Kawasaki’s Little Mule Still Works Harder Than Some Fancy UTVs

The 2027 Kawasaki Mule SX range keeps things simple with a 401cc engine, compact sizing, and real work-ready capability.

Photo by: Kawasaki

By: Enrico Punsalang

May 8, at 8:09am ET

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The Kawasaki Mule SX is back for 2027, and it’s still one of the most gloriously unapologetic little workhorses in powersports. No giant touchscreens. No fake race truck attitude. No pretending it belongs at King of the Hammers. Just a compact side-by-side that exists to haul stuff, tow stuff, climb over ugly terrain, and fit in the back of a big pickup truck without making your life complicated.

And that last part matters more than ever. Big UTVs have gotten huge. Some of them are basically off-road minivans with beadlocks and LED whips. The Mule SX goes in the complete opposite direction. It’s small enough to squeeze into tight trails, farms, job sites, and hunting camps, but still brings enough capability to do actual work. Kawasaki clearly knows there are still people out there who don’t need 200 horsepower and long-travel suspension just to carry fencing supplies across a property.

Photos by: Kawasaki

Every 2027 Mule SX runs the same 401cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine, and that’s probably the right move for a machine like this. You’re not buying one to drag race your neighbor across a dirt road. You’re buying it because simple engines tend to survive abuse, bad weather, questionable fuel, and years of being parked in barns. The Mule SX lineup keeps things intentionally straightforward, and I think that's kinda the point.

Kawasaki’s also leaning harder into usability by offering digital fuel injection on select four-wheel-drive models. That may not sound exciting, but if you’ve ever dealt with cold starts on older carbureted utility machines, you already know why EFI matters. Especially for ranchers, maintenance crews, hunters, and property owners who just want the thing to fire up and get moving without drama.

Photo by: Kawasaki

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That said, Kawasaki still hasn’t completely abandoned carburetors. The Mule SX 4x4 ST sticks with a carb-fed version of the same 401cc engine, which is actually very on-brand for this machine. There are still plenty of buyers who prefer old-school simplicity because it’s easier to wrench on in the middle of nowhere with basic tools and a stubborn attitude.

Capability-wise, the little Mule still punches above its weight. Kawasaki says the SX can tow up to 1,100 pounds, which is pretty substantial considering how compact the machine actually is. It also comes with a steel cargo bed featuring a textured floor, because Kawasaki clearly expects owners to throw muddy tools, feed bags, chains, fuel cans, and probably at least one confused dog back there.

The lineup itself covers a surprisingly wide spread of buyers. The base two-wheel-drive Mule SX starts at $7,799 and comes in Timberline Green or Bright White. It’s the bare-bones work truck equivalent of the range, and honestly, that’s probably exactly why some people will love it.

Photo by: Kawasaki

Step up to the Mule SX 4x4 at $9,199 and you get added traction plus the option of the same green or white paint. Then there’s the Mule SX 4x4 ST carbureted model at $8,599, which slots in as the more old-school four-wheel-drive option for buyers who still trust carburetors more than electronics.

The lineup starts getting slightly fancier with the Mule SX 4x4 XC, finished in Metallic Sierra Blue and priced at $9,499. At the top sits the Mule SX 4x4 XC LE in Metallic Onyx Black for $10,699, which sounds hilariously premium for a machine that’ll probably spend its life covered in mud, hay, and scratches from tree branches.

But that’s kind of the charm of the Mule SX lineup. These things aren’t lifestyle accessories pretending to be work vehicles. They’re actual work vehicles that just happen to be fun. And in today’s side-by-side world, where some machines cost as much as a used sports car and have enough suspension travel to launch into orbit, the compact little Mule remains true to itself.