2011 Polaris® Ranger® RZR® 800 Review
With the 2007 launch of the stunning Polaris® Ranger® RZR® 800, the very first purebred sport side-by-side vehicle in the world, the entire industry had no other choice but to follow in the footsteps of the innovative manufacturer.
Today, the RZR® 800 no longer has the playground all to itself and has to contend with the likes of the Kawasaki Teryx, Arctic Cat® Prowler XTZ, Yamaha Rhino Sport Series and, most recently, the new Can-Am® Commander X. After having tested every one of its direct competitors, we put the RZR® through its paces once more on a torturous, obstacle-strewn, sand and mud circuit, to see if the returning champion could hold on to its title.
Still striking, the RZR® 800's looks are reminiscent of some Baja racing machines. Under this flamboyant body hides a fuel-injected, parallel twin engine whose pistons move up, move down and receive the spark simultaneously. This uncommon architecture favours low and mid rpm torque and creates a unique, almost bizarre, exhaust note that sounds like two single-cylinders growling in unison.
The Ranger® RZR® calls upon a continuously variable transmission that includes a short and long gear as well as a reverse gear and allows you to switch from 2WD to 4WD on the fly, at any speed.
Built on a beefy steel tube chassis, the RZR® 800 benefits from unparalleled stiffness on steep mule tracks. The dual A-arm front suspension coupled with the rolled rear suspension absorb every impact with the utmost composure.
What's more, the RZR® easily takes to the air and lands with confidence thanks to a mass distribution that creates a healthy, natural and easily controlled seat. On a trail peppered with booby traps of all kinds, from stumps to rocks to logs to dirt bumps, the RZR® surprises at every turn. You'd think you're cruising along on a moving sidewalk.
The vehicle is surprisingly spacious despite its compactness, especially seeing as the steering column and three-spoke steering wheel are height adjustable. The seats offer decent comfort thanks to good side and lumbar support.
The loading capacity is lower than that of more utilitarian side-by-sides but still allows you to carry a maximum of 136 kg in its medium-sized box, as well as a few items in the small glove box up front. However, it can tow up to 680 kg, the same as its workhorse competitors.
More comfortable than its functional brethren on tight trails, thanks to its smaller track width and turning diameter, the RZR® can confidently venture wherever ATVs tread.
Simply staggering. And that's exactly what aggressive trailgoers criticize about side-by-side vehicles. Not that these machines are particularly prone to flipping you over, but their performance and efficiency encourage the driver to push things ever further on a quest to discover the limits of the beast.
Thanks to its ultra-low centre of gravity, precise steering and agile chassis, the RZR® will satisfy the most demanding sportsman. Keeping a zippy pace on impossibly winding trails becomes easier and easier, allowing the intrepid adventurer to explore ever further and push himself ever harder, confidently knowing that all four wheels will stay firmly planted.
However, where ground clearance is concerned, we've seen better. This is no doubt the price to pay for such a low centre of gravity, which guarantees superior stability. Be that as it may, you can dash about without forcing your passenger, subjected to your exploits, to take a death grip on the handle in front of him, which bodes well for long, enthusiastic two-up rides.
With the Ranger® RZR®, Polaris® is catering to its thrill-seeking clientele. This side-by-side is in a class of its own when it comes to charging through twisting, rutted trails and tackling jumps for the pure pleasure of soaring through the air. Though it's no longer the only player on the field, it remains the only one to offer the high-octane thrills and performance of a Dune Buggy - with a dash of comfort, technology and reliability thrown in.
Plus
- Ultra-stable and stiff chassis.
- Well-designed and calibrated suspension.
- Efficient engine.
Less
- Ground clearance.
- Ho-hum exhaust note.
