John Deere Evolves Its Gator Utility Vehicle at Its XUV Press Event

The 50-hp, three-cylinder engine growled as the new John Deere Gator 825i XUV ripped through the rutted off-road corner. 23 mph…28…32…40… The Gator held steady at 44 mph before CE editor Jason Morgan let off the gas to take the next corner.

“Luckily, the sports-tuned suspension and [optional, forthcoming] power-steering compensated for my novice driving as I avoided a spinout,” said Morgan. “I let out a chuckle and glanced over at my white-knuckled riding partner who refused to take his eyes off the path. But I wasn’t worried — the 825i had the power to rip through the terrain at Carolina Adventure World, where John Deere held its Gator XUV press event.”

While the thrust of the new line of Gator XUVs is sport and recreation, John Deere hasn’t forsaken its workhorse heritage. In addition to the completely re-designed front and rear independent suspension system and an entirely new braking system that improves stopping performance over previous models, the Gator XUV also features 1,500 lbs of towing and 1,400 lbs of payload capacity.  The all-new hybrid metal and composite cargo box offers 16.4 cu ft of capacity, the most in its class, and an available factory installed spray-in bed liner with 20 integrated tie-downs to help keep cargo in place. The sides of this cargo box are removable as well, giving the user a flatbed that’s easy to load and unload from any side.   

In addition to the XUV 825i, John Deere also offers the 625i and the 855D to round out its full line of crossover utility vehicles, but it’s the former that’s got folks excited.

“[The 825i] is the fastest Gator we’ve ever built and this is an example of the commitment we’ve made to provide top-of-the-line XUVs for the outdoor enthusiast,” said David Gigandet, tactical marketing manager for John Deere utility vehicles. “John Deere has a long heritage in the utility vehicle category with the Gator as a tried and true workhorse. With the introduction of the 2011 XUV, the new Gator lineup now delivers the innovation and top performance consumers desire, as well as the best-in-class utility, reliability and quality we’re known for.”