Polaris

One category of models we have not awarded a Best in Class award for in the past is the multi-passenger, 4 seat Side x Side.  The problem is, both the Polaris RZR-4 XP900 and the Kawasaki Teryx4 750 4x4 were designed for vastly different riding conditions and intended users.  Both offer some outstanding features, but it really comes down to where you ride and what you need it to do.  So which is best in Class? That depends on you.  

When an athlete excels at many facets of their sport, often they’ll be called a “natural.”  In the Side x Side world, the one model that is a true superstar at its position and can be called a “natural” is the Polaris Ranger XP 800.  Like recent baseball Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera, it’s not the lightest, fastest, or most powerful, but as a package it’s outstanding and a true all-star. 

Hi-performance Side x Sides are all about a perfect balance between power, suspension and handling.  In the right combination, they’ll give you an exhilarating rush like nothing else.  The machine that exemplifies that magic formula better than any other is the 2012 Polaris RZR XP 900. 

It’s hard to find anything about the Polaris Sportsman 550 we didn’t like.  From our first ride, we knew this model was really something special.  The engine is powerful, the ride is satin smooth, and the ergonomics are excellent.  We’ve used the Polaris Sportsman 550’s for every task from casual trail rides, to plowing snow, to pulling logs and they’ve always gotten the job done.  They’re also extremely reliable.

Every time other companies begin to catch up, Polaris just presses their foot on the gas a little harder.  Watching the ATV and Side x Side lineups of major manufacturers evolve over the last several years reminds us very much of a race, and in many ways it is.  Rather than on the motocross or circle track, this race plays out in the showrooms, board rooms, and accounting offices.  We do our best to stay impartial, but after a while, we almost feel a little sorry for some of the other guys.