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The 2024 Kawasaki Mule Pro comes with a big addition to the lineup in the form of a 1,000cc parallel-twin gasoline engine replacing last year’s 812cc triple in the Mule Pro-FX, Mule Pro-FXT and Mule Pro-FXR. Kawasaki says the parallel twin puts out 61 lb.-ft. of torque, a gain of 13 over the outgoing machine. The Pro-FX 1000 HD is a new heavy-duty addition to the FX lineup that features self-leveling rear suspension.
The Mule Pro-DXT sticks with its 993cc diesel inline-three, and the Mule Pro-MX lineup stays with its 695cc gasoline single-cylinder engine. The diesel mill makes 38 lb.-ft. of torque, while the single pumps out 43 lb.-ft. Kawasaki is mum on horsepower figures for any of the engines.
All three powerplants rely on some version of Kawasaki’s continuously variable automatic transmission. Power gets to the wheels through a 2WD/4WD selectable transfer case and a locking rear differential. Aside from the new engine, there are some suspension changes for the Mule Pro-FX models, and the Pro-MX gets a few trim package updates.
Kawasaki says it has reworked the suspension of the Pro-FXR 1000, Pro-FXT 1000, and Pro-FX 1000 HD to boost ground clearance and ride comfort. The Pro-FX 1000 HD also gets self-leveling rear suspension to deal with heavy loads. The self-leveling suspension should help the rig cope with its enlarged 1,000-pound capacity, 20-square-foot bed, which Kawasaki says is the biggest in the class and the largest bed ever on a Mule.
If you don’t need the bigger bed, the Pro-FXR and Pro-FXT get you the bigger engine and slightly different capability. The FXR sits three adults across a two-tone bench seat, and is aimed at being a little more playful than the HD Edition. With a shorter bed and wheelbase, Kawi says it’s nimbler, and it comes with a rear bumper and 27-inch tires with aggressive tread. As with the HD Edition, the Pro-FXR has a 1,000-pound bed capacity.
The Pro-FXT gets Kawasaki’s cool Trans Cab feature, which allows users to switch seating for six and an expanded cargo area quickly. In six-seater mode, the Pro-FXT bed capacity is 350 pounds, and goes up to 1,000 pounds in three-seater mode.
The 2024 Kawasaki Mule Pro-MX comes standard with electric power steering, steel wheels, and an open ROPS. The nicer LE model gets aluminum wheels and a plastic roof, while the LE Camo makes do with steel wheels. The top-of-the-line Mule Pro-MX SE gets aluminum wheels, a plastic roof, a 3,000-pound Warn winch, and nicer paint.
For 2024, there is also a utility version of the Pro-MX, which gets a rearview mirror, dome light, rear bumper, and trailer hitch ball mount and 2-inch ball standard.
The 2024 Kawasaki Mule Pro-DXT FE is unchanged for this year as a fleet-ready diesel rig with a few standard features to allow it to easily slide into fleet duty. The DXT FE seats six, and has high-vis orange seatbelts, a plastic roof, a horn, and a universal key. It comes in bright white and Kawi left plenty of room for company logos on the plastic bodywork.
It’s not often that Kawasaki makes big changes to the Mule Pro lineup, but with a new engine and suspension setups on board for 2024, the gold-standard utility rig looks set to keep pace with the competition as the side-by-side market expands.
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