Yamaha Kodiak 700 Review: Top Speed, Specs, Trims, Price and Problems

The Yamaha Kodiak 700 is a 686cc fuel-injected utility ATV built around the same engine and Ultramatic belt transmission as the Grizzly, with a simpler chassis, a lower seat and a lower price. Yamaha does not publish a top speed; owners commonly report about 60 mph. For 2027 there are three versions: the base Kodiak 700 at $8,099, the Kodiak 700 EPS at $9,499 and the Kodiak 700 EPS XT-R at $10,499.

This is a guide to the Kodiak on its own: specs, trims, model years, problems and who it suits. If you are choosing between the Kodiak and the Grizzly, our Grizzly vs Kodiak 700 comparison covers that decision in detail.

Kodiak 700 top speed

Every Kodiak top speed figure is an owner report, not a factory number. About 60 mph is what owners describe most often for a stock machine, and that has held across model years from 2016 on. The Kodiak usually runs a few mph behind a Grizzly, mostly because of its smaller 25-inch tires and Yamaha’s tuning of the engine for low-rpm work rather than trail riding.

A belt-driven utility quad is not meant to run flat out for long anyway. Extended high-speed running heats the belt and clutch. Where the Kodiak earns its keep is pulling in low range, crawling with engine braking on descents and carrying weight on the racks.

2027 Kodiak 700 specs by trim

Figures are from Yamaha’s 2027 specification pages for the Kodiak 700 EPS and the base Kodiak 700.

Which Kodiak trim to buy

Kodiak 700, $8,099. The cheapest way into Yamaha’s 686cc engine. It has no power steering and no locking front differential, and Yamaha does not list a towing rating or receiver for it, so confirm the hitch setup with the dealer if you plan to pull a trailer. It makes sense for flat ground, light chores and a firm budget.

Kodiak 700 EPS, $9,499. The one most buyers should get. Power steering takes the kickback and effort out of a heavy machine with a loaded front rack, and the On-Command diff lock is what gets you out of deep mud, up ledges and through snow on a grade. It also adds the 1,300 lb towing rating and receiver.

Kodiak 700 EPS XT-R, $10,499. Adds aluminum wheels and a factory WARN winch. It costs only $100 less than a Grizzly EPS at 2027 prices, so if you care more about suspension, tires and clearance than a winch, look at the Grizzly 700 before you sign.

MSRP excludes freight, setup, tax and title. Yamaha’s 2026 prices were $7,899, $9,399 and $10,399, so a leftover 2026 machine can save a few hundred dollars.

Kodiak 700 model years

The 2022 recall was about information rather than hardware: without the label, owners could overload the hitch and trailer. Yamaha mailed owners a trailer towing and hitch weight label, and dealers apply it free. If you are buying a 2021 or 2022, check the label is on the machine.

The older Kodiak 400 and 450 from the 2000s share only the name. They are smaller machines with different engines and parts.

Common problems owners report

Belt wear from the wrong range. The Kodiak’s reputation is for being undramatic, and the main recurring item is the CVT belt. Belts wear fastest when the machine tows, plows or crawls in high range, because the belt slips instead of locking up. Use low range for slow, heavy work, keep water out of the belt housing after deep crossings, and do not creep along at walking pace in high range. The 10-year V-belt limited warranty on current models helps, but read its terms, since abuse and some conditions are excluded.

708cc oil consumption. On 2016 to 2018 machines, check the oil level, look for smoke and ask how often the owner added oil.

No EPS regret. Not a fault, but the most common complaint from base-model owners is steering effort on rough ground and with a loaded rack. If you will ride for hours, the EPS is worth the money.

Mud and water wear. Wheel bearings, CV boots and the belt housing are the places to check on any Kodiak used in water. The sealed wet rear brake is an advantage here: it runs in an enclosed housing, so mud, sand and water do not reach it the way they reach exposed discs.

Owning one: maintenance, plowing and accessories

The owner’s manual sets the intervals for engine oil, the final drive and differential fluids, the air filter, the spark plug and valve clearances. Those intervals assume normal use. Shorten them for dust, mud, water, towing or plowing, which is how many Kodiaks spend their lives. The air filter is the item most often forgotten on a work machine, and in dusty fields it can clog long before the next scheduled service.

Plowing is one of the Kodiak’s most common jobs, and a few habits make a big difference. Plow in low range so the belt stays engaged. Use the EPS model’s diff lock on slopes and packed snow, since the base model’s open front differential lets one front wheel spin. Keep the battery healthy, because lifting a plow with the winch and cold mornings both drain it, and warm the engine for a minute before working it hard. Check plow mount bolts after the first few uses.

Common add-ons are a winch (standard on the XT-R), a plow, rack boxes, hand guards, a heavier skid plate and a seat or cargo box for the rear rack. Add the weight of anything on the racks against the 308 lb rating, and remember that a full front rack makes the base model’s unassisted steering heavier still.

Who the Kodiak 700 suits

The Kodiak is the work-first choice in Yamaha’s big-bore utility range: farms and ranches, property maintenance, plowing, food plots, hunting access and moderate trails. The 33.9-inch seat is 2.2 inches lower than a Grizzly’s, which matters if you climb on and off dozens of times a day, and at 46.5 inches it is narrow enough for many width-restricted trails. Check your trail system’s width limit before you buy any trim.

It is less suited to long, fast days on rocky or rutted trails, where the Grizzly’s extra front travel, 26-inch tires and rear discs pay off. And it is not a sport machine: for that, Yamaha’s Raptor 700 uses the same engine family in a light, chain-drive sport chassis with no racks or 4WD. Like any adult ATV, the Kodiak is for riders 16 and older.

Buying a used Kodiak 700

• Ask a Yamaha dealer to check the VIN for open recalls and campaigns.
• Find out when the belt was last replaced, and look for black dust or water in the belt housing.
• Check engine oil and both differentials for milky fluid, a sign of water.
• Test high and low range, reverse, 4WD and, on EPS models, the diff lock.
• Rock each wheel for bearing play and look for split CV boots.
• On 2016 to 2018 models, ask about oil consumption.
• Look for plow mount brackets and winch wiring. A plow machine is not a bad buy, but check the frame around the mount, the battery and the belt, which all work hard in winter.
• Inspect the hitch and racks for bends or cracked welds, a sign of loads beyond the ratings.

Before you buy the trailer to haul it, add up the weight. A Kodiak EPS is 686 lb wet before accessories, and if you tow with a Jeep, our Wrangler towing capacity guide shows how quickly two ATVs and a trailer reach a 2-door’s limit.