By Joseph “Joey D.” DiGiovanni
When Polaris introduced the RZR 570 for the 2012 model year, I was skeptical. Did the market really need another 50-inch RZR—especially one with less displacement than the original RZR 800?
That question followed me to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where Polaris invited us to test the new machine on a roughly 90-mile ride through the Keweenaw Peninsula. By the end of the day, the RZR 570 had made a convincing case for itself as an affordable, efficient and genuinely entertaining trail UTV.
Why Did Polaris Build the RZR 570?
Growing up riding the open deserts of Southern California conditioned me to think that more power and more suspension travel always meant more fun. Polaris had already fed that appetite with machines such as the RZR S 800, RZR 4 800 and the then-new RZR XP 900.
Against that backdrop, a smaller-displacement 50-inch model initially seemed like an unusual move. The answer became clearer when we looked beyond the high-performance side of the market.
The original 50-inch RZR remained one of Polaris’ most important recreational models. Its narrow width allowed it to fit trails that were inaccessible to wider sport UTVs, while its compact dimensions and attainable price appealed to a broad group of recreational riders.
The RZR 570 gave those buyers a more economical entry point without abandoning the performance and agility that made the original RZR successful.
Destination: Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula
Polaris scheduled the press ride around Lac La Belle on Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Jon Crowley and I planned to make the trip together, but Jon’s flight was canceled on the morning of his departure. Because of the remote destination and tight schedule, there was no alternate flight that could get him there in time.
I continued to the Upper Peninsula to meet the other media attendees. I was still trying to understand where the RZR 570 fit and wondered how Polaris could top its previous introduction in Montana, where we had driven the company’s complete off-road lineup and experienced the RZR XP 900 for the first time.
The Keweenaw Peninsula answered the location question immediately. Lac La Belle was surrounded by fall colors, cool air and classic Upper Peninsula scenery. The landscape ultimately proved to be an ideal setting for a narrow trail machine.
A New ProStar-Powered Platform
On the morning of the ride, Polaris employees and guides from the local Keweenaw ATV Club introduced us to the RZR 570. A cutaway vehicle made it clear that this was more than a downsized or detuned RZR 800.
The single-cylinder engine belonged to Polaris’ then-new ProStar family, which had debuted in the RZR XP 900. Polaris paired the engine with a transmission and driveline designed to transfer its available power efficiently to the ground.
The RZR 570 also used intake and exhaust concepts related to the larger ProStar platform. Polaris had taken lessons learned while developing the XP 900 and applied them to a smaller, less expensive 50-inch machine.
RZR 570 product manager John Kastanek explained that the project allowed Polaris to return its attention to the narrow trail category that had helped establish the RZR. The objective was to improve on the original formula while delivering the new machine at a lower price.
The 2012 RZR 570 carried an original MSRP of $9,999. That price required a few equipment compromises, including the absence of a glove box and some accessory controls. However, it retained the familiar RZR instrument cluster with vehicle speed, engine speed, fuel level, mileage and temperature information.
Selectable all-wheel drive was also standard, preserving an important part of the RZR’s trail capability.
RZR 570 Trail Performance
Our route covered approximately 90 miles and included narrow wooded trails, logging roads and stretches near Lake Superior. It was exactly the kind of terrain the 50-inch RZR was designed to explore.
The seating position and ergonomics felt familiar to anyone who had driven an original RZR 800. The surprise came when we started moving. The 570 was responsive, accelerated harder than its displacement suggested and carried enough speed to keep the ride entertaining.
A few media drivers began jockeying for position on the trail. At the first stop, nearly everyone climbed out wearing the same surprised grin. The “small” RZR was considerably more fun than many of us expected.
During our test, the RZR 570 reached approximately 60 mph at the rev limiter. Top speed was only part of the story, though. Its responsive power delivery, predictable steering and narrow stance made it easy to place on winding trails.
The unequal-length rear A-arm suspension performed adequately, although its stock shock calibration left room for improvement. I rode alone and did not have a significant problem with bottoming. Some two-person teams increased the spring preload and ride height to compensate for the added passenger weight.
Despite that criticism, the RZR remained predictable at speed. It felt light and agile, and the chassis worked particularly well in the tighter sections of the route.
Impressive Fuel Economy
Fuel range was another unexpected strength. Even though we drove aggressively for much of the day, the fuel gauge had dropped only a couple of bars after roughly 60 to 70 miles.
That efficiency helped answer the original question of why Polaris built a 570. The machine was quick enough to be entertaining, economical to operate, narrow enough for restricted trails and less expensive than the larger RZR models.
2012 Polaris RZR 570 Review Verdict
By the end of the ride, the RZR 570 had changed my opinion. It was fuel-efficient, affordable, nimble and much quicker than its engine size suggested.
If the 570 graphics had been removed before the test, many drivers might have assumed they were driving a larger-displacement RZR. While it did not replace the power or suspension capability of the RZR XP 900, it delivered plenty of performance for narrow recreational trails.
I was not the primary target customer for a 50-inch UTV, but if I had been shopping in that category in 2012, I would have seriously considered the RZR 570 ahead of the older RZR 800. Its combination of price, fuel economy and usable performance made it one of the better values in the sport UTV market at the time.
We thank Polaris for hosting the introduction, the Keweenaw ATV Club for guiding the ride and the team at Lac La Belle Lodge for its hospitality. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula remains one of the most beautiful places I have had the opportunity to explore in a UTV.
Polaris RZR 570 Press-Ride Gallery
