2021 Honda Pioneer 520: Here's What's New, And What Isn't

Honda just dropped the new-for-2021 Pioneer 520 side-by-side with – you guessed it – a bigger engine than the outgoing Honda Pioneer 500.

But there's more to the new Pioneer 520 than just a new engine. It's ever so slightly longer, to begin with, and it's fine-tuned in virtually every area to make the Pioneer an even more capable, trustworthy, and fun companion. To really understand the 2021 Pioneer 520, we've listed the four big changes as well as four major areas in which the most affordable Honda side-by-side has remained the same.

THE BIG CHANGES

#1: The Bed

In the Pioneer 520, adding an accessory bed won't be necessary. This dump bed measures 25.9 inches x 38.7 inches x 9.8 inches. It's full of helpful touches, like a cutout so you can slide in a plywood divider, D-ring anchors, cutouts for milk crates and cups. And it's linked up with Honda Pro-Connect accessories, which click in and click off with ease. When tilted, the dump bed also allows easy access to the air filter and battery.

#2: The Suspension

Thoroughly retuned for greater comfort and smoother ride quality, the double wishbone (front and rear) suspension now has better damping, improved spring rates, and updated A-arms. There's no rear swaybar now, either, which also makes for a smoother ride.

#3: The Engine

Gone is the 475cc engine from the Pioneer 500, in comes a 518cc engine that generates more low-down torque. It's more responsive, still ridiculously efficient, and will now more easily clamber up steep inclines. And because it's positioned longitudinally in the chassis, the 518cc Pioneer engine's driveshaft runs perfectly north/south, which limits power losses between the engine and wheels.

#4: The Shift Mapping

The Pioneer 520's geared transmission will now upshift at a slightly lower engine speed. It's a smoother shift, too, and it lines up progressive shifts in a more rhythmic fashion.

THE BIG NON-CHANGES

#1: The Width

The Pioneer 520, just like the Pioneer 500, is 50 inches wide. That means the Pioneer fits where an ATV fits, including the back of most pickups.

#2: Manual Shifting

It's nice to skip the belt-drive transmission, but it's also nice to exert control over the transmission. You can override the Pioneer 520's shift schedule any time you'd like, or you can switch into manual mode for full control. 

#3: Silence

Is it even running? If you want to sneak in late, you don't necessarily want to come rumbling with a burbling V8 engine and a Borla exhaust. The Pioneer 520 is a quiet cat when you want it to be, just like the Pioneer 500 before it.

#4: The Paint

When it comes to Honda power sports, red is an iconic colour. The 520's Patriot Red is still the Pioneer's colour of choice, which makes the Pioneer obviously, conspicuously, clearly a Honda.