RE: First ATV choice?
Without a doubt, the Kodiak. It will do anything necessary 99% of the time and the 1% remaining? There's no saying a larger machine can accomplish that. (Excluding truck pull events of course)
The biggest drawback to the 500cc + machines is their sheer size. The large machines are a pain in the woods where the trails or access gets tight and you wind up having to back up a couple times to make corners.
Before you actually buy the Kodiak, get info on the +$69 getting either a Warn winch or snowplow. I bought a Bruin (camo) and got the plow. I plowed practically enough snow to pay for the thing outright.
Good luck.