Do you like the four-seat Yamaha Wolverine but only want to bring along one buddy? Good news, then. Yamaha has cut two chairs out of that 850cc side-by-side to create the Wolverine X2.

Yamaha has built the Wolverine for work, with a newly designed piston-assist dump bed that’s capable of handling a 600lb load. The tailgate swings open single-handedly like a roadgoing pickup truck rather than utilizing fussy pins on either side of the ‘gate. Its 2000lb towing capacity is five hundred more than last year and outstrips more than a few on-road crossovers.

Utilizing the X4’s inline-twin, the X2 deploys a 847cc engine driving Yamaha’s driver-controlled On-Command four-wheel drive (4WD) system and electric power steering. The company has fettled the CVT drive system to better maintain belt tension, getting rid of that slipping and slamming of the belt. Are new drivers clamoring for the driver’s seat of your new Wolverine X2? The rig can also be limited to a 25mph top speed with the twist of a key.

Wide arc A-arms contribute to an overall 11-inches of ground clearance, while an independent double-wishbone suspension provides 8.7-inches of wheel travel up front and 8.9-inches in the rear. If that sounds like an inch or two less than the old Wolverine, well, you’re exactly right. The reduction is to keep the Wolverine X2 stable as it is 1.6” narrower and 1.9” shorter than the old one.

The two-person cab has twin high-backed seats, automotive style three-point seatsbelts, a tilt steering wheel, and comes prewired for a Magellan GPS. A brace of 12V ports allows users to plug in other electrical accessories, while extra pre-wired switches sit ready for aftermarket lights and other items. The new LCD digital meter features a large dimmable display, with speedometer, odometer, trip and hour meters, along with vehicle status and warning displays.

The base model Wolverine X2 starts at $12,699 and is equipped with steel wheels and spring preload adjustable KYB shocks. The Camo model will cost buyers an extra $2250. Moving up to the R-Spec trim brings fully adjustable KYB piggyback reservoir shocks, red or white painted bodywork, and aluminum wheels for $14,499.

An extra $700 will net customers a Special Edition with snazzy tri-color seats, fender extentions, and different colors. These prices are all within a stone’s throw of its immediate competition like the Polaris RZR S 900 or Can-Am Maverick Sport.

The Wolverine X2 is available now.