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Polaris is very proud of the new flagship of their RZR lineup. Headquartered in Medina, Minnesota,

the powersports company produces a wide array of vehicles, including Indian motorcycles, Slingshot three-wheeled street vehicles, Ranger and General side-by-sides, Sportsman ATVs, snowmobiles, Timbersleds, GEM electric cars, and more. RZR is Polaris’ lineup of sport side-by-sides, with 20 models and special editions ranging in price from the $10,299 RZR 570 to the top-of-the-line model I’ll be testing, the $27,499 RZR XP Turbo S. RZR models vary in terms of width, length, seating (two and four-passenger) capacity, suspensions, engine size, and other features.

XP Turbo S is a two-seater side-by-side. At 72 inches, it is the widest RZR in the fleet. By comparison, a Chevrolet Equinox crossover SUV is 72.60 inches wide (excluding mirrors). The XP Turbo S has a wheelbase of 90 inches, an overall length of 122 inches, and a height of 75 inches. It has 16 inches of ground clearance – twice that of the Equinox – and usable suspension travel of 25 inches, front and rear. Its 168-hp turbocharged four-

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stroke two-cylinder engine displaces 925 cc. A passive variable transmission (PVT) sends power to the rear wheels (in rear-wheel drive mode) or all four wheels (in all-wheel drive mode). Fifteen-inch aluminum wheels are wrapped with 32-inch tires, the biggest Polaris has ever fixed to a factory RZR.

With a wallop of power and grand scale, the XP Turbo S has received beefed-up chassis, roll cage and body parts. Polaris worked over every inch of the vehicle to assure durability and toughness, and the results are visible upon inspection, as well as audible on the trail. The XP Turbo S exhibits no flexing, clunking, or rattling on the roughest of trails. It’s solid as a rock.

The seats are comfortable, firm foam buckets, with an upright seating position. The cabin is open – no windshield or windows, shoulder-height doors with reinforcing beams and an aluminum roof canopy overhead connected to the steel roll cage. The center stack has a 7-inch touchscreen that displays Polaris’ Ride Command System. We can scroll through the screens wearing our gloves, gaining access to a standard rear camera, audio controls, vehicle information, and more. GPS navigation is available as an option. The rear camera is a necessity for group riding, so that we can make sure that the vehicle following us has arrived at intersections before we make a turn. Strapped into a four-point harness with a helmet, it’s difficult to see behind you – no rear-view mirrors are included with the XP Turbo S.

All powersports have a measure of risk, and sport side-by-sides are no different. Even though they’re pure fun, an accident is a handy reminder that safety must be a primary concern on every

ride. Gear up properly, ride within your limits, and respect the vehicle and conditions. End of lecture.

As a flagship vehicle, the XP Turbo S is a lot of vehicle. It is complex, expensive, and ridiculously fast and capable. It is not a toy for young or immature drivers and might not be ideal as a first side-by-side. Polaris’ lineup has several vehicles that would be better starter side-by-sides, as do its competitors.

If you’re ready for the top-of-the-line, Polaris XP Turbo S is the clear leader right now, and Triple S Polaris in Cedar City, Utah has everything you need from new machines, to parts and accessories, or even down to a simple service or complex transmission build. Give them a call at (435) 865-0100 or visit them at 151 South Main Street, Cedar City, UT 84720. www.ssspolaris.com

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