By Jon Crowley
Originally published August 16, 2016. This is our firsthand report from Polaris’ 2017 model year media event near Great Falls, Montana. Model specifications, features and prices below refer to the 2017 lineup.
Polaris gave us a full day at a private ranch to try its 2017 off-road lineup. Four introductions stood out: the more powerful RANGER XP 1000, the four-seat GENERAL 4 1000 EPS, RIDE COMMAND in the RZR XP 1000 Velocity Blue Limited Edition, and the wider ACE 900 XC. The event let us move between work, recreation and sport machines on the same terrain.
2017 RANGER XP 1000: More Power and Three Throttle Modes
The 2017 RANGER XP 1000’s ProStar engine was rated at 80 horsepower. Its three-mode throttle control offered Work, Standard and Performance settings. Standard and Performance felt fairly similar during our ride. Work mode was the clear difference: even a heavy foot produced gentle, controlled acceleration. That response made sense for backing a trailer or moving equipment around a ranch.
Polaris also showed the 2017 RANGER XP 1000 NorthStar Edition with a sealed cab, heat and air conditioning. The climate-controlled cab seemed extravagant at first, but a break from the heat and dust quickly made its appeal clear. Other editions on display included Hunter, Ranch and High Lifter models. A hunting-equipped RANGER CREW carried accessories such as a dog kennel, cooler, storage drawer and gun rack.
GENERAL 4 1000 EPS: Four Seats, Work Capacity and Trail Fun
We spent much of the day in the new 2017 GENERAL 4 1000 EPS. Its 100-horsepower ProStar 1000 had enough power to carry three adults briskly around the ranch, and the back seat earned no complaints from our tallest passenger, who was 6 feet 2 inches. Polaris paired the passenger space with a 600-pound-capacity dump bed.
The GENERAL 4 was easy to place through the ranch’s turns, though a four-seat machine naturally required more planning than a two-seater. We briefly high-centered it on an unusual cattle-guard crossing through a fence; a little more momentum got us across on the next attempt. For this mix of trail driving and hauling, its balance of power, passenger room and utility worked well. Read our separate Polaris GENERAL 4 review for more seat time.
RZR XP 1000 RIDE COMMAND: Connected Trail Navigation
The RZR XP 1000 Velocity Blue Limited Edition introduced Polaris’ seven-inch RIDE COMMAND display. Polaris sent us through six waypoints to try its features, including group tracking, cameras, media and trip data. The machines were configured as a group with paired phones, so we could see where the other drivers were along the course, even when dust put them out of sight.
We also recorded video from the available cameras, played music from a paired phone and received a text prompt to switch drivers. At the end of the ride, the display reported time, speed and elevation data. The touch screen responded while we wore gloves. At launch in 2016, Polaris listed the RIDE COMMAND-equipped Velocity Blue Limited Edition at $20,999 and offered the system as a $2,500 accessory; those are historical prices.
RZR XP 1000 Gold Matte Metallic Limited Edition: A Rock-Focused Preview
We looked over the 2017 RZR XP 1000 Gold Matte Metallic Limited Edition, but did not drive it at this event. Its rock-focused equipment included strengthened front half shafts, a revised True On-Demand all-wheel-drive system and 55 percent lower low-range gearing. Our later 2017 RZR XP 1000 SE rock crawling review covers how the machine performed on the trail.
ACE 900 XC: The Surprise of the Day
The 2017 ACE 900 XC drew plenty of interest, and we got into the sole demo unit early. Its 78-horsepower ProStar engine was an 18-horsepower increase over the preceding ACE 900 SP. Polaris gave the XC a 59-inch width, a longer wheelbase and Walker Evans compression-adjustable shocks with 12.3 inches of front and 12.6 inches of rear suspension travel.
The added width helped it stay planted, while the engine made it easy to break the tires loose. It felt quick and agile in a way that reminded us of an ATV, though the seated driving position changes how you manage the vehicle. We did not find a substantial jump, but one hard G-out gave the suspension a useful test. The Walker Evans shocks absorbed it cleanly without a harsh rebound or sharp hit to the lower back.
Our full ACE 900 XC review goes deeper into that single-seat machine. Across the 2017 lineup, the GENERAL 4 was the versatile standout for passengers, the RANGER’s Work throttle mode had an immediate practical benefit, and the ACE 900 XC delivered the biggest surprise behind the wheel. Thanks to Polaris for inviting us to the event.
