Adventure Toys
Kawasaki 4x4 Utility ATV With Plenty Of KickAlthough the Mule 3010 Diesel only has 6.9 inches of ground clearance, the smooth belly and excellent traction allow it to traverse some pretty nasty ground without fear of getting stuck. Dual-mode rear differential can be “locked” for even more pulling power, or unlocked when traveling across delicate terrain.
Hearing that distinctive soft clatter from beneath the bed of a Kawasaki Mule is quite surprising to the majority of ATVers — unless they have served in the Armed Forces and been around the HDT-modified Kawasaki KLR 650 diesel motorcycles.
But the diesel-powered 3010 Mule, running a 26hp, 953cc 3-cylinder, mounted mid-ship in the vehicle is the first civilian ATV offering — and an impressive one at that.
The Mule 3010 4x4 Diesel, which retails for $9,999, is designed to be a lot more of a workhorse than its 20hp gasoline-powered twin. It also delivers more than 10-percent better fuel economy and considerably more lowend pulling power.
The 1,500-pound Mule is built on a heavy-duty ladder frame supported by a MacPherson strut long-travel independent front suspension and nicely balanced with a leaf-sprung DeDion rear suspension.
Our day-long ride revealed the Mule doesn’t ride quite as softly as its Rhino (Yamaha) and Ranger (Polaris) competitors. But neither of those offers diesel power, and neither has an 1,100- pound bed capacity, nor the Mule’s hefty 1600-pound payload capacity.
Those two factors make the fourwheel- drive Mule a natural choice for anyone seeking a 4x4 ATV to do a hard day’s work. The 3010 is a very good choice to have around the job site, ranch or farm.
If you have a load to tote, or heavy objects to move from one location to another the Mule’s 46x51-inch bed is more than up to the task. It can also tow a 1,200-pound trailer.
During our off-road foray the bench seat was comfortable and the rackand- pinion steering light, giving the Mule a nice nimble feeling.
Shifting is handled by a dash-mounted lever with a three-legged “H”-shaped gate cut into the dash. Shifting requires a forceful hand to get the lever into Low Range or Reverse-or going smoothly and quickly from Reverse to High. The dual-range automatic is a smooth operator, proving low-and high-range in both 2wd and 4wd modes. The Mule tops out at 25mph thanks to a governor.
When traction gets a little dicey, you can use the “Diff Lock” lever on the left side of the dash to put equal power to both rear wheels. When more traction is needed, slip the dash-mounted 2WD/4WD lever on the right of dash into the 4WD mode to split power front/rear.
Mules come equipped with a manual dump bed, but we’d recommend the $1,300 electric/hydraulic dump option. It’s needed if you plan on using the bed to haul gravel, sand, soil, stall droppings or other material that needs to be dumped out instead of shoveled or raked.
Kawasaki offers a number of other options for the Mule 3010 including a fully enclosed cab, with a heater and windshield wipers, along with things like pull-behind sprayers, work lights and winches. There are even more options through aftermarket sources including lift kits, body armor, custom bed boxes, plow blades and bumpers. You can even order them in Mossy Oak Camo.
There’s no doubt the Mule’s strength and build quality makes this utility ATV the perfect choice where there’s an abundance of diesel and work that needs to be done.