Suzuki Samurai Vs. Yamaha Rhino

We Find Out If A Swordsman Can Slay The Horned Beast

By Ali Mansour, Photography by Ali Mansour, Fred Williams

	Rhino	Samurai
Wheelbase (in)	75 1/4	80 3/8
Tire Diameter (in)	25	31
Locker(s)	Factory electronic	Lock-Right
Width (in)	51 3/4	66 1/4
Height (in)	72	70 3/8
Belly Clearance (in)	11 1/2	15 3/4
Diff Clearance (in)	10 3/4 front	13

Rhino: 25 feet (2WD)
Samurai: 34 feet (2WD)

Both rigs in low range and fully locked
Rhino: 15 seconds
Samurai: 20 seconds

Suzuki Samurai Yamaha Rhino Drivers Side Compare

Rhino: Needed driver, cannot crawl unmanned
Samurai: Crawled at a consistent low speed without driver

Rhino: 7.7 feet
Samurai: 13.9 feet

Rhino: Too much throttle was needed, at times making it harder to crawl and keep a steady line along with momentum. Seatbelt doesn't have shoulder adjustment and is a bit tall for shorter drivers
Samurai: Needs lower than 4.88 gears, offered better steering feedback

Rhino: Quick to get to speed, but gives the back-and-forth feeling that you're border line not in control. Doesn't launch evenly and has a tendency to buck badly.
Samurai: Easier to control and handle, but must operate at slower speeds

Suzuki Samurai Yamaha Rhino Front View Compare

Tie

SOURCES
Yamaha

By Ali Mansour

Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!

More from 4WheelOffroad:

Sponsored - Links

*Please enter your username

*Please enter your password

*Please enter your comments

Comments:

Not Registered?Signup Here

(1024 character limit)

turf
11/16/2011 at 9:37 PM Where do you guys get this golf cart stuff. I,ve had a rhino since 06, and have went out with a lot of sammys, and rode circle around them. The only thing is deep water, I guess I like to keep my butt dry. I,ve recenty bought a 90 zuki, with loads of mods. I notice I have to wait for the THRILLS to happen in the zuki. They both have their place. I can say the rhino gives me more thrills for the dollar. I,m 62 and luv what both machines do. I can climb a strsight wall on the rhino, which the sammy won,t come close. Love both, rhino more thrills.

Samuraibitchfromhell
8/8/2011 at 9:18 AM Being a Samurai enthusiast I really enjoyed this article. I too have considered getting a glorified golf cart. I thought that I had weighed all the odds but obviously I had not done this as accurately as you have. I have a "bone stock" Samurai with Super Swampers on it and I believe that I can go anywhere any glorified golf cart can go even with open diff. So considering how much money I have invested in my off road vehicle, I think that I get much more bang for my buck sticking with my Suzuki Samurai. Paid $1,500 for stock tin top, added four new Swampers $600. total spent $2,100.00 versus $10,000 for a Rhino or a Razer which is the one I wanted. I believe under the circumstances I will stick with my Samurai. Thanks for doing all the research for me.