Anyone else remember when the first Polaris Ranger cars came out? In 1999, a 6×6 was the first machine to carry the Ranger name. Our Ranger 500 got better in 2005, with more speed and comfort. The changes kept coming, and with the XP 900 in 2013, we got the biggest step forward in Rangers. This is when people got a machine that could do more than just carry things. The XP 900 would do well on trails, and it became very famous very quickly. When there was more competition in the market, Polaris came out with the XP 1000. In 2018, the top-of-the-line model was released with over 100 changes based on customer feedback. They kept making changes until they got it to the point where it is now—the standard for a quiet, comfortable, all-purpose machine that can be used for fun and work. Polaris, which is always trying to do things differently, just came out with the XD 1500, which is their biggest Ranger model to date. There were a lot of power and changes made to it so it could be used for work, but the question that many Ranger fans had was simple. Could the new Ranger XD 1500 still go off-road? We went out on the trails to find out.
What does the XD 1500 do?
At first, it has a Polaris ProStar 1,498cc DOHC three-cylinder engine that makes 110 horsepower. You might be wondering why it only has 110 horsepower. You’d think it would make more since it’s a BIG motor, right? The thing is, it doesn’t have to. The XD Ranger is stronger than the XP 1000 Ranger. Around 450 pounds is more weight than before, but the XD really feels like it has more strength. It also has 105 ft-lbs of torque, which makes it feel even stronger. As it stands, this platform can be changed to give it a lot more power. This makes me think that it will show up in other models at some time.
The most important thing about the XD 1500’s power and feel is, of course, how the engine’s power is sent to the ground. That could be the most important difference from Polaris now that there is a new gearbox. The PVT system used a rubber belt that could wear out and need to be replaced. Polaris now has a steel drive system instead. It has a CVT-style drive, but instead of the old rubber belt, it has a steel belt. Since the transmission is sealed and can’t be serviced other than with fluids, it shouldn’t need to be changed ever. It makes me nervous when people say that a part should never break or need to be fixed.
You may not be used to the XD 1500’s shift button, but it is a bit different from what you’re used to. It goes from park to reverse to drive with this handle. There are different drive modes in these ranges that can be changed with a knob on the dashboard. You can choose between Comfort, Standard, Sport, and Tow/Haul.
It has creep in drive and reverse to help with low-speed driving for better power delivery. It doesn’t have a true low-range shift because of how the transmission is built, the engine doesn’t need one. It’s also very interesting to see how the 4 drive modes are mapped. Comfort and regular are pretty much the same, but comfort is a little smoother. When you want to take it easy on the trails, comfort mode is great. I have to say that the sport mode, which is different from other brands’ “sport modes,” made me feel like a kid again. When you put the XD into racing mode, the throttle response is much better. It can get a little crazy quickly if you aren’t paying attention with the bigger tires and extra weight, but it is a lot of fun. If you’re used to a regular CVT engine, this one takes some getting used to. But so far, it seems to work great.
Is it a comparable Ranger?
Someone else that often asked me was if it was just another full-size Ranger with a bigger engine. Not at all. The first thing that makes this machine stand out is the front end. It looks like the XP 1000 and the Xpedition put together. It looks mean. The test model of the Northstar Ultimate also has LED lights in the grille that make it look very different.
The insides are also very different in some important ways. This machine has two more inches of legroom and what may be the most comfy seats Polaris has ever put in a machine. Like other Rangers, both passenger seats can be flipped up for more room, which my Newfoundland dog liked. It is thought by many that the Ranger line sets the bar for all other utility and recreation machines. Another area is the ease of the cab, and the XD 1500 may have the most comfortable cab yet. It gets even better when you add the HVAC system that comes with the Northstar Ultimate package. Even though it was cold and rainy, my daughter and I had a great time on the path.
The frame and chassis are a lot stronger than the XP 1000. The Northstar model has a hydraulic dump help system that works perfectly, and the bed can hold up to 1,500 pounds. The machine can also pull heavy things; with a 2-inch receiver hitch, it can pull up to 3,500 pounds. Another strong thing is the Polaris Pro hook that is on the front. Polaris has recently made some great winches, and this one is one of the best we’ve tried so far. It pulls 6,000 pounds and has synthetic rope that cuts through anything quickly. The Pro winch series has a feature called “rapid retrieve” that lets you quickly pick up the loose line when the job is done. I think Polaris could sell their winches as accessories and do very well against Warn winches, which are the big name in the business. With the winch, D-ring, snatch block, and tow strap, it was easy to do bigger jobs like pulling my wife’s van out of the ditch. The front bumper is strong and has D-rings built in.
Let’s talk about how to behave on the trail.
The machine does well on the roads because of a few things about it. A-arms with curved shapes and strong gas shocks make up the suspension. All four corners can move 12 inches. Because of the machine’s size and power, I thought the shocks would be very stiff, but I was wrong. As you might expect from a Ranger, the ride is smooth. There were no rough spots, and it handled both small and large challenges well. The XD 1500 has a huge 15 inches of ground clearance thanks to its 30-inch Kenda Cross Trail tires on 15-inch wheels. I drove it through some really deep sand and mud parts. The tires have great grip, and because they are 8-ply, they don’t go flat very often.
The machine did what I thought it would do, which was push a little in the lighter sand. If you don’t have firm ground under you, it’s hard to push yourself into a hole. It got smoother when there was more dirt and less sand in the ground.
I also went through some tight spots and was really surprised by how small the machine’s turning radius was. It has better power steering that works great when you need to avoid making a turn. On some of the land where I hunt, I took it up and found that it moved better than most other machines of the same size.
When we talk about hunting, this machine is a hunter’s dream. You can choose a lighting design called “blackout,” which turns off all the lights outside and dims the instrument lights so they are almost invisible. This makes it perfect for sneaky approaches. The Ride Command system can also connect to trail cameras and show where they are and even take pictures of them. Besides that, you’d have all the power you need for habitat projects and more. This fall, I’d like to borrow another one of these machines for longer while shooting. That would be a good time to test the Ride Command snow plow interface that runs the winch for you in the winter as well. There are things going on in Polaris.
Not very Ranger-like
If you’re used to a Ranger XP 1000, the Ranger XD 1500 will be very different in one big way. The engine with three cylinders is a lot louder than the one with two cylinders. The rangers are known for being quiet, but this one has a big, throaty sound that is very different from that. That’s what you have to pay for more power and tools. That and the price, which is a lot higher than the smaller types. The suggested retail price for our test model is $57,569. It looks like both the prices and the features and powers of machines keep going up.
Should you buy the 2025 Polaris Ranger XD 1500? I’m not able to answer that. This is a way you should think about if you need a UTV that is bigger, stronger, and more versatile than an XP 1000 or a similar machine. They say that the SteelDrive transmission will last a long time. If it does, that will be a big plus for the XD. A big part of my plans to buy a UTV is making sure that the transmission won’t break down.
Is the Ranger XD 1500 a good bike for the trails? It most certainly is, as long as you know how to drive it with the extra weight in mind. I also really like CREW models, and the 6-person version of this thing would be great for tearing up some tracks. That would be great. Visit a Polaris store near you to see one for yourself.
