NEW MACHINE REVIEW
The 2016 POLARIS GENERAL
STAND and SALUTE
By Francis Soyer
Atten-TION! Before we can proceed any further, we gotta get somethin’ straight. The new POL-aris General is NOT your mommas UTV. It’s a fine, multi-purpose Side x Side meant to advance and take ground faster than anything else in its class. It’s got a high performance motor, advanced technology, a capable chassis, and everything but a Sargent Hulka bobble head on the dash. Welcome to the Polaris corp.
THE BATTLEFIELD
Polaris has conquered pretty much all the high ground in the off-road world with an aggressive strategy of continually putting new soldiers in the field, or in their case, new machines. Whenever and wherever they see a hole it doesn’t take long and there is a new model to stand guard over it. Their newest creation is called the General, and it looks to be ready to square off with Can-Am's Commander, the Honda Pioneer 700, and Yamaha’s Wolverine.
The General is based heavily on all Polaris has learned both from the Ranger and RZR platforms, and the specifications most closely resemble the RZR-S 1000. Comparing the specs for both reveals many numbers are identical, with only a slight difference in overall size and weight. The most obvious difference though is body styling.
The General gets its exterior looks from the RZR lineup and we generally like the styling. We’re happy to see Polaris is installing doors on nearly all new models, and these doors even come with arm rests on the inside. It’s on the inside though where the real differences can be found, and it’s unlike any Polaris before it. Welcome to the future interior of all RZR models to come!
We’ve criticized Polaris for the RZR interior which never really matched the rest of the machine for performance and looks. Somebody at Polaris must have taken it to heart, and the new General interior is highly stylized and looks GREAT! We really like the new cockpit layout which is much more automotive like, and finally the instrument pod is ahead of the steering wheel. Of course a tilting steering wheel is standard, as is Electronic Power Steering. We believe the General will also include a new four post seat mount to eliminate the annoying tendency of the RZR seats to roll in aggressive cornering. It’s a good bet that next year’s RZR models will feature this interior package as well.
Highlights of the new General include:
-
100 horsepower ProStar 1000 engine
-
0-40 mph acceleration in 3.6 seconds
-
Standard Engine Braking
-
12.25 inches wheel travel in front, 13.2 inches rear
-
12 inches ground clearance
-
27” tires front and rear
-
New cockpit styling with updated look and integrated accessory switches in dash
-
Cargo bed capable of hauling 600 lbs
-
Hitch rated for 1500 lbs.
While the General appears to be all RZR up front, at the rear it shows a working side that comes from the Ranger line. A tough, composite cargo box is capable or hauling 600 pounds of whatever you can stack in it, and it should be perfect for hauling camping gear, firewood, or whatever you need for a weekend adventure. As with all Polaris machines, accessories are a big part of the picture and Polaris has a full line ready to bolt on.
Polaris usually likes to release several version of each new machine, and there are three versions of the General to choose from. The biggest difference is in the suspension shock package, with the top end General 1000 EPS Deluxe model getting Fox Podium 2.0 shocks and an Orange Burst color scheme. The other two available colors are Indy Red, and Velocity Blue. All versions of the new General will be in dealers by mid-December. We’re out riding the new General today, and we’ll have a full report back to HQ ASAP.
FULL ALERT
It seems the new General is designed to pull rank over the other machines in its class, and it will be interesting to watch this battle unfold. One thing is certain; there will be no easy victories, and possibly even new competitors in this division. Expect the Arctic Cat Admiral to fire a broadside soon.
