2024 Polaris RZR XP 1000 Evaluate: Prepared for Longer, Sooner, Extra Comfy Path Days

When Polaris launched the RZR XP 10 years again, it was making an attempt to be slightly little bit of all the pieces to everybody. The game side-by-side was the unique, however being the unique meant having to forged a large web.

The success of that mannequin pushed Polaris to construct autos for extra particular features. Just like the tight path Trails, massive energy Turbo R and even greater Professional R fashions. Even some for the children.

Having an enormous new household let the Polaris engineering staff return to what the RZR XP did finest. Tune the rig for social riders — riders who wished to spend a day or weekend on the paths with mates previous and new. Riders who simply wished to get out, not break lap data or see how excessive they may fly.

In brief: The 2024 Polaris RZR XP 1000 transforms into one thing that’s simpler to trip all day lengthy, with extra energy and fewer upkeep. However, some small ergonomic points maintain it again.

New Polaris RZR XP Means Reexamining the Method

Polaris took me to Windrock Park in Tennessee to expertise that social trip — and to expertise the entire modifications which have reworked the RZR XP from one of the vital in style available on the market into one thing it thinks will promote even higher.

An RZR XP that’s stronger, extra snug, and — key on this phase — simpler to personal.

Stronger, Stiffer Chassis

The 2024 Polaris RZR XP begins life with a totally new chassis. The brand new welded body is 25% stiffer than the mannequin it replaces. Hooked up to that body is a brand new rollover safety system.

A stronger body has two foremost advantages, and I’ll begin with the one you’re most likely going to note first: It makes the RZR XP quieter on the path.

Mix the stronger body with a extra rigidly bolted roll bar, and you’ve got fewer squeaks and rattles. I spent a day crashing the RZR XP over rocks, boulders, washboard, and ruts. The half windshield, roof, and all the remainder of the bodywork had been impressively well-secured due to that stiff shell.

Pounding down Windrock’s trails, the RZR XP felt as properly put collectively as an SUV on flat pavement. The one rattles got here from the ice within the accent cooler mounted from the mattress.

The cooler rattles are on me, although. The cooler had easy-to-use latches; I simply forgot to latch them.

Adjustable Shocks Tuned for All-Day Consolation

The second massive good thing about a stiffer body is best suspension efficiency. If the chassis bends, it stops the springs and shocks from doing their job. It sends the forces from the path into your fingers and seat as a substitute of the suspension. A minimum of a few of them.

Polaris has fitted Walker Evans Needle shocks with 16-position adjustment. The clickers management each compression and rebound. They’re additionally simple to find and regulate, although I didn’t fiddle with them on trip day.

Walker Evans doesn’t have the model status of Fox, however the shocks value much less cash. That’s why Polaris used them right here; the corporate stated that worth is a key a part of this phase.

Irrespective of the title, the 2-inch entrance and a pair of.5-inch rear shocks are massively spectacular on the path. As a result of Polaris has desert-ready RZR fashions on sale now, it was capable of tune the XP with slightly extra consolation in thoughts. The hardcore riders produce other choices.

After a full day of driving, I used to be nonetheless snug within the RZR XP. The suspension cushioned some very tough trails — and I’ll admit to on the lookout for the tough components — however I didn’t really feel beat up by it.

Virtually as importantly, the 16 inches of entrance and 18 inches of rear journey from that suspension saved the tires planted always. I didn’t depart a wheel within the air, and I didn’t see any of the road of riders in entrance of me do it both.

Tall Floor Clearance, Till You’re Full

And 14.5 inches of floor clearance is lots to recover from some fairly massive rocks and take care of some very deep ruts. Nevertheless, I did discover that I, in addition to another heavier riders, didn’t get all of that clearance. We bottomed out the RZR greater than lighter riders. The four-seaters with three passengers on the run didn’t appear to have the identical drawback.

There’s a full-coverage skid plate beneath. So for those who do run out of clearance, you solely have to be nervous about getting high-centered, not damaging something vital. And the accent winch is now mounted in a spot that’s a lot simpler to make use of for those who want a pull.

Playful, Nimble Dealing with

Whereas it was cozy on the sluggish and tough stuff, it was playful at speeds. On the brief stretches of winding pavement resulting in the paths and lengthy and quick stretches of grime on Windrock’s transit street community, this was quite a lot of enjoyable.

Secure and predictable for entry-level riders, the RZR XP was additionally simple to have some enjoyable with. Drop the throttle mid-corner and the nostril would tuck in.

Observe the nostril dip with a little bit of throttle and the nostril would climb into delightfully controllable four-wheel drifts or energy oversteer relying on how playful I felt, and the visibility across the nook. Credit score the direct and well-weighted steering — steering that additionally labored properly to isolate my fingers from what was taking place on the tire floor, making driving much less tiresome.

Extra Energy From New ProStar Engine

Energy oversteer comes due to a Gen 2 ProStar 999cc twin and the selectable 4×4 system. The engine delivers 114 horsepower and has confidence-inspiring linearity to the throttle. There are a great deal of torque from the powerplant, even at decrease rpm. However the brand new CVT is so fast to reply that what it does at low rpm doesn’t actually matter.

It was responsive at velocity, nevertheless it additionally had glorious management when it was time to crawl. Low vary would preserve an indicated one mile per hour, even on hills I couldn’t have walked down. It was additionally easy in doing it, not jerking if I wasn’t easy with my pedal actions.

I used to be glad for that engine braking as a result of the precise brakes had been much less confidence-inspiring. It took quite a lot of journey to get the four-wheel discs to chew. Even at full pedal, there was not sufficient clamping pressure to lock the tires, that means lengthy stopping distances.

No Rattles, Nonetheless Noisy

With the entire work Polaris put into making the chassis quiet, I used to be a bit disillusioned by the noise coming from the engine. Even at idle, I wanted to yell to be heard. And the 900W Rockford Fosgate audio system needed to be cranked as much as overcome it.

Polaris dug into its components bin for this new transmission. The belt comes from the work-ready Ranger and the entrance drive from the RS1. Its geared reverse can be from the Ranger bin. Polaris picked it as a result of it discovered that RZR XP riders had been moving into deep mud — mud the place rocking a standard reverse gear wasn’t sturdy sufficient.

Different enhancements, like stronger prop shafts and half shafts together with beefier bearings, are all meant to assist reliability. The identical goes for higher airflow across the CVT meant to maintain the fluid cool and improve belt life.

The engine may run longer between journeys to the store. The brand new design and extra oil capability double the time between fluid modifications. When it’s time for service, you’ll discover toolless entry to the vital components of the engine.

Strong Cabin, Not Excellent

Thus far, the RZR’s trip expertise was fantastic. I had combined emotions, although, concerning the cabin.

Befitting the brand new body, this was a well-put-together and high-quality inside. It additionally had a fantastic structure for the controls and loads of simple changes for the steering wheel, passenger seize deal with, and even the motive force’s seat.

Polaris has additionally flattened out the profile of the entrance roll bar hoops to ensure the elective windshield is better-sealing than ever. The flat panel drops right into a specifically match “ditch” within the entrance bodywork that actually retains it in place.

The entrance seats are an inch decrease and 1.5 inches additional again. The rear seats are 2 inches greater in order that your rear seat passengers can see previous your massive helmeted head.

However two-seat or 4, the RZR XP is tight on legroom for tall or long-legged riders. Likewise, the (in any other case snug) entrance seats have very brief backside cushions — cushions that didn’t give me sufficient assist for an extended trip. I do know I’m taller than common, however I heard another riders of common top however lengthy inseam complain about the identical difficulty.

Foot Taco!

Although the foot taco helps deal with these long-legged drivers. The cleverly named footrest is simply one of many a number of lifeless pedals Polaris has fitted for driver and passenger. The distinction is that this one is only a V-cut groove within the flooring.

Should you don’t use the foot taco, you’ll by no means discover it. If, like me, you sit together with your left leg splayed out so it doesn’t hit the firewall, the V is within the excellent spot to comfortably brace your left foot. The one factor lacking is a few form of graphic to let riders know it’s there.

Huge Cargo Administration Accent Catalog

The RZR XP has glorious cargo administration, particularly for those who dip into the accent catalog. It begins within the cabin the place two bins on the sprint are large enough to carry telephones (there’s a USB port within the driver’s) and a few bottles of water. They’re very properly sealed and straightforward to open with a magnetic catch.

A tray within the again holds loads of gear. To make storage even simpler, you will get custom-sized cargo totes in sizes which can be simple to unload. You too can get an adjunct cooler. Or, for those who simply wish to toss and go, there may be an accessible tonneau cowl that permits you to do precisely that.

The accent spare tire mount goes above your cargo on the again. It has gasoline struts that make it simple to open. They’ll additionally maintain it in place whenever you’re digging for gear within the again.

Experience Command Makes Group Rides a Snap

Then there’s one of the best Polaris function for anybody wanting a social trip: Experience Command. All RZR XP fashions get a digital show, however solely the Final trim will get Experience Command. The display has path navigation and a great deal of customizable gauges, nevertheless it additionally permits you to arrange group rides.

With a bunch trip, everybody can see the place the remainder of the group is on-screen. It leaves breadcrumbs and exhibits each rider the identical route. Once I was behind a line of greater than dust-kicking 20 machines, it was a fantastic assist to know which method to go. And if everybody else had stopped round that subsequent bend.

Polaris has a magician within the inside design division, too. After a full day of driving and most of us coming again utterly soaked in mud, each display was nonetheless clear. In some way, no mud bought on the 7.0-inch show. Or the backup digital camera. See, magic.

2024 Polaris RZR XP Evaluate: Conclusion

With the brand new 2024 RZR XP 1000, Polaris has created a wonderful machine. It’s one which’s approachable for brand-new riders, however has sufficient efficiency for the jaded execs on our trip. One that can allow you to spend a full day driving in consolation and are available again the subsequent day prepared for extra — even when the seat is a bit too small for you.

Polaris stated that it expects this mannequin to promote even higher than the final one. With a beginning worth of $20,999 ($25,999 for Final), which is $900 decrease than the mannequin it replaces, that’s not laborious to consider.