LAUNCH TEST - 2024 SEGWAY POWERSPORTS ATV SXS RANGE - JUST BIKES

LAUNCH TEST - 2024 Segway Powersports ATV SxS range

Words: Marc Cuming

Photos: Courtesy of Urban Moto Imports

The ATV market here in Australia had a pretty hefty restructure a couple of years back, but if the energy and enthusiasm I witnessed – and experienced – at a ride day for Segway Powersports is any indication, things are on the up and up.

LAUNCH TEST - 2024 Segway Powersports ATV SxS range

I should probably start this review by clarifying who Segway Powersports are. If you’ve never heard of Segway before, or only associate the name with those two-wheel balance scooters from the early 2000s, you’re not alone. Yes, Segway did start out building those electric personal mobility devices (and still produce them), but since the brand was acquired by Chinese company, Ninebot, in 2015, the range has both increased and widened.

Segway Powersports was born in 2019 as an offshoot of the original technology and personal mobility company, but focussed on ATVs and SxS (Side-by-Side) vehicles. Unlike the original Segways, all these units are much more conventional, offered in both utility and sport form, with petrol or hybrid power – and four wheels! Utility ATVs from Segway Powersports are available in a range of engine capacities and equipment levels, while the SxS models offer full occupant protection and seating for up to six.

In late 2020, Urban Moto Imports (UMI) announced they’d be distributing Segway Powersports vehicles in Australia and New Zealand, adding to their brand portfolio that includes Royal Enfield, Benelli, Super Soco, Peugeot Motocycles and Rieju. While Royal Enfield has been a roaring success for UMI, Segway has been something of a slow burn. The first units started arriving here in mid-2021, but between COVID, the OPD dramas (more on that below), a limited dealer network and, more recently, interest rate and cost-of-living pressures, Segway have struggled.

This struggle is due in no way to the vehicles themselves, all of which performed admirably during my time on them at the dealer and media day for the 2024 range this past November. Events like these help to build understanding and appreciation for a brand, which it’s fair to say Segway needs at the moment.

Goat Tracks . . . and Goats

Seven Hills Tallarook, a boutique accommodation and event venue in central Victoria (that’s also a working goat farm), was the venue for the 2024 Segway Powersports launch. UMI presented the assembled media and dealers with the latest Snarler ‘AT5’ and ‘AT6’ ATVs, as well as the Fugleman SxS in ‘UT10’ three-seat and ‘UT10 Crew’ six-seat form. The only model missing was the super-cool ‘Villain’ two-seater Sports SxS, which looks like something you’d tackle Dakar or the Finke Desert Race with. Powered by the same 1,000cc motor as the big UT10s, the Villain is smaller and lighter. I’m sure it’d be a blast to drive. Same goes for the upcoming hybrid Super Villain, which promises more than three times the power and five times the torque of the Villain.

Segway celebrity ambassadors, including Shannon Noll, Rob Mills, Brent Shannon from Aussie Gold Hunters and Craig ‘Macca’ McGown from What’s Up Down Under, joined the dealer and media contingent for the launch.

With a marquee and chairs to make everyone comfortable, UMI brought us up to speed on the nuts and bolts of each model. After the presentation, we were let loose around a 2km track at Seven Hills which combined flat sections and a river crossing with dusty trails and very steep, shaly goat tracks that’d challenge any vehicle.

I rode the Snarler AT6 quad bike initially, then the smaller-engined AT5 S Rugged, followed by the UT10 – Rugged EPS, which is the entry model in the Fugleman SxS family. Fortunately for the goats at Seven Hills, they were penned off while we thrashed the Segways around. They may have the edge on us in terms of traction, but we beat them for speed!

Looking Good

As some of us were newcomers to Segway Powersports’ model range, the pre-ride briefing helped, but a lot of the ATV’s controls were familiar to anyone with riding experience and the SxS even moreso. All the switchgear was easy to understand and operate, the TFT screen instrumentation was easy to read and the seats were super comfortable.

The quality was apparent right away. Everything fitted well and felt tight, with a very clean aesthetic overall. All of the levers and buttons were solid, too, which felt nice. I asked those on the launch – with more experience of new ATVs than me – for their thoughts and they echoed my own; the fit and finish was impressive. We soon found out some of the decals weren’t up to scratch, coming off on the first group ride, but that was the only quality issue.

Segway’s AT5 and AT6 ATVs all come with the contentious OPD (Operator Protection Devices) that are dealer-fitted as standard. In this instance, it’s the Australian-made ‘Quadbar’ units. These meet the government safety standards that came into effect in October, 2021, for all new ATVs sold here. I won’t go into the full history of that bunfight, but the reason you don’t see any new utility ATVs from the likes of Honda, Yamaha and Polaris these days is because they chose to withdraw their vehicles from the Aussie market, rather than fit the OPDs. The pros and cons of OPDs continue to be debated to this day, but Segway, along with CFMoto and Kymco, chose to adopt them, so they’re about the only brands you can buy a new ATV from these days.

In terms of standard equipment, the AT5 and AT6 were good, but the Fugleman UT10 took the appointments to the next level. Bluetooth connectivity and WiFi, combined with Segway’s ‘T-Box’ telematics terminal, allows remote vehicle monitoring, remote stop/start, on-board navigation, plus music and vehicle data, like tilt angles, to be displayed. In my view, that’s a real game changer.

Accessing this data was simple - scan the QR code inside the glovebox and you’re set up. Once I connected my phone via the “Segway Powersports” app, I was able to see data I have always wanted to know about my vehicle. The instrument screen in front of the steering wheel displays all the information you need and you can share it with friends that are connected to the app.

As the UT10 and UT10 Crew are pitched at hunters, farmers, groundskeepers, forestry workers, rangers, property maintenance teams and various other outdoor occupations that use SxS vehicles (including surf lifesavers, I’ve noticed), interior space is abundant. There’s more than enough room to stow all the gear such occupations need. Segway’s designers took every chance they had to create storage space, including a pair of 19-litre waterproof storage boxes under the front and rear seats. That’s all great, but I would have liked to see more ways of securing items in those spaces. Something as simple as Velcro straps or some more elastic netting (like what’s on the back of the front seats) would be a plus while travelling.

Start (eventually) and Go

Despite being quite familiar with ATVs, I found the startup process for these Segways overly complicated. Firstly, you must ensure the vehicle is in park, then turn the key, hit the fuel pump switch and finally the push-button to start. You then need to disengage the emergency brake before putting it into gear. Flub any of these steps and a chime of alarms scold you for doing it wrong. If you’re entering and exiting the vehicle often, this would get very infuriating very quickly. I’m sure the startup procedure could be streamlined a little.

Four-stroke engines with EFi and liquid cooling are standard across the range, along with CVT transmissions, selectable four-wheel drive, selectable steering modes, dual A-arm suspension and disc brakes. Move up from the base models and things like a winch, front diff locks, beadlock wheels, LED lighting, upgraded steering, a reversing camera and other features are added.

The engines (all petrol) start with a 499cc single in the AT5, a 570cc single in the AT6 and a 1,000cc twin in the UT10. The AT5 engine produces 29kW (39hp) and 44Nm, with 33kW (44hp) and 48Nm maximums from the AT6’s 570cc, while the big twin in the UT10 peaks at 78kW (105hp) and 95Nm.

For my stint on the AT6, low-end torque - and lots of it - was immediately apparent. Gearing from the CVT is paired very well to the engine low down in the rev range, but got a bit stale in the mid-range. Top end power was more than enough for the trails, even when going 90+ km/h. The AT6 is certainly a strong competitor in its class, but it didn’t blow my mind. However, for the type of work this ATV will be put to, the performance is perfect.

Compared to the AT6, the AT5 S Rugged (‘S’ denotes a single seater; the AT5 L is a two-seater) has a performance that reflects its lower capacity engine, but it’s not chalk and cheese between the two. The AT5 and AT6 are probably too close in terms of capacity, with too big a gap to the UT10, so I would like to see the engine line up expanded in the future.

Moving on to the Fugleman UT10, it did blow my mind, offering the kind of performance I’d expect from a 105hp 1,000cc engine, but not from a utility vehicle. For a large machine, the UT10 utilises that 105hp incredibly well. I was surprised at how it travelled through its RPM range, how the fully independent suspension soaked up the bumps and how easily it could be manoeuvred via the electronic power steering (that’s adjustable via the smartphone app). Clutch engagement was a little too aggressive at low speeds, but dialled in very well everywhere else. The front locking diff helps with extreme terrain, while ‘Turf Mode’ unlocks the rear diff to limit impact when manoeuvring on certain surfaces, like a golf course or manicured lawn.

Considering this wasn’t the sport-oriented Villain, the UT10 offered way more fun than I thought it would - I’m confident those who get their hands on one won’t be criticising the power delivery!

The disc brakes that are standard on all Segways performed well and pulled each vehicle up straight, while the factory-fitted Wanda tyres are an improvement on what other ATV brands offer, but not perfect. They’re grippy enough for trails and rocky paths, with enough depth in the treadblocks to handle mud, but they are soft, so will likely puncture easily and wear quickly.

Wheels are either 12-inch steel, 14-inch steel or 14-inch alloy with beadlocks, depending on the model and spec. As a more “spirited” rider, I am excited to see Segway offering a beadlock rim and hope it’ll be available across the range in the future and not just limited to the top spec AT5 and AT6.

Practicality Plus

As the vast majority of Segway Powersports models will be put to work hauling and towing, it’s important to know their capabilities in these areas. Across the range, most customers will be catered for, but here’s a quick rundown on each.

The AT5 S has a 185kg payload and 612kg towing capacity, with the AT5 L increasing payload to 270kg. On the AT6 S, payload is 194kg, but towing capacity is less than the AT5 at 299kg, which is a bit of a surprise. On the AT6 L, payload increases to 269kg and towing capacity to 349kg.

On the UT10, payload is 680kg and towing capacity 1,134kg. These maximums are unchanged for the six-seater UT10 Crew, but kerb weight increases from 780kg to 930kg, which may be a factor for some buyers. The UT-10 and UT-10 Crew both come with a tiltable load tray that has a 450kg capacity, sturdy gas shocks and a drop-down tailgate.

On the AT5 L and AT6 L, there are powdercoated front and rear racks, plus a 2,500lb front winch, while the UT10 Crew comes with a 4,500lb winch. Other models have provision for a winch to be added. The 4,500lb winch is probably overrated for the vehicle, but better to be over than under!

Some points to note on the UT10 include a standard 2-inch rear tow hitch receiver with tension bolt, which was a positive, but the rear bumper was awkwardly placed. It seemed to be straddling the needs for protection, clearance for the tow hitch and allowing a step to access the cargo tray. Not a deal breaker, but something that Segway should look at for the next redesign.

Suspension is good, but perhaps too basic, with preload adjustability only. Maybe that’s all that the utility ATV buyer needs, but I’m sure the market will sound off if it isn't. I would certainly expect more options in this area in the future, especially given what the Villain sport SxS has available, like remote reservoir shocks with “dual-speed” compression and rebound adjustment.

Segway probably need to sort their naming conventions, too. Officially, all the AT models are Snarlers and all the UT models are Fuglemans. Up-spec’d variants of the AT5 and 6 carry ‘EPS,’ ‘Quad Pro’ or ‘Full Spec’ suffixes, with ‘E’ and ‘X’ versions of the UT10, while the ‘S’ and ‘L’ options in the AT range add to the confusion. Like me, many others on the launch were referring to each model by the simpler letter and number designation (AT5, UT10), so let's see if Segway Powersports adopt that, too.

Australia and New Zealand were among the first international markets to receive these off-road machines, so we’re testing the waters to some degree. That means whatever feedback comes from our markets may well influence what Segway offers in the future.

A Smart Start

For my first experience of Segway Powersports, I came away impressed, especially with the Fugleman UT10. It was so practical, with its three abreast bench seat and big tilt tray, plus that 1,000cc motor that just kept pulling and revved so freely. It’s a real weapon and I want one on the farm. Being a country boy, I’ve had a lot of exposure to ATVs, dirt bikes and quads, so I understand how important a practical and powerful ATV or utility SxS is for a farm - big or small.

I’m excited to see what’ll come next from Segway, especially on the technology front, but I’m also concerned it might get out of hand, adding features that are worthless or making home repair impossible. So far, that’s not the case, with the tech being both smart and practical for the most part. I have a feeling the hybrid engine technology that Segway have already developed – and will debut on the Villain - is what will really take this lineup to a whole new level.

At time of writing, pricing for the Segway Powersports range started at $9,590 for the AT5 S ($10,990 for the AT5 L), $12,990 for the AT6 ($13,590 for the AT6 L), $19,990 for the UT10 and $25,990 for the UT10 Crew, which is pretty competitive. The Villain is outside the scope of this article, but starts at $27,990. See your Segway dealer for the latest pricing and special offers.

Yes, there are little things here and there that could be improved on some models, but overall, I think Segway Powersports will make a big impact in the ATV market. Take a deep dive into their range at segwaypowersports.com.au (it’ll need to be deep, as there’s a lot to take in) and I think you'll agree.