Spreading the thrill with near and dear ones is one of the sweetest things a side-by-side could offer. And if you’re into these 4-seaters, you’ve probably heard the name of a famous mid-range, side-by-side, the Honda’s Talon 1000X-4. But does the Honda Talon 4 Seater truly live up to its praises? To answer that, our Driverevolve team has tested it on our own.
Honda Talon 4 Seater: What’s It?
The Honda Talon 4 Seater is a well-known 4-seater sport side-by-side. Its slighter stance is intended for trail rides, yet it can also handle wide open fields.
Indeed, the Honda Talon 1000X-4 (especially the upgraded 2021 model) is perfect if you’re after seamless high-speed tracks or tight-wood rides in regions like the Northwestern Pacific or Eastern Mississippi.
Honda Talon 4 Seater Specs
| Dimension | |
| Length | 152.6 inches |
| Width | 64 inches |
| Height | 78.5 inches |
| Weight | 1,739 lbs |
| Ground Clearance | 12.8 inches |
| Bed Capacity | 299 lbs |
| Seat Height | 28 inches |
| Wheelbase | 116.4 inches |
| Curb Weight | 1735 pounds for 49 states – Includes all standard equipment, required fluids, and a full fuel tank. 1739 pounds for CA models – Includes all standard equipment, required fluids, and a full fuel tank. |
| Turning Radius | 21.3 feet |
| Brakes And Tires | |
| Brakes | Front / Rear: Dual 250 mm hydraulic discs |
| Tires | Front – 28 x 9-15Rear – 28 x 11-15 |
| Drivetrain | |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) with high/low sub-transmission. 2 drive modes with 2WD and i-4WD. 3 shift modes (standard, sport, manual with paddle shifters). |
| Drive System | Driveline – Direct front and rear driveshafts. |
| Engine | |
| Engine | Unicam® OHC longitudinally mounted parallel-twin 4-stroke; 4 valves per cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid |
| Displacement | 999 cc |
| Bore x Stroke | 92 x 75.1 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10:1 |
| Induction | Fuel Injection (PGM-FI), 46 mm throttle body |
| Emissions | Adapt California Air Resources Board (CARB) and EPA criteria. |
| Ignition | Full-transistorized with electronic advances |
| Fuel Capacity | 7.7 gallons (including 0.9-gallon. reserve) |
| Suspension | |
| Front | Independent double-wishbone14.6 inches of travel |
| Rear | 3-link trailing arm15.0 inches of travel |
Detailed Reviews: Does Honda Talon Side-By-Side Worth Your Money?
Honda’s Talon X-4 ticks all the boxes for many aspiring four-seat customers. The interior provides a relaxing family setting with razor-sharp, reliable steering, athletic chassis, excitement, and enough power for everyone, even the most extreme dune racers.
Overall, it’s more flexible than many 4-seater racing models, and it’s the only one boasting a gearbox rather than a CVT, so there are no driving belts to evaluate.
The Talon 1000 X-4 is an excellent choice for a sleek, stylish, family-friendly vehicle. However, it boils down to you if the Fox Live Valve shocks and Launch Mode are good enough to justify the added $2,000 or not.
Interior And Storage
Talon doors feature lower cut-outs at the front and back with standard window nets that yield extra safety.
The driver’s side sports a tilt-adjustable driving wheel and an inclining, movable seat, while the back of the car features a t-handle holding bar. This bar provides a safer experience than older models owing to a lock that securely keeps it in its position.
Bolstered chairs with a high back offer a pass-through for a quick crotch strap setup. For a better sightseeing experience, the back chairs are roughly 3″ higher and 2″ closer. A well-designed ceiling also comes as standard.
Additionally, a glove compartment helps to store important belongings and papers. Front and rear oversized beverage slots are included. This model can also carry 299 pounds of stuff in the trunk.
The doors are of excellent caliber; however, our team agrees that full lower doors would be preferable.
Meanwhile, its cockpit is comparable to other vehicles in the same category regarding spaciousness, with the 6ft3 frame stretching the boundaries of front seat comfort.
In other words, anyone 6 ft and under will not feel cramped in the passenger rows, which have great viewing angles and plenty of hand grips. Overall ergonomics and quality are exceptional, as one would think of a Honda.
Honda Talon’s Horsepower
Most Talon variants feature Honda’s iconic 999cc dual-cylinder engine, which delivers 105 horsepower. That may seem a little low compared to other competitors, but the Talon covers it with a dual-clutch gearbox.
Unlike most OEM sporty 4-seaters, which have horsepower-eating CVT belt-driven gearboxes, this Talon has a direct motor mechanism that is more reactive and compromises significantly less horsepower.
The DCT allows users to select automated, fully automated sport or hand shifting styles.
While moving from high to lower areas, its sub-transmission delivers a 42% speed decrease, allowing for effective downhill deceleration. Even though it doesn’t come with the option to lock the front joint manually, Honda’s customizable i-4WD performs admirably in all settings.
All in all, the Talon is not the best side-by-side in its category regarding speed, but it sits near the leading models.
Brakes
Regarding the brakes, Honda claims to utilize 4-wheel, liquid-cooling disc brakes, 250mm rotors at every corner, dual-piston calipers at the vehicle’s head, and single-piston calipers in the back, offering excellent braking performance.
Honda’s innovative braking mechanism in 2WD helps to improve front-to-rear brake power under varied weight settings to increase braking friction and stability.
Honda Talon also offers a pushbutton that automatically pumps the brakes for a couple of ticks, enabling you to remove your feet from the vehicle’s brakes and press the throttle for a single-foot operation.
To better evaluate the brakes in real life, we asked 2 of our team members – James and Aeron, to try out this baby.
Heading to the Southwest dunes at high speed, James is already used to harsh brakes into turns, with the Talon providing more than enough braking force and feel. With extended stretches before turns, noise and fade aren’t a concern.
On the flip side, Aeron, a fierce racer with many turns and twists in the forest, had some complaints. Throughout our tests, he reported that the brakes warm up and fade.
This is because, unlike the vast dunes, the shorter stretches among turns in the forests offer the brakes less time to cool down, resulting in heat accumulation.
In this case, we suggest upgrading to a higher-quality hydraulic braking system like Motul to prevent the brakes from getting too hot.
Handling
Talon 1000X-4 features the smallest wheelbase in its category, measuring only 116.4 inches; however, it operates admirably for a 4-seater.
Theoretically, its 12.8-inch ground clearance isn’t the best on the market, yet we had little trouble passing small pebbles and going over high cliffs. The X-4’s extended wheelbase provides a more leveled ride when encountering those heart-pounding whoops at high speeds.
Comfort and Utility
The Talon 1000X-4 isn’t the biggest 4-seater in the industry, but it’s pretty comfy for drivers and people up to 6ft tall, as mentioned above. All the seats are soft and equipped with 4-point seatbelts.
Shocks
Honda Talon 1000X-4 adapts Fox QS3 shocks, delivering a smoother drive with better control. 3 compression positions offer simple customization for varied topography or riding styles.
This Talon also has a 3-link trailing-arm setup that extends 15 inches towards the back. The shocks don’t come with the adjustability of the Talon R, yet they perform brilliantly with little to no fade for relaxed, non-abusive trail rides.
I-4WD System
I-4WD is a one-of-a-kind technology that reverses an anti-lock braking mechanism. Thanks to this mechanism, the brake pressure is directed to all sides. It operates effectively and delivers a lightweight steering wheel at all velocities.
This technology, together with the lower gear of the sub-transmission, allows your vehicle to run smoothly and eliminates the concern about clutch failures. For years, Honda ATVs, motorbikes, and cars have employed this dual-clutch gearbox system; its performance speaks for itself.
Final Thoughts
Honda Talon 4 Seater is fantastic.
It’s a terrific trail vehicle offering incredible comfort and safety. The guests we brought along for testing also reported no problems. In fact, they said the travel was far more pleasant, and the suspension was gentler than they thought.
This is not a four-seater with the fastest speed or most potent engine. However, its 6-speed gearbox with a maximum of 104 hp still performs excellently; thus, the vehicle performs well even at high altitudes.
If you’re seeking a vast, long-travel vehicle to blast through the harsh surfaces, this isn’t it; however, with the help of businesses like HCR Racing, it can become one. Until then, choose a gentler route or ease up on the harsh terrain, and you’ll be pretty pleased with this Honda Talon.
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