase (mm / in.) | 1270 / 50 | 1178.6 / 46.4 | 1000 / 39 ✓ |
|---|
| Ground Clearance (mm / in.) | 304.8 / 12 | 157.5 / 6.2 | 211 / 8.3 ✓ |
|---|
| Height (mm / in.) | 1252 / 49.3 | 1118 / 44.0 | 935 / 36.8 ✓ |
|---|
| Width (mm / in.) | 1207 / 47.5 | 1052 / 41.4 | 905 / 35.6 ✓ |
|---|
| Tires and Rims |
|---|
| Tire Make | Carlisle Badlands | – | Duro |
|---|
| Exterior - Safety and Design |
|---|
| Rear Bumper | – | – | Standard |
|---|
Clear all & start over
Pros & Cons
✓ Pros
- Largest engine in this comparison (493cccc)
- Highest rated towing capacity (476kg)
- Independent front suspension for better ride comfort
- Independent rear suspension — improved handling on uneven ground
✗ Cons
- Heavier than the 2020 Can-Am DS 90
✓ Pros
- Independent front suspension for better ride comfort
- Disc brakes front and rear — strong stopping power
- CVT automatic transmission — easy to ride, no gear-changing
✗ Cons
- Smaller engine than the 2008 Arctic Cat 500 4x4
- Heavier than the 2020 Can-Am DS 90
- 2WD only — less traction off-road than 4WD alternatives
✓ Pros
- Lightest of the group — easier to manoeuvre
- Best ground clearance — handles rough terrain well
- Independent front suspension for better ride comfort
- CVT automatic transmission — easy to ride, no gear-changing
✗ Cons
- Smaller engine than the 2008 Arctic Cat 500 4x4
- 2WD only — less traction off-road than 4WD alternatives
Comparing 2008 Arctic Cat 500 4x4 vs 2006 Arctic Cat 250 2x4 vs 2020 Can-Am DS 90 — Common Questions
Which has the most powerful engine?
The 2008 Arctic Cat 500 4x4 has the largest displacement at 493cccc, making it the most powerful in this comparison. A larger engine generally means more torque for towing and off-road work.
Which quad is the lightest?
The 2020 Can-Am DS 90 is the lightest at 113kg (dry weight). A lighter quad is easier to manoeuvre on trails and simpler to recover if stuck.
Which is best for farm work and towing?
For heavy farm use the 2008 Arctic Cat 500 4x4 has the highest towing capacity at 476kg. For general farm duties any quad with 4WD and a towing rating above 400kg is suitable for light implements, spray rigs and game-reserve work.
Which has the better suspension?
Independent front suspension (A-Arm or IFS) absorbs bumps better than solid-axle designs and improves handling on uneven terrain. Check the Suspension category in the full table above to compare front and rear travel for each model.
Which is the easiest to ride?
CVT automatic transmission is easiest for beginners — there is no gear-changing or clutch to manage. A lower seat height also makes a quad more accessible for shorter riders. Check the Transmission and Seat Height rows in the table above.
Advertisement