Honda introduced this ATV nameplate in 2000 for the North American market, when the TRX500FA FourTrax Rubicon arrived as a new work-and-recreation machine built around Honda’s Hondamatic/HFT automatic transmission concept. The model was named after the Rubicon River, and Honda has treated it as a distinct chapter in its ATV lineup rather than a one-off trim. From the start, it was aimed at riders who wanted a more comfortable, user-friendly alternative to traditional manual-shift utility ATVs, while still keeping the rugged FourTrax character associated with Honda’s rec/utility family.
Over time, the nameplate evolved as Honda refreshed the machine with larger-displacement versions, updated chassis and suspension hardware, and later electric power steering and fully automatic dual-clutch transmission variants. The underlying idea remained the same: a capable, trail-friendly utility ATV positioned for ranch work, hunting, general property use, and serious recreational riding. That long-running identity helped the Rubicon become one of Honda’s best-known ATV names in North America.
The nameplate is still in production today, so there is no final model year to assign. Because Honda has continued the same marketed line without a documented discontinuation gap, this is treated as a single continuous production run rather than multiple separate periods.