Arctic Cat Prowler HDX 700 History, Specs and Model Years

The Arctic Cat Prowler HDX 700 was introduced for the 2011 model year as the company’s heavy-duty, three-passenger utility side-by-side. Its long-wheelbase chassis, transformable 1,000-pound cargo box, power steering and adjustable FOX rear shocks distinguished it from the more recreation-oriented Prowlers of the period.

Arctic Cat Prowler HDX 700 Overview

Arctic Cat developed the Prowler HDX 700 for owners who needed more cargo capacity and interior room than the company’s shorter-wheelbase recreational utility models offered. The HDX used an 85-inch wheelbase and a 40/20/40 bench seat with room for three occupants.

The defining feature was its 41-inch-long by 55-inch-wide tilting cargo box. The bed was wide enough to carry a standard pallet, and its removable sides allowed it to be converted into a flatbed. Arctic Cat rated the cargo box for 1,000 pounds.

That combination positioned the HDX against other heavy-duty utility machines while retaining features intended to make it comfortable on recreational rides. It became an important model in the evolution of the Arctic Cat Prowler 700 family.

Introduced for 2011

The Prowler HDX 700 arrived as an all-new model for 2011. Although it shared Arctic Cat’s familiar 695cc H1 engine with other Prowlers, the HDX received a chassis designed specifically around three-person seating and heavy hauling.

Its 85-inch wheelbase was 10 inches longer than the contemporary Prowler 700 XTX wheelbase. Fully independent double-A-arm suspension provided 10 inches of travel at both ends, while electronic power steering and a five-position tilt steering column were standard.

Notable original features included:

• 695cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine
• Electronic fuel injection
• Automatic CVT with high and low ranges, reverse and park
• Select two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive
• Electric front differential lock
• Variable-assist electronic power steering
• Three-passenger 40/20/40 bench seat
• Transformable 1,000-pound-capacity cargo box
• FOX FLOAT Air Assist rear shocks
• Two-inch front and rear receivers
• Side storage compartments ahead of the rear wheels
• 14-inch aluminum wheels

Three-Passenger Cab

The HDX cab was arranged around a sculpted 40/20/40 bench seat for three occupants. A dashboard-mounted shifter selected park, low, high, neutral and reverse, while the tilt steering column helped accommodate drivers of different sizes.

The three-person layout made the Prowler HDX more useful for farms, ranches, job sites and hunting properties where carrying another worker or passenger could be as important as cargo capacity.

Electronic Power Steering

Variable-assist electronic power steering was standard on the original HDX 700. The system provided steering assistance at very low speeds, including when the vehicle was barely moving.

That assistance was particularly valuable with cargo in the bed, a front-mounted accessory installed or the four-wheel-drive system and differential lock engaged. The five-position tilt steering column also made the cab easier to enter and exit.

695cc H1 EFI Engine and Drivetrain

Power came from Arctic Cat’s 695cc H1 four-stroke engine. The liquid-cooled, four-valve single used electronic fuel injection for consistent starting and fueling across changing temperatures and elevations.

An automatic CVT supplied high and low forward ranges along with neutral, reverse and park. The driver could select two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive and engage the front differential lock when additional traction was needed.

The HDX was designed around useful low-speed torque rather than sport-UTV acceleration. Its drivetrain was intended for pulling trailers, carrying cargo and navigating rough working terrain.

Transformable Cargo Box

The rear cargo system was one of the HDX 700’s most distinctive features. Its tilting box measured approximately 41 inches long, 55 inches wide and 10 inches deep. Multiple tie-down locations helped secure equipment, while the removable side panels converted the box into a flat cargo platform or mobile work surface.

Arctic Cat rated the box to carry as much as 1,000 pounds. Additional storage was available in compartments on both sides of the vehicle and beneath the front hood.

FOX Air-Assist Rear Suspension

The Prowler HDX 700 used independent double-A-arm suspension with 10 inches of travel at the front and rear. Its rear FOX FLOAT Air Assist shocks combined conventional coil springs with adjustable air chambers.

Owners could increase air pressure when carrying a heavy load, helping the rear suspension support additional weight and maintain ride height. Under lighter conditions, the coil springs performed most of the suspension work.

This system gave the HDX a useful degree of load adjustment compared with utility UTVs equipped with fixed-rate rear suspension.

Arctic Cat Prowler HDX 700 Model-Year History

2011: Original Prowler HDX 700

The first HDX established the model’s core formula: an 85-inch wheelbase, three-person bench seat, 695cc EFI engine, power steering, adjustable FOX rear shocks and a transformable 1,000-pound cargo box.

2012–2014: Continued Development

Arctic Cat continued the HDX 700 through the following model years without fundamentally changing its engine, chassis or cargo system. Available colors and equipment packages varied, and Arctic Cat offered additional versions such as the Prowler 700 HDX Limited.

2015: Prowler 700 HDX XT

The HDX adopted XT identification while retaining the same basic 695cc engine, long-wheelbase platform and three-passenger configuration. It remained Arctic Cat’s premium work-oriented Prowler.

2016: Major Body and Comfort Update

For 2016, Arctic Cat substantially refreshed the Prowler HDX 700 XT EPS. Automotive-inspired bodywork and a redesigned hood gave the vehicle a more modern appearance while improving storage and service access.

The revised HDX added a larger 3.0-cubic-foot underhood storage compartment, a new dashboard with a larger glovebox, infinitely adjustable tilt steering and additional legroom. Closed-loop electronic fuel injection was intended to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, while sound-reduction changes made it easier for occupants to talk inside the cab.

2017: Final Arctic Cat Model Year

The HDX 700 XT EPS returned for 2017 with its core utility specifications intact. Arctic Cat also expanded the family with an HDX Crew 700 XT for buyers who needed two rows of seating.

This was the final conventional Arctic Cat-branded model year before Textron’s acquisition reshaped the company’s off-road lineup. The original HDX 700 did not return as part of Arctic Cat’s later Prowler offerings.

Original 2011 Arctic Cat Prowler HDX 700 Specifications

These specifications describe the original 2011 Prowler HDX 700. Equipment, bodywork, dimensions and available packages could vary in later model years.

Why the Towing Figures Conflict

Some early promotional material listed a 2,000-pound towing capacity for the Prowler HDX 700. However, the detailed 2011 specification table listed 1,500 pounds, and Arctic Cat continued to publish a 1,500-pound towing rating for subsequent HDX 700 models. For that reason, 1,500 pounds is the appropriate historical specification to use.

More Arctic Cat Prowler HDX 700 Photos

Where the HDX 700 Fits in Arctic Cat History

The Prowler HDX 700 represented Arctic Cat’s move toward a more specialized heavy-duty utility UTV. Its three-person cab, long wheelbase and versatile cargo box separated it from the two-seat Prowler 550 and the company’s more recreation-oriented Prowlers.

Although it has been discontinued, the HDX remains notable for combining substantial hauling capability with independent suspension, power steering and adjustable rear shocks at a time when many utility side-by-sides were comparatively basic.

Browse more discontinued machines in the UTV Guide Historical UTV Archive, or explore additional models and stories in our Arctic Cat UTV coverage.