2019 Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S: Specs, Features and History

When Polaris introduced the 2019 Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S, it extended the wide, long-travel Turbo S platform into a four-seat sport UTV. The new model combined a 72-inch stance, 32-inch factory tires, DYNAMIX Active Suspension and a 168-horsepower turbocharged engine with the stability and passenger capacity of a longer chassis.

Announced on September 13, 2018, the XP 4 Turbo S became one of the most ambitious four-seat RZRs Polaris had produced. It was designed for open desert, dunes and other terrain where its width, suspension and long wheelbase could be used to their full potential.

The 2019 Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S brought the 72-inch Turbo S platform to a four-seat chassis.

Why the RZR XP 4 Turbo S Was Important

Polaris had introduced the original two-seat RZR XP Turbo S earlier in 2018. That machine represented a major change in factory sport UTV design by combining a 72-inch width, 32-inch tires and electronically controlled suspension in a complete production vehicle.

The XP 4 Turbo S carried the same idea into the four-seat category. Before machines like the Turbo S, owners frequently relied on aftermarket long-travel suspension, larger tires and chassis reinforcements to build a RZR for aggressive desert or dune use. Polaris integrated those features at the factory and engineered the chassis, suspension and drivetrain around them.

That made the XP 4 Turbo S more than a stretched version of a conventional RZR XP Turbo. Its reinforced chassis, stronger drivetrain components, wide suspension and active damping system were developed to work together as a complete package.

168-Horsepower ProStar Turbo Engine

The 2019 RZR XP 4 Turbo S was powered by Polaris’ 925cc ProStar Turbo H.O. twin-cylinder engine. It produced a claimed 168 horsepower and sent power through an automatic Polaris variable transmission with high and low ranges.

Polaris recalibrated the throttle response to give the driver more immediate control and revised the clutch housing to improve airflow and help manage belt temperatures. Power was delivered through Polaris’ On-Demand True AWD system, allowing the front drivetrain to engage when additional traction was required.

Although the four-seat chassis added size and weight compared with the two-seater, the turbocharged engine still provided enough power for fast desert driving and large dunes. We later tested that performance at Glamis in our 2019 RZR XP 4 Turbo S dune review.

The 168-horsepower XP 4 Turbo S was designed primarily for open desert, dunes and other high-speed terrain.

72-Inch Width and Long-Travel Suspension

The defining measurement of the RZR XP 4 Turbo S was its 72-inch overall width. The broad stance increased stability and created room for substantially more suspension travel than a 64-inch RZR XP Turbo.

Up front, high-clearance dual A-arms provided 19 inches of wheel travel. The rear trailing-arm suspension delivered 21 inches of wheel travel. Polaris also advertised 25 inches of usable travel, a measurement that combined suspension movement with the vehicle’s ground clearance before the skid plate contacted the terrain.

This distinction is important because the original launch material sometimes shortened the specification to “25 inches of travel.” The actual suspension specifications were 19 inches at the front and 21 inches at the rear.

The machine used FOX Internal Bypass Live Valve shocks controlled by the Polaris DYNAMIX Active Suspension system. Front FOX 2.5 shocks and rear FOX 3.0 shocks could change damping electronically while the vehicle was moving.

FOX Internal Bypass Live Valve shocks allowed the DYNAMIX system to adjust damping electronically.

How DYNAMIX Active Suspension Worked

DYNAMIX used vehicle data—including steering, throttle and braking inputs—to adjust shock damping in real time. The driver could select one of three suspension modes:

• COMFORT: Softer damping for slower speeds and rough, choppy terrain.
• SPORT: A balanced setting for general aggressive driving.
• FIRM: Increased damping support for high-speed terrain, hard cornering and larger impacts.

The system also reacted to driving conditions. It could firm the outside shocks during cornering, increase front-shock support under braking and add resistance when the vehicle became airborne. Read our separate RZR DYNAMIX review for a closer look at how the technology performed in real terrain.

DYNAMIX could increase front damping support when the driver applied the brakes.

32-Inch ITP Coyote Tires and 16 Inches of Clearance

The XP 4 Turbo S came equipped with 32-inch ITP Coyote tires mounted on 15-inch aluminum wheels. The eight-ply tires were a significant part of the Turbo S platform rather than an oversized tire added to an existing chassis.

Polaris reinforced the chassis and upgraded the axles, control arms, trailing arms, radius rods and front drive to manage the increased forces created by the larger tires. The company claimed the isolated front drive provided three times the impact strength of its previous design.

The 32-inch tires also helped the RZR achieve 16 inches of ground clearance. That clearance was useful in rough desert terrain, although the four-seat machine’s long wheelbase still made underbody protection important when crossing sharp breakovers or rock ledges.

Eight-ply 32-inch ITP Coyote tires were standard equipment on the XP 4 Turbo S.

Reinforced Chassis and Drivetrain

The forces generated by 32-inch tires, a wide stance and aggressive suspension required more than new bodywork. Polaris reinforced the XP 4 Turbo S chassis and fitted stronger axles, high-clearance suspension arms, trailing arms and radius rods.

The low-profile ROPS, aluminum roof and lower doors were also standard. Together, these features gave the Turbo S a more complete factory configuration than many sport UTVs of the period, although owners preparing the vehicle for rocks or harsh desert use could still benefit from additional skid-plate and rocker protection.

Polaris strengthened the chassis, suspension and drivetrain to support the Turbo S platform’s 32-inch tires.

Four-Seat Cockpit and RIDE COMMAND

Inside, the XP 4 Turbo S provided seating for four occupants with four-point harnesses. The driver received a flat-bottom SPARCO steering wheel, increased power-steering assist and a more upright seating position than some competing sport UTVs.

A seven-inch RIDE COMMAND display was mounted in the center of the dash. The glove-compatible touchscreen provided vehicle information, GPS mapping and group-ride functions.

Premium painted body panels, LED headlights, LED accent lighting, lower doors and an aluminum roof completed the original DYNAMIX trim package. The model was offered in Indy Red and Polaris Blue.

The XP 4 Turbo S included four-point harnesses, a SPARCO steering wheel and a seven-inch RIDE COMMAND display.

2019 Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S Specifications

How the XP 4 Turbo S Performed

Specifications told only part of the story. After taking delivery of an Indy Red XP 4 Turbo S at Camp RZR, UTVGuide tested it extensively in dunes and desert terrain.

Our initial Glamis dune test showed that the four-seat chassis was exceptionally stable without feeling as cumbersome as its dimensions suggested. We then returned with four adults aboard for a separate fully loaded XP 4 Turbo S dune review.

We also compared the Polaris directly with the Can-Am Maverick X3 X RS Max in our Battle of the Four-Seaters. The RZR’s shorter overall length, upright seating position, 32-inch tires and DYNAMIX suspension contrasted with the Maverick’s roomier cockpit and lower seating position.

Testing eventually led to a complete Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S build focused on desert performance and adventure use.

Where the XP 4 Turbo S Fits in RZR History

The 2019 XP 4 Turbo S marked an important step in the history of the Polaris RZR. It demonstrated that a manufacturer could offer a four-seat sport UTV with the stance, tire size, suspension and reinforced components previously associated with heavily modified desert builds.

The Turbo S platform also helped establish the market for wide-open-terrain RZRs. Polaris later expanded that concept with newer Pro-platform machines, including the Turbo R and naturally aspirated Pro R.

Those later models surpassed the Turbo S in power, chassis design and suspension technology, but the XP 4 Turbo S remains historically significant. It was the four-seat RZR that brought together a 72-inch stance, 32-inch tires, active suspension and 168 turbocharged horsepower in a factory-engineered package.

2019 RZR XP 4 Turbo S Takeaways

• The XP 4 Turbo S brought Polaris’ 72-inch Turbo S platform to a four-seat chassis.
• Its 925cc turbocharged engine produced a claimed 168 horsepower.
• Actual wheel travel measured 19 inches front and 21 inches rear; Polaris advertised 25 inches of usable travel.
• DYNAMIX electronically adjusted the FOX Live Valve shocks while driving.
• Standard 32-inch tires helped produce 16 inches of ground clearance.
• The original U.S. MSRP was $30,499.
• Its stability and suspension made it particularly well suited to dunes and open desert terrain.

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