Choosing an ATV can be overwhelming at first. There a ton of good and bad opinions about all the major manufacturers. The first thing you have to do is be honest with yourself about how you plan to use it. I've seen several friends buy machines they later regretted for this very reason. Some wanted mud machines, and quickly realized they only get into the mud a small percentage of their riding time. Others bought sport quads that weren't practical for woods and trail riding at our local trails. I was lucky enough to have one of each. When we rode dirt roads and fast trails I took the sport, for snow and mud trails i took the utility atv.
Now that I'm old and ride slower, I have one utility quad. Speed is no longer a factor, it's about the comfort for my aging body. I've owned ATV's from every manufacturer and there were things I loved and hated about all of them. They all have their pluses and minuses. Do your research, test drive as many as you can and most importantly, once you buy one enjoy it as much as you can!