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Terrain 520 Review - From Farmers Weekly

Posted by QuadzillaQuads Admin on

Quadzilla 520 does the job on a tighter budget

The newest face in Quadzilla's ATV fleet has its sights set on stealing market share from the all-conquering Honda Foreman. Oliver Mark takes the reasonably priced 520 for a spin.

Chinese-made machines might have a mixed reputation,  but the promise of cheap prices and generous specs are proving an irresistible lure for plenty of budget conscious ATV buyers.

While several dozen ATV brands have made the long trip from Asia over the past few years, only a couple have stood the test of time.

One of the longest serving is the CFMOTO range of ATVs and motorbikes imported for the past 25 years by Quadzilla, based in Horncastle, Lincolnshire.

CFMOTO has an impressive CV, producing 800,000 ATVs and more than 300,000 engines every year, to be distributed predominantly across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

The manufacturer's expanding product range has also given Quadzilla more firepower on the UK market, where agriculture now accounts for 30% of its sales, up from 10% just a couple of years ago.

Cheap prices and improving quality have been the main drivers, but the company is also elbowing its way on to the farming market, by selling machines through traditional Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki dealers.

NEW FACE

The latest model to join the Quadzilla price list is the 520 - a replacement for the old Terrain machines that has had a serious power injection in the process. The single-bore, 500cc block kicks out 39hp, which is a generous improvement over its 26hp predecessor.

The Quadzilla and CFMOTO 520 will provide some serious competition to the Honda Foreman

The punch engine is paired to a Canadian-made CVT gearbox that provides smeary acceleration without fluctuating the engines revs that can sometimes be the case with step-less set-ups. The transmission comes with two speeds - low and high - and is selected via a lockable hand-stick, which should act as an extra deterrent for would-be thieves.

Of particular appeal to the farming fraternity will be the selectable four-wheel drive and, when things get really slimy, a diff-lock for the front axle, too. Both are selected through an electric switch on the right side of the handle bar and a swiveling cover over the diff-lock selector means it can only be engaged once four-wheel drive is locked in.

Where cushioning is concerned, CFMOTO opts for coil and strut suspension on all four corners. The company insists this gives better stability and a more comfortable ride than a single arm arrangement, while 240mm ground clearance betters most of its rivals. Any hanging hoses underneath the frame are protected by braided stainless steel to avoid snags and damage too. 

A fully laden standard spec list means there are plenty of other natty extras. An electric winch is fitted to the front, while a 12v cigarette lighter socket and two USB ports just below the handlebars offer a few options for powering and charging anything from a mobile phone to a guidance screen. A tow bar with a seven-pin trailer connection is included as well.

Quadzilla also sells its ATVs road ready, which means items such as daytime running lights are part of the standard package. On the plus side, there's no need to retrofit all the wiring loom required to make sure the machine conforms to the rules, which can add a fair chunk to the asking price.

FARMERS WEEKLY VERDICT

Quadzilla's 520 is a surprisingly well-finished ATV that will provide serious competition to the Honda Foreman - the benchmark on the British ATV market - over the next few years. It's generously specced, cheap, powerful and has a responsive drive for a CVT, but the big question marks still hover over its ability to cope with hardcore stock farming, where machinery maintenance is a forgotten thing.

Quadzilla CFMOTO Terrain 520S

  • Engine 495cc single-cylinder, liquid cooled
  • Power 39hp
  • Towing capacity 390kg
  • Transmission Two-range stepless CVT
  • Suspension Independent double A-arm front and rear
  • Curb weight 345kg
  • Drive Selectable 2WD/4WD pluss diff-lock
  • Tyres 25x8-12 front, 25x10-12 rear
  • Rack capacity 45kg front and rear
  • Ground clearance 240mm