2022 Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310 updates model by model

While some of the changes play catch-up to rivals Sea-Doo and Yamaha, other changes made to the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310 series leap ahead of them.

While some of the changes are welcome – a reversing mode will be handy for making quick stops on the water as well as docking the jet ski in tight spots – other features such as daytime running lights and a reversing camera are yet to show their worth for the Australian market.

Here are the model-by-model changes for the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310 range expected to arrive in Australia early next year.

Pretty much everything up from the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310X’s bond point – the part of the jet ski where the hull is joined to the top deck – is new.

The biggest change is to the array of storage offered on the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310X. The nose has 124 litres of space, while the aft section contains a small 2.8-litre storage locker.

Around the rider, two gullwing-style hatches on either side open to reveal another 40 litres of space, while the rider has access to a watertight 1.7-litre space high on the console.

Riders sit on a slimmer seat with larger footwell space to either side to help with onboard comfort.

In front of the driver is a new 7.0-inch colour multifunction screen that includes Bluetooth connectivity and numerous display modes showing everything from a compass bearing to a trip meter, fuel levels, water temperature, revs, supercharger boost pressure, trim levels and more.

One of the big innovations is the inclusion of several power modes for the first time.

The four modes include full, middle, low and SLO, short for Smart Learning Operation.

When using the standard full power mode key, riders will be able to easily switch back and forth between different power modes using a “mode” button on the left handlebar, ideal for adjusting levels of power based on riding conditions, skill, or preference.

While full mode allows the rider to tap all of the supercharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine’s performance, the middle mode reduces performance to 80 per cent, and the low power mode reduces the engine’s output by 60 per cent.

SLO mode is activated using a second key fob. By default, the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310X will start in the middle mode, with riders needing to proactively select full mode to extract the highest performance level.

Kawasaki has also added a launch control for the ski. It automatically adjusts the trim of the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310X’s jet nozzle to provide consistently good hole shot performance with no need for the rider to manually set the trim.

Kawasaki Launch Control Mode (KLCM) can be set so that it works for single or multiple launches.

Cleats that help with tying up the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310X to a dock are also included for the first time; no more lashing lines to the handlebar and rear seat handholds to stop the ski from drifting off.

As well as all the gear fitted to the entry-level 310X, the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310LX gains a couple of features that we’re yet to gauge if they’re suited to the Australian market.

The first of these is a rear-view camera that’s fitted below the rear set.

According to Kawasaki, the rear-view camera is there to help the rider while towing, or while docking.

Under Australian state and territory marine laws, a jet ski towing someone behind it needs the skipper up front, and a rear-facing observer sitting behind them to keep an eye on the person being towed. A rear-facing camera pushing vision to the person controlling the jet ski would not be legal.

Likewise, jet skis are not fitted with lights in most parts of Australia because it is illegal to ride them at night.

While equipping jet skis with daytime running lights, what’s not clear is if using the lights during daylight hours is legal. For places such as Queensland where a jet ski can take to the water at night if it is fitted with port, starboard and all-around white navigation lights, the visual confusion of the extra accent lights may land the rider in trouble.

One of the better changes, though, is the inclusion of an all-new Ultra deck on the back of the ski, which includes a pair of recessed multi-mount rails.

A new range of accessories can slide into these rails, as can tie-down points if you want to carry anything that can be lashed down.

Accessories that will be compatible with the new aft deck will include a stern bag, a soft cooler, a dry duffle bag, an easy-access storage bag, a dry bag, a Vacu-Hold Jet Ski
Cover that fi=ollows the profile of the ski, and a rear rack.

The new range-topper of the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310 range adds an adjustable seat that can shift through three different heights depending on the riders’ needs.

The Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310LX-S also gains a visor over the top of the dash to shade it from direct sunlight.

The change that throws down a challenge to other jet ski makers is Kawasaki’s 200-watt Jetsound 4s audio system. This is a premium audio system that places four speakers – double the number of rivals – around the rider.

It features a jog-dial track selection function, an amplifier, and Bluetooth connectivity allowing the rider to stream audio from their smartphone. There’s also a separate volume control dial that the rider can easily access on the move.

Kawasaki already has kudos for having the most powerful jet ski on the market, so there is no incentive for it to play around with the engine powering the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310 range.

That means it carries over its supercharged 1498cc in-line four-cylinder engine for this generation.

Also unchanged is everything below the bond line where the significantly updated deck joins the unchanged fibreglass hull, which keeps its aggressively shaped 22.5-degree deep-vee form and its reputation for durability intact.