Polaris’ General opens the heavy-duty category of ATVs with the mandate to fill the recreational and the work niches with verve and a dusting of uncompromising comfort. This is a blend between the RZR 1000 and the Ranger XP 1000. However, he became less alone on his island and we saw the appearance of competing vehicles such as the Yamaha Wolverine RMAX or, to a lesser extent, the freshly redesigned Can-Am Commander. So Polaris responded by offering new versions and introducing the more powerful XP 1000 series.
The cockpit is a success. It’s equipped with rigid doors, including comfortable armrests, that appropriately protect the occupants from debris. As for comfort, the design of the new seats (the driver’s seat is adjustable) is especially good. The design of the dashboard and the central console gives it feel of a car. The seats, which resemble those of the RZR, are made of non-skid material that helps the driver stay in position during lateral transitions, which used to be difficult on board a Ranger equipped with seats upholstered in a smooth material.
The heart and soul of the General is the engine. The ProStar 999cc produces 100 HP. In terms of power, this is what is pushing the General to the top of the list in this category. This kind of power needs to be supported by an adequate suspension, and that’s what you’ll find on the General. The four-wheel, independent suspension includes springs with dual compression zones and optional Fox Podium gas shocks. In addition, all the Generals come with power steering, which is very effective for manoeuvring at low speed. With the XP 1000 version, the suspension design goes up another notch thanks to the 14-inch long-travel control arm, the presence of 30-inch ProArmon Crawler tires, Fox 2.0 Podium QS3 gas shocks, all bringing the ground clearance up to 14 inches!
At the first rotations of the wheel, the sporty side of this quad rises automatically to the surface as soon as the pedal is put to the metal and the utility side beats a hasty retreat! The power of its engine can make you reach 65 km/h in only 3.6 seconds! Polaris did not reinvent the wheel, for, in the end, the General is simply a RZR equipped with a cargo bed, making the vehicle more versatile. It’s easy to drive as well as extremely comfortable, even for a tall person.
In order to reach as wide a net as possible to attract customers, there are four special editions offered:
- Sport (with 2 seats), fairly bare, it retains on board power steering, half-doors and unlockable rear differential (Turf mode).
- Premium (with 2 seats), It adds to the Sport the Fox 2.0 Podium QS3 gas suspension, 14-inch aluminum wheels topped with 27-inch Maxxis Coronado tires and LED front and lights.
- XP 1000 Sport edition (with 2 and 4 seats) which incorporates a roof, a low profile front bumper, a 4500-pound winch, 30-inch Pro Armor Crawler XG tires on aluminum wheels, gas shock absorbers Walker Evans Velocity, arched front suspension arms and LED headlights and taillights.
- XP 1000 Premium Edition (with 2 and 4 seats) which adds to the XP 1000 Sport a convex mirror, a padded center console and a RockFord Fostgate Stage 3 audio system.
- XP 1000 Ultimate edition (with 2 and 4 seats) which incorporates Ride and Command technology displayed on a 7-inch screen and a rear view camera.
WHAT’S NEW?
- New colors.
We appreciate :
- It’s a well-designed vehicle that created a category on its own and provides versatility that’s hard to match. Other manufacturers offer more targeted vehicles to compete with it.
- The General 1000 offers a nice mix of ride comfort, work capacity and adequate level of equipment to meet your needs.
- The Turf mode which helps to save the lawn.
We dislike:
- Pruning versions of the General 1000 make it a much less accessible vehicle.
- There is no longer a four-seat version offered with the regular General.
Skills:
