Brand Comparison
Evinrude vs Tohatsu Outboards
A straight, factual side-by-side — both are excellent builders that simply shine in different places. Here is how they line up and who each one suits.
| Evinrude Outboard Motors | Tohatsu Corporation | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1907 | 1956 (marine); company founded 1922 |
| Headquarters | Sturtevant, Wisconsin (former) | Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan |
| Ownership | BRP Inc. — brand discontinued May 2020 | Tohatsu Corporation (privately held) |
| Stock / Ticker | TSX/Nasdaq: DOO — parent BRP Inc. (Evinrude discontinued 2020) | Privately held |
| Annual Revenue | ≈ $9.0 billion (TTM, BRP Inc. — whole company) | Not publicly disclosed (privately held company) |
| Employees | ≈ 17,000 worldwide (BRP Inc., entire company) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Manufacturing | Former Evinrude outboard production has ended | Japan plus China and Thailand |
| HP Range | (historic) up to 300 hp — brand discontinued | 2.5 – 250 hp |
| Fuel / Power | Direct-injection 2-stroke (E-TEC), historic | 4-stroke gasoline (historic TLDI direct-injection 2-strokes in some markets) |
| Product Lines | 3 families | 4 families |
| Signature Tech |
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| Famous For | Inventing the practical outboard motor — and, in its final chapter, the E-TEC direct-injection two-stroke that ran for years with no scheduled dealer maintenance. Discontinued by BRP in 2020. | Being the quiet giant of the outboard world — the second-largest producer overall and the OEM factory behind a large share of small Mercury (and formerly Nissan) outboards. |
| Best For | Owners of existing E-TEC/G2 motors and buyers researching used Evinrude outboards and brand history. | Buyers who want a light, dependable, easy-to-service portable or mid-range outboard from a proven OEM builder. |
Revenue and workforce figures are point-in-time snapshots from company filings for the year shown (in several cases the parent company, not just the marine division). Stock price, market value, and ROI change daily — use the ticker for live pricing.
Where Each Brand Dominates
Evinrude on the water
Historic / Collector Interest
One of the most collectible and historically important outboard names in the world.
Used-Motor Market
A large installed base of E-TEC and G2 motors keeps Evinrude relevant in the used market.
Low-Maintenance 2-Stroke Fans
E-TEC owners value the torque and minimal scheduled maintenance of the direct-injection design.
Tohatsu on the water
Portable & Kicker Motors
Light, simple portables are a core strength — a common choice for dinghies, tenders and trolling/kicker duty.
Commercial & Rental Fleets
Simple, easy-to-service designs suit high-use rental and commercial small-boat fleets.
OEM Supply
Builds many of the small motors sold under the Mercury badge worldwide.
Which one fits you?
Choose Evinrude if…
- ✓Historic significance — the first commercially successful outboard
- ✓E-TEC direct-injection 2-strokes prized for torque and low scheduled maintenance
- ✓BRP still supports parts and warranty for existing owners
Choose Tohatsu if…
- ✓World's second-largest outboard manufacturer
- ✓OEM builder for many small Mercury outboards — proven, widely-serviced designs
- ✓Light, simple, reliable portables that are easy to work on
Browse & Official Links
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The Honest Take
Both Evinrude Outboard Motors and Tohatsu Corporation are top-tier outboard builders — you can buy either with confidence. Evinrude leans toward owners of existing e-tec/g2 motors and buyers researching used evinrude outboards and brand history, while Tohatsu leans toward buyers who want a light, dependable, easy-to-service portable or mid-range outboard from a proven oem builder. For most buyers the deciding factors are which dealer and service network is strongest in your area, and which brand your local mechanics know best. Whichever you choose, you can browse listings for both on OutboardListings.com.
FAQ
Is Evinrude or Tohatsu the better outboard?
Neither is universally "better" — they lead in different areas. Evinrude is best for owners of existing e-tec/g2 motors and buyers researching used evinrude outboards and brand history. Tohatsu is best for buyers who want a light, dependable, easy-to-service portable or mid-range outboard from a proven oem builder. The right choice depends on how you boat and what dealer support is near you.
What is the HP range of Evinrude vs Tohatsu?
Evinrude Outboard Motors offers (historic) up to 300 hp — brand discontinued, while Tohatsu Corporation offers 2.5 – 250 hp.
Who owns Evinrude and Tohatsu?
Evinrude Outboard Motors: BRP Inc. — brand discontinued May 2020. Tohatsu Corporation: Tohatsu Corporation (privately held).