Yamaha offers two excellent all-terrain vehicle options with their Kodiak and Grizzly series choices.
Although they look similar at first glance, you’ll discover that some crucial differences could sway you to one or the other when looking for an ATV.
When comparing the essential purpose of each vehicle, the Kodiak is meant more for your everyday work.
If you operate a small farm, run a soccer club, or need something to haul gear, that ATV design is built for each job.
The Grizzly is an excellent choice when you want to enjoy high-speed recreational riding.
Although a direct comparison goes deeper than that, those differences are the starting point of your ATV selection journey.
2020 Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS vs. Yamaha Grizzly EPS
The 2020 Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS is built to be a workhorse. It has the power to tackle almost any environment while providing a comfortable ride. The 2020 Yamaha Grizzly EPS is more for recreational trails, off-road riding, and other entertainment purposes.
Yamaha builds high-quality ATVs that deliver on their promises. You’ll receive a comfortable ride, plenty of power, and space to explore.
The Kodiak is made for work, while the Grizzly is more for exploration – but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy both styles with your preferred ATV.
If you’re interested in the Kodiak 700 EPS or the Grizzly EPS, here is a closer look at the direct comparison points.
1. Powertrain
The Kodiak comes with a couple of engine options, although the 700 model is its best. It offers a 10:1 compression ratio while using the Ultramatic transmission. The tuning is meant more for towing and hauling than speed, displacing 686cc.
With the Grizzly EPS, the construction is physically equal to the Kodiak. Even the compression ratio and displacement are the same.
The difference is in the tuning, which is where you can find a better pace. There’s a bit of extra power in the midrange that you can notice if you’ve ridden both models.
If you were to choose one based on the powertrain alone, it would depend on your intended purpose for the ATV.
When you need help doing the daily chores around your farm, the Kodiak is the clear winner.
Should you prefer to mix some business with pleasure, the Grizzly performs well in that role. It also delivers for those who prefer recreational rides only for their ATV investment.
2. Comfort
When comparing the Kodiak with the Grizzly, you’ll find the first option provides a seat that’s a bit lower.
This design change makes it a little easier to mount or dismount from the vehicle. When you’re in the saddle all day handling chores, the process of getting on and off doesn’t put as much wear and tear on the body.
The Kodiak and the Grizzly offer electronic power steering to take it easy on the arms.
Although the suspension is essentially the same, the Grizzly does offer nitrogen-charged shocks to ensure there’s a more compliant ride.
You’ll sit a little higher during the trip, which could be seen as an advantage or a disadvantage.
Both ATVs weigh about the same and hold about five gallons of fuel. You can expect a similar cruising range for the ride with the Kodiak 700 EPS or the Grizzly EPS.
3. Suspension and Brakes
Both ATVs provide an independent double-wishbone suspension for the front and rear in the design.
There’s an anti-sway bar in the back. The Grizzly offers the same setup as the Kodiak here, but it comes with a little extra travel.
When you look at the Grizzly EPS, you’ll find 26-inch tires instead of the 25-inch option on the Kodiak.
That small change impacts the turning radius a little. The Grizzly is also two inches wider, providing a touch of extra stability when cruising at a higher speed.
The rear brakes for the Kodiak 700 EPS use a multi-disc design, which is a little different than the dual hydraulics found on the Grizzly.
Since riders can fall into either camp discussing the stopping power benefits of both designs, it’s up to you to decide which one you prefer.
What you’ll see the most is that the Grizzly delivers a dual-purpose result that isn’t available from the Kodiak to the same extent.
You can load up your gear, enjoy a day on the trail, or take the ATV hunting without worrying about its performance. The Kodiak is built more for local work.
4. Off-Road Use
The Kodiak 700 EPS delivers almost 11 inches of ground clearance. That’s enough space for navigating common obstacles you’ll find on farms, ranches, and homesteads.
There’s a high-capacity radiator, and an air intake mounted higher than normal to ensure riders can enjoy technical riding benefits at lower speeds.
When using the Grizzly EPS, there are about two inches of extra width to use for more stability. The ATV also sits about a half-inch higher than the Kodiak 700 EPS, which translates into more clearance.
The turning radius is about two feet more than the Kodiak, which means riders will need to calculate for some extra space.
For the 2020 models, the EPS trim delivers the three-way locking differential. A base Kodiak uses a 4WD system operated with levers. A similar result is available for the Grizzly.
5. Style Comparison
The Kodiak 700 EPS and Grizzly EPS look quite similar. Even when they’re parked next to each other, there are not many visual indicators that let the average person know they’re from two different series.
In this section, the primary way to separate the two ATVs is by height. The Grizzly sits an inch taller, although you could underinflate the tires to compensate for that.
That means the best ATV to choose is the one that feels the most comfortable or works with your budget.
6. MSRP Comparison
The Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS retails for about 10% less than the Grizzly EPS in the 2020 model year.
ATV riders can opt for trim choices with the Kodiak that bring it closer to the experience of its competitor.
With the Grizzly design, you can opt for tactical green or alpine white. Both options come with standard aluminum wheels.
Previous model years had a red color, but that is no longer an option. Camo is available for an added cost.
The Kodiak 700 EPS and the Grizzly come with an extra option for a brush guard.
The question for this comparison involves the cost of the extra kit and power delivery. Some riders might find the sportier version is worth the investment.
7. Specification Comparison
With everything so similar when looking at the Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS and the Grizzly EPS, it can come down to the specs for each ATV to find out which one is the best option to use.
Here’s a closer look at the critical categories where there are direct differences to examine.
| Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS Dimensions | Yamaha Grizzly EPS Dimensions |
| Length: 81. 5 Inches | Length: 81. 5 Inches |
| Width 46.5 Inches | Width 48.4 Inches |
| Height: 48.8 Inches | Height: 49.3 Inches |
| Ground Clearance 10.8 Inches | Ground Clearance: 11.3 Inches |
| Wheelbase: 49.2 Inches | Wheelbase: 49.2 Inches |
| Front Suspension Travel: 7.1 Inches | Front Suspension Travel: 7.6 Inches |
| Seat Height: 33.9 Inches | Seat Height: 36.1 Inches |
Best ATV Helmet to Use with the Kodiak or Grizzly EPS
I’m a big fan of Troy Lee Designs. Their ATV helmets fit me comfortably, come with some creative styles, and deliver an effective safety profile. You receive a full-face helmet design that meets today’s racing and off-road performance standards while being DOT-approved.
The SE5 Lowrider Composite Offroad Powersports Helmet provides excellent ventilation.
The chin bar features expanded polypropylene to stop wetness from pooling under your chin, while the collar ventilation allows for all-day wear.
You can take the cheek pads and liners out of the helmet to wash them. Six standard sizes are available to help you achieve a custom fit with this design.
Although it looks like it would be heavy, it’s quite the opposite. You receive a lightweight composite shell with this design with incorporated safety technology to minimize rotational impacts.
If you don’t like the extended design on the helmets you wear, I’d also recommend the LS2 Valiant II.
This modular helmet provides full facial protection while offering a wearing experience closer to what motorcyclists use. It meets the same DOT standard.
I like the twin shielding system this helmet design employs. The sun shield uses a cable slider to deliver the right protection when you need it.
Thermofoam is used to create comfort padding and protection, which is also removable and washable. The interior fabric does a great job of wicking moisture away to keep you cool.
2020 Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS vs. Yamaha Grizzly EPS: Which Is Better?
The 2020 Yamaha Kodiak provides a lower MSRP while delivering an essential riding experience. With the Yamaha Grizzly EPS, riders can take more trails while enjoying higher speeds at the cost of a wider turn radius.
The first time I rode an ATV, it was on a friend’s farm. We had to go to the back 40 to find a few cows that had wandered astray.
It felt great with the breeze in your hair and reaching big speeds while bumping over the pasture grass.
Once we got to the woods at the property’s end, we hadn’t seen any of the missing cattle. I decided to go into the trees to maybe scare them out. That’s when we hit a rut, and both of us went tumbling off the ATV.
We were fine, but the fuel line tore in the accident. It was a long walk back, but at least the cows came out of hiding to join us for that adventure.
I’m a big fan of the Kodiak 700 EPS, but the Grizzly has some benefits that make it a tempting ride. It’s ultimately up to you to decide which model will meet your needs.