The 2012 Polaris RANGER CREW Diesel expanded Polaris’ diesel utility UTV lineup with seating for six, a 904cc three-cylinder Yanmar engine and serious work capacity. Based on the company’s full-size RANGER platform, it combined diesel torque with a 2,000-pound towing rating, a 1,000-pound cargo box and On-Demand All-Wheel Drive.
Polaris entered the diesel side-by-side market with the three-passenger 2011 Polaris RANGER Diesel. The following model year brought the same diesel powertrain to the longer, multi-passenger RANGER CREW chassis.
904cc Yanmar Diesel Engine
The 2012 RANGER CREW Diesel shared its liquid-cooled, 904cc three-cylinder Yanmar diesel engine with the standard RANGER Diesel. Polaris mounted the engine on rubber isolators to reduce the amount of vibration transmitted into the passenger compartment.
A fully sealed, fixed-center-distance clutch driveline helped keep water and debris away from the clutches. The engine was designed to deliver strong low-speed torque for towing, hauling and other utility work rather than outright speed.
The electrical system included a 55-amp alternator, providing capacity for demanding accessories such as additional lighting, a cab heater, fans and a snowplow system.
Payload, Cargo and Towing Capacity
The RANGER CREW Diesel was built to handle demanding work around farms, ranches and large properties. Its rated capacities included:
- Payload capacity: 1,750 pounds
- Cargo-box capacity: 1,000 pounds
- Towing capacity: 2,000 pounds
- Hitch receiver: Standard 2-inch receiver
The pallet-size rear dump box incorporated a gas-assist mechanism to make unloading easier. Polaris’ Lock & Ride cargo system also allowed compatible accessories to be installed or removed without a lengthy mounting process.
Suspension and Ground Clearance
The long-wheelbase CREW chassis used four-wheel independent suspension with adjustable dual A-arms. Drivers could configure the suspension for a softer recreational ride or increase spring preload when carrying passengers and cargo.
- Front suspension travel: 9.6 inches
- Rear suspension travel: 9 inches
- Ground clearance: 11.5 inches
Polaris equipped the vehicle with On-Demand True All-Wheel Drive. The system automatically supplied power to the front wheels when additional traction was needed and returned to two-wheel drive when it was no longer required.
VersaTrac Turf Mode unlocked the rear differential, allowing the rear wheels to rotate independently. This helped the long-wheelbase machine make tighter turns while reducing damage to grass and other sensitive surfaces.
Six-Passenger Cab
Two full-width bench seats gave the RANGER CREW Diesel room for as many as six adults. The slide-through cab design made entering and exiting either seating row easier, while leaned seatbacks and generous legroom improved passenger comfort.
The steering wheel provided approximately 10 inches of tilt adjustment. Storage included a full-width compartment beneath the front bench and removable storage beneath the rear seat.
For 2012, the RANGER CREW Diesel was offered in Sage Green.
2012 Polaris RANGER CREW Diesel Highlights
- 904cc three-cylinder Yanmar diesel engine
- Rubber-isolated engine mounts
- Sealed, fixed-center-distance clutch driveline
- 55-amp alternator
- Six-passenger seating
- 1,750-pound payload capacity
- 1,000-pound gas-assist dump box
- 2,000-pound towing capacity
- Standard 2-inch hitch receiver
- On-Demand True All-Wheel Drive
- VersaTrac Turf Mode
- Adjustable dual-A-arm suspension
- 9.6 inches of front suspension travel
- 9 inches of rear suspension travel
- 11.5 inches of ground clearance
- ROPS-certified cab
- Lock & Ride cargo system
- High- and low-beam headlights
2012 RANGER Diesel Detail Photos
Polaris RANGER Diesel Video
This article covers the original specifications and features of the 2012 Polaris RANGER CREW Diesel. For broader model development and current information, see the history of the Polaris RANGER and the Polaris RANGER model guide.
