Side-by-sides are one of the phenomena of the last few years. They’re more accessible to most folks than quads and especially dirt bikes, you can bring the whole family along to justify some of the cost, and they’re also insanely capable on all kinds of trails. The Polaris RZR Pro R is the ultimate version of the side-by-side.

I’ve been riding dirt bikes and quads for 15 years now, and the massive proliferation of side-by-sides in the last seven years has been disorienting. It used to be quad gangs and small packs of dirt bikes in SoCal OHV parks. Now, it’s chock-full of Polaris RZRs and similar kinds of vehicles. The proof is in the pudding: they’re nuts to drive and also very social compared to the solitary experience of bikes and quads.

This RZR Pro R Special Edition is largely like the standard, insane Pro R but with a livery from legendary designer Troy Lee Designs. It’s aggressively blue and orange, with even the suspension control arms painted the signature blue. Beadlock wheels trimmed in orange complete the Fanta-like effect.

Equipment-wise, it is largely unchanged from the standard RZR Pro R. Thus, it has that high-strung 225 horsepower 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four that revs to 8,500 rpm, which is incredibly stout in a road car, let alone a skeletal side-by-side. It doesn’t come with the higher-trim active suspension setup, but it still gets advanced dampers and a full Rockford Fosgate sound system. The Special Edition gets Pro Armor tires and a Rigid Industries light bar.

Only 1,000 units will be sold worldwide, making it a little rarer than your average Polaris RZR. If you’re looking for the ultimate in four-wheeled off-road performance potential, it is not a Ford Raptor or Ram TRX. It’s one of these.

Read more: This 2023 Polaris RZR Pro R Special Edition Is a Wicked $50,000 UTV

Much as I love off-roading, I’ve never really been a fan of side-by-sides. You know, those little souped-up, golf-cart-dune-buggy-like things you see zipping around the desert and sailing off into the dunes. The truth is, my hate is a product of jealousy; right off the showroom floor, a side-by-side is faster and more capable than any off-road rig I could build myself. But a recent day with the Can-Am Maverick helped me see the light.

Actually, it was two days, and for the first, I only rode shotgun. Can-Am let me tag along with professional UTV driver Hunter Miller as he prepared for the infamous King of the Hammers race in Johnson Valley, California — a week-long event where every kind of off-road vehicle you can imagine gets its turn in the spotlight.

With 16 inches of ground clearance, up to 24 inches of suspension travel, a short wheelbase, 200 horsepower and low gearing, UTVs like the Maverick are nimble and pretty much unstoppable. Miller’s race rig wears 35-inch tires, meaning it has no problem climbing up over rocks that are legitimately taller than I am. Miller’s race line choice is precise, putting the Can-Am on two wheels more than once, and often pointing us straight up at the sky, straight down at the ground or sideways to the point where rocks are 3 inches from my helmeted head. This is some next-level capability.

Read more: 2022 Can-Am Maverick First Drive Review: Finding My Feelings

UTV stands for utility task vehicle, a type of off-road vehicle often known as a side-by-side — but neither name describes it well without further explanation. You might mistake a UTV for an ATV (all-terrain vehicle), but there are key differences: The UTV allows occupants to sit side by side (aha!) and typically is operated more like a car, with a steering wheel and pedals.

Conversely, an ATV is more like a motorcycle in that the operator straddles it and steers using the handlebars. It has three or four wheels and might allow a passenger to ride behind the operator, but if two or more people want to ride in relative comfort, a UTV is the better approach. Capable of carrying heavier loads, UTVs range from truly utilitarian vehicles not far removed from golf carts to highly engineered recreational 4x4s, sometimes abbreviated RUVs (recreational utility vehicles) or ROVs (recreational off-highway vehicle).

UTV popularity grew over the past decade in part because their seat belts and roll bars were expected to make them safer than ATVs, which had built a reputation as dangerous, but careless operators unfortunately sometimes mistake such provisions as signs of invincibility and find new ways to injure themselves. Regardless of vehicle type, driver training and caution are called for.

UTVs and ATVs can be driven on pavement, but whether they can be driven on public roads depends on the state and municipality in question (as such, we at Cars.com don’t sell them). Some allow them, some require modification, licensing or both, and some forbid the vehicles apart from prompt street crossings.

Read more: What Does UTV Stand For?

The Polaris RZR Factory Racing team, presented by Progressive Insurance, had an incredible finish in the Nevada desert this past Saturday at the 2022 Best In The Desert Jimco Racing Silver State 300. Mitch Guthrie Jr. shocked the competition as he finished second overall and second in the 1500 Unlimited Buggy class competing in an all-new RZR Pro R. Guthrie faced stiff competition, as he was slated against 35 other unlimited cars and trucks, and more than 100 UTVs. He put on a stellar racing performance throughout the 300-mile event crossing the finish line a mere 12-seconds behind the first overall vehicle. Even more astonishing, he finished 23-minutes faster than the top UTV class finisher.

“Today was a noteworthy day for the whole Polaris Racing team. We were 12 seconds from an overall win, which is an accomplishment by itself, and dominated the day among all UTVs. Mitch Guthrie Jr. came out swinging, with an amazing performance in the Unlimited Buggy 1500 class,” said Brett Carpenter, Manager of the Polaris Factory Racing Team. “He drove his RZR Pro R flawlessly to the front of the pack and showcased how the RZR Pro R is a true a game changer, not just against UTVs, but cars and trucks alike.”

Guthrie started the race in ninth and quickly began his charge towards the front. At the halfway mark, he was sitting second in the Unlimited Buggy 1500 class and top five among all vehicles. He continued to navigate his RZR Pro R through the rugged desert before taking the checkered flag in just 5 hours, 23 minutes and 8 seconds.

“I’m absolutely stoked with this weekend’s result. Coming in second overall is a huge feat,” said Guthrie. “While we were confident in the RZR Pro R’s ability, we entered the Buggy class to see how it stacked up against the full field. As we started to get times from our crew, we realized we were on pace or faster than the competition. I think our performance not only highlighted the capabilities of the new RZR Pro R but showcased the future for UTVs and UTV racing.”

In the Pro Naturally Aspirated class, Polaris RZR Factory Racing drivers swept the podium with Max Eddy Jr. finishing first, Josh Row in second, and Ethan Groom rounding out the podium in third, all behind the wheel of RZR XP1000 vehicles.

Read more: Polaris RZR Factory Racing’s Mitch Guthrie Jr. Scores Impressive Second Overall in 1500 Unlimited Buggy Class and First UTV in All-New RZR Pro R