The Kawasaki RIDGE Garmin Tread display brings factory-integrated off-road navigation, mapping, communication and audio controls to selected premium models in Kawasaki’s utility side-by-side lineup.
Garmin and Kawasaki announced the collaboration in January 2024 alongside the original Kawasaki RIDGE Limited. Rather than mounting a conventional portable GPS above the dashboard, Kawasaki incorporated a customized eight-inch Garmin display into the center console.
The system has since become an important feature of premium RIDGE and RIDGE CREW models, including the Platinum Ranch HVAC editions. For 2027, Kawasaki introduced an updated Garmin Tread 2 system on selected Platinum models.
Why Kawasaki Partnered With Garmin
The RIDGE was developed to combine the cargo and towing capability expected from a utility UTV with a more automotive-inspired cabin. An integrated navigation and infotainment system fit that approach better than an exposed accessory GPS mounted to the roll cage or dashboard.
Garmin adapted technology from its Tread family of off-road navigators for the RIDGE. The resulting display was designed to withstand vibration, dust, temperature changes and the other conditions encountered in an off-road vehicle.
Kawasaki RIDGE Garmin Tread Features
The original eight-inch display introduced on the RIDGE Limited included a glove-friendly touchscreen and navigation tools intended for both roads and unpaved trails.
Key features include:
- Turn-by-turn road and trail navigation
- Preloaded topographic maps
- OpenStreetMap road and trail data
- U.S. Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Maps
- Public and private land information
- Satellite imagery
- Group Ride Radio communication
- Audio-system controls
- Bluetooth connectivity
The original RIDGE integration could also present selected vehicle information, including engine speed, engine temperature, battery voltage and CVT temperature. This gave the Garmin display a broader role than a standalone trail GPS.
Off-Road Maps and Trail Navigation
Garmin’s combination of topographic mapping, OpenStreetMap data and U.S. Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Maps makes the display useful for exploring public trails and unpaved roads. Public and private land information can also help riders understand surrounding property boundaries.
Map information should still be treated as a supplemental navigation tool. Trail designations, gates, seasonal closures and land-use rules can change, so riders should follow posted signs and confirm current access requirements with the appropriate land manager.
Group Ride Radio
Group Ride Radio allows compatible Garmin-equipped vehicles to exchange location information, voice communication and group messages without relying on cellular service. That can be valuable when several vehicles are traveling through remote terrain where phone coverage is unreliable or unavailable.
The radio does not provide unlimited range. Terrain, trees, hills and other obstructions can affect communication and position-sharing performance. However, integrating the system into the RIDGE gives organized groups a cleaner solution than adding separate navigation and radio displays.
How the Garmin Display Fits Into the RIDGE Dashboard
The Garmin touchscreen is positioned in the center of the dashboard, while primary driving information is shown on a separate color TFT instrument display in front of the driver. This arrangement keeps speed, warning indicators and other essential vehicle information directly within the driver’s line of sight.
The center display is better suited to maps, communication features and audio controls. Its integrated installation also looks considerably cleaner than an accessory GPS attached to a suction cup, roll-bar clamp or external bracket.
Garmin Tread 2 on Newer Kawasaki RIDGE Models
Kawasaki continued developing the system after its 2024 introduction. Selected 2027 Platinum RIDGE models use an eight-inch Garmin Tread 2 display with off-road navigation, Group Ride Radio, AM/FM audio controls and wireless Apple CarPlay for compatible iPhones.
The 2027 Kawasaki RIDGE lineup includes the Garmin Tread 2 on premium models such as the RIDGE Platinum Ranch HVAC and the RIDGE CREW Platinum Sport HVAC. Equipment can vary by trim and model year, so buyers should verify the exact display, camera and audio package installed on a particular vehicle.
Wireless Apple CarPlay makes the newer system more useful during everyday driving by providing access to compatible phone applications, music and communication functions without requiring a wired phone connection.
Camera Integration
Premium RIDGE models can also include factory front and rear cameras. On newer versions, selecting Reverse automatically brings up the rear-camera view on the vehicle’s instrument display. The cameras can also be selected manually when the driver wants to inspect an obstacle or the terrain immediately around the machine.
The camera display and Garmin navigation screen serve different purposes. Navigation and entertainment remain centered on the Garmin unit, while the vehicle’s separate TFT display handles primary instrumentation and camera views.
Which Kawasaki RIDGE Models Include Garmin Navigation?
The original factory system debuted on the 2024 RIDGE Limited. Kawasaki subsequently offered Garmin navigation on additional high-end RIDGE and RIDGE CREW models, including Limited and Platinum Ranch HVAC editions.
It is not standard across the entire RIDGE range. Open-cab models and many lower-priced HVAC trims use the standard instrument display without the separate Garmin center screen. Buyers comparing models should treat the Garmin system, cameras, audio package and Group Ride Radio as trim-specific equipment.
Our 2026 Kawasaki RIDGE and RIDGE CREW overview explains the differences between the standard, HVAC, ST and Platinum Ranch models.
Is the Factory Garmin System Worth Having?
The system is most valuable for owners who regularly explore unfamiliar trail systems, travel with groups or want a clean factory-installed audio and navigation interface. The integrated installation requires less wiring and occupies less cabin space than combining separate aftermarket GPS, audio and communication components.
Owners who primarily use a RIDGE around a farm, ranch or small property may not need every feature. For recreational riders and customers buying one of the premium HVAC models, however, Garmin navigation and Group Ride Radio complement the RIDGE’s all-weather cab and long-distance capability.
UTVGuide.net Takeaway
The Garmin collaboration helped distinguish the original Kawasaki RIDGE Limited from more conventional utility UTVs. Its eight-inch display added legitimate off-road mapping and group communication capability while supporting the RIDGE’s automotive-inspired interior.
Kawasaki’s move to the Garmin Tread 2 on selected newer models shows that the system has become more than a one-year launch feature. Navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, Group Ride Radio and integrated audio controls now form an important part of the equipment package on the most premium RIDGE models.
Read our Kawasaki RIDGE ride review for driving impressions of the original model, or explore the Kawasaki UTV category for current RIDGE, MULE, Teryx, KRX and Teryx H2 coverage.
