2019 Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S Glamis Dune Review

By Jon Crowley

The 2019 Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S combined a 72-inch stance, 25 inches of suspension travel, 32-inch tires and DYNAMIX Active Suspension with the stability of a long four-seat chassis. After picking up a new XP 4 Turbo S at Camp RZR, I installed sand tires and spent two days testing it in the large dunes at Glamis.

Most of this initial test was completed solo or with one passenger. That allowed me to evaluate the RZR’s acceleration, cornering, suspension and high-speed stability without the additional weight of four adults. After approximately 75 miles, the biggest takeaway was clear: the long-wheelbase XP 4 Turbo S was exceptionally stable without feeling like an oversized four-seater in the dunes.

Why I Chose the Four-Seat RZR XP Turbo S

Polaris introduced the RZR XP 4 Turbo S shortly before the 2018 Sand Sports Super Show. Along with several completed custom builds, Polaris displayed a stripped chassis that allowed attendees to see the structural, suspension and drivetrain changes underneath the bodywork.

A stripped 2019 Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S displayed the strengthened chassis and long-travel suspension.

I am not usually interested in carrying four people during fast dune or desert rides, but I immediately saw another possibility for the four-seat platform. It reminded me of the Polaris RZR XP 900 H.O. Jagged X Edition, which used the longer four-seat chassis while replacing the rear seats with removable storage boxes.

The 2013 Polaris RZR XP 900 H.O. Jagged X Edition used a long chassis with storage boxes behind the front seats.

That layout worked well for long desert trips. The extended wheelbase helped smooth out rough terrain, while the area behind the driver and passenger provided room for tools, spare parts, camping equipment and additional fuel.

My initial plan was to use the XP 4 Turbo S in a similar way: remove the rear seats and turn Polaris’ widest, longest-travel four-seat RZR into a two-person desert adventure build. Polaris approved the project, and I received the keys to a new Indy Red XP 4 Turbo S during Camp RZR 2018.

Our new 2019 Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S before its first Glamis dune test.

Preparing the RZR XP 4 Turbo S for Glamis

The XP 4 Turbo S came from the factory with 32-inch ITP Coyote tires. These eight-ply tires were well suited to desert terrain, but a dedicated sand-tire package offered less rotating mass, more flotation and better dune traction.

A Pro Eagle jack provided the lift while we installed the dune-tire package.

Before the first ride, I replaced the Coyotes with 32-inch Sand Sports SxS tires from Fullerton Sand Sports mounted on DWT wheels. The change reduced rotating weight while improving traction and flotation in the soft Glamis sand.

The 2019 Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S at Glamis.

Fullerton Sand Sports tires mounted on DWT wheels prepared the XP 4 Turbo S for Glamis.

I also installed Sick Stick lighted whips and a Polaris rearview mirror. One rear seat was removed and replaced with a storage box from my 2013 Jagged X Edition RZR. The box locked into the factory seat base and provided useful dust-resistant storage without requiring a permanent modification.

With those relatively simple changes, the XP 4 Turbo S was ready for its first dune ride.

Long-Wheelbase Stability in the Dunes

Our first ride crossed the Glamis dunes on the way to Osborne Overlook. I completed most of the weekend’s testing alone, although I occasionally carried one passenger. That was intentional: I tend to drive more cautiously with passengers, and their additional weight can affect both acceleration and suspension response.

The first thing I noticed was how much stability the longer four-seat wheelbase provided compared with a two-seat RZR. The chassis felt forgiving during fast transitions and allowed me to carry more speed through rough, uneven dune faces.

The XP 4 Turbo S combined long-wheelbase stability with predictable dune handling.

The 72-inch stance was equally noticeable. Compared with a 64-inch RZR XP Turbo, the Turbo S placed the tires farther apart and provided more suspension travel. The combination of width, wheelbase and travel gave the driver more confidence when cornering, crossing chopped-up terrain and approaching abrupt dune transitions.

A long four-seat UTV will never rotate exactly like a short two-seater, but the XP 4 Turbo S did not feel cumbersome. With one or two people aboard and the sand tires installed, it remained responsive and surprisingly nimble.

The 72-inch width provided additional stability during fast dune transitions.

Was 168 Horsepower Enough for Glamis?

The XP 4 Turbo S used Polaris’ 168-horsepower ProStar Turbo 925 engine. Although the four-seat model carried more chassis and bodywork than the two-seater, its power felt satisfactory throughout the Glamis test.

With only one or two occupants and the lighter sand-tire package, I did not feel a significant seat-of-the-pants performance penalty compared with a two-seat RZR XP Turbo S. The engine had enough power to climb the large dunes and maintain momentum through bowls and transitions.

The long chassis also made that power easier to use. Instead of constantly correcting a short, nervous platform, I could concentrate on maintaining a smooth line and carrying speed through the dunes.

This was not the quickest purpose-built sand vehicle I had driven, but it delivered a strong combination of usable power, stability and suspension performance. For an OEM four-wheel-drive UTV that could also be used in the desert and rocks, the overall package was impressive.

DYNAMIX Active Suspension in Glamis

The RZR DYNAMIX Active Suspension system was one of the XP 4 Turbo S’s defining features. Its electronically controlled FOX 3.0 Internal Bypass Live Valve shocks could adjust damping in real time using information from the vehicle’s steering, braking and other inputs.

The driver could also select COMFORT, SPORT or FIRM from a dashboard-mounted switch:

• COMFORT: The softest mode for casual driving and absorbing small chop.
• SPORT: A balanced setting for faster driving, cornering and general dune use.
• FIRM: Maximum compression damping for hard impacts, jumps and the most demanding terrain.

COMFORT worked well while cruising through chopped-up dunes. SPORT was my preferred setting for most fast rides because it added support without making the RZR unnecessarily harsh. When my friend Brent took over and jumped the vehicle, we selected FIRM.

DYNAMIX also responded automatically. It could increase damping to control body roll and braking dive, and it moved the shocks toward their firmest setting when the system sensed that the vehicle was airborne.

The ability to change the suspension without stopping was more than a novelty. Glamis can transition quickly from relatively smooth bowls to steep faces, chatter bumps and abrupt g-outs. Being able to select a more appropriate setting from the driver’s seat made the RZR more adaptable during a single ride.

Jumping and Landing the XP 4 Turbo S

Brent enjoys jumping UTVs more than I do, so I handed him the keys for a few launches. Despite its longer four-seat chassis, the XP 4 Turbo S flew predictably and remained composed during landing.

The 25 inches of suspension travel absorbed the landings without drama.

The 25 inches of front and rear suspension travel provided substantial impact capacity, while the FIRM DYNAMIX mode helped prevent the shocks from blowing through their travel. The long wheelbase also contributed to a stable, predictable attitude in the air.

Polaris described the XP 4 Turbo S as a completely re-engineered platform built around its 32-inch tires and 72-inch stance. After driving it hard in Glamis, that description felt justified. The width and tires were not simply added to the previous 64-inch chassis; the complete vehicle felt engineered to work as one package.

The wide chassis and active suspension allowed the RZR to maintain speed through rough dunes.

How the Turbo S Changed the RZR Platform

The Turbo S represented an important point in the history of the Polaris RZR. Earlier RZRs were commonly widened and upgraded with aftermarket long-travel suspension for desert and dune use. The Turbo S brought a 72-inch stance, 32-inch tires, 25 inches of travel and active damping together in a complete factory-engineered vehicle.

The four-seat model expanded that formula with a longer wheelbase and room for additional passengers or cargo. For my intended use, the rear-seat area also created an opportunity to build a long-range two-person RZR without giving up the ability to reinstall the seats later.

2019 RZR XP 4 Turbo S Glamis Review Verdict

After approximately 75 miles over two days, the RZR XP 4 Turbo S had put a grin on my face for nearly the entire test. Its strongest attribute was the way its major components worked together.

The 168-horsepower engine provided adequate dune performance with one or two occupants. The sand tires improved traction and flotation. The 72-inch stance and long wheelbase created a stable platform, and the DYNAMIX suspension allowed me to adapt the shocks to changing terrain and driving speeds.

In my opinion at the time, the Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S was one of the best overall factory dune UTVs available. It remained nimble enough to enjoy with only a driver aboard, yet its width, suspension travel and long chassis made it exceptionally confident through rough terrain.

Its size would be excessive for many narrow trails, but that was not what this model was designed to conquer. In open dunes and desert terrain, the 72-inch platform made sense.

The next test addressed the question this initial Glamis review could not answer: What would happen when every seat was occupied? At Sand Mountain, we loaded four adults into the RZR to evaluate acceleration, hill-climbing, suspension support and stability. Read the separate RZR XP 4 Turbo S four-passenger dune test for those results.

After 75 miles at Glamis, the XP 4 Turbo S proved fast, stable and remarkably composed.

What We Liked

• The long wheelbase provided excellent stability in rough dunes.
• The 72-inch stance inspired confidence during fast cornering and transitions.
• Twenty-five inches of suspension travel provided substantial impact capacity.
• DYNAMIX allowed suspension modes to be changed without stopping.
• The 168-horsepower engine delivered satisfactory dune performance.
• The vehicle remained nimble with one or two occupants.
• Lower doors, a roof and four-point harnesses were standard.
• The chassis was engineered and validated around 32-inch tires.
• High-clearance radius rods improved rear-suspension clearance.
• RIDE COMMAND provided navigation and vehicle information in the cockpit.

What We Did Not Like

• A rearview mirror was not included.
• The factory seats moved more than I would have preferred.
• Low range was too tall for technical rock crawling.
• The rear D-pillar looked like an add-on and did not appear well integrated.
• Additional driver legroom would have improved comfort.

We continued modifying and testing this vehicle after its initial dune trips. See the complete Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S buildup for the parts, upgrades and long-term direction of the project.

We also compared it directly with the Can-Am Maverick X3 X RS Max in our Battle of the Four-Seaters.

2019 Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S Specifications

RZR XP 4 Turbo S Dune Review Takeaways

• The long wheelbase was more stable and forgiving than a short two-seat chassis.
• The 72-inch stance allowed the RZR to corner confidently in open dunes.
• With one or two occupants, the four-seater still felt responsive and nimble.
• The 168-horsepower engine provided sufficient power for the large Glamis dunes.
• DYNAMIX made it easy to match suspension damping to cruising, fast riding or jumps.
• The four-seat platform could also serve as a two-person adventure vehicle with additional cargo capacity.