Honda is to add to its UK all-terrain vehicle line-up with a new model from 2017.

The two or four-seater Honda Pioneer launches in early 2017 and is the brand’s first Side-by-Side (SxS) utility vehicle

Equipped with all-wheel drive, the Honda Pioneer will be available as a two or four-seater with a 700cc engine.

The model is marked out as Honda’s first Side-by-Side (SxS) utility vehicle, designed to be more practical than a quad bike and more manageable than a traditional full size 4×4 vehicle. The brand also says the vehicle will bring “new levels of comfort, refinement, agility and handling”.

The launch will aid commercial operators meet the requirements of the European Two Man Working Directive – where at least two people are required to be present when working in dangerous conditions – without needing two vehicles.

The new model will further reinforce Honda’s ATV offering, where it says it accounts for more than 50% of all UK sales.

Steve Morris, head of Honda (UK), said: “The Pioneer is a fantastic vehicle that will strengthen Honda’s ATV offering significantly. By adding a choice of SxS options to our range, we will be able to build on our best-in-industry reputation and the long-standing customers relationships we have developed through our nationwide network of authorised dealers.”