A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to join the Polaris Off-Road engineering team to test drive, experience, and learn all the intricacies of the latest, all-new 2024 RZR XP. This is the vehicle that started it all and the 2024 model has been completely redesigned from the ground-up to raise the industry standard for sport side-by-sides to an entirely new level. The RZR XP delivers class-leading durability, comfort, and performance.

For this experience we traveled to Colorado Springs, CO for an intimate drive to put the new generation model through its paces at a Polaris Adventures location. Riding up and down the mountains, and through all types of terrain it’s easy to see why the RZR XP is  a joy to ride and why it remains the best seller it is.

As you improve the performance level of a vehicle, you improve capabilities, you improve the sense of confidence it gives to drivers where they will start pushing the vehicle harder too. You have to be sure the vehicle can handle that higher level of performance that you didn’t have in mind in the beginning. With this vehicle the way the chassis is set up, the balance of it, the way the shocks were done you can hit rugged terrain with more confidence than you could with the predecessor.

There are so many upgrades in he new model, but as we learned there are three major differences in the 2024 model.
First is the one piece chassis. It gets rid of all the squeaks and rattles that are annoying when you are riding, but it does so much more than that. With the extra stiffness the chassis can do a better job tuning in the suspension. You also don’t have that sensation of it being unsettled, because the chassis is more rigid. That goes back into making you feel more confident that you can hit things and handle it without losing control or hurting yourself or hurting the vehicle.

Number ​t​wo is ergonomics. It has a steering wheel, it has shifters, its got switches, its got a seat, pedals, like the old one did; but just by moving some of the points relative to each other this vehicle feels much more natural. When you sit down the steering wheel feels like it’s in the right spot, the buttons feel like they’re easy to reach, whereas in the other vehicle the buttons were kind of there, the steering wheel was something that glues onto the dash but the tilt of it didn’t feel quite right. The seat was 2 inches shorter on the old model. It felt like you were sitting on a perch rather than in a seat. There’s a laundry list of things that are different in the interior, that just make you feel a lot more comfortable.

The third thing is the driveline. The engine is new, it has 4 more horsepower, but the bigger deal is that the engine, the transmission and the clutching were all tuned up to give you a lot more performance in that mid-range throttle. Now when you are riding through trails it’s ready to go. But it’s not jumpy. It makes you feel like the vehicle will do what you think it will do.

We learned that another thing with the driveline is that they got rid of the reverse chain. The transmission is similar to what was there before but the difference is that this one has beefed up components inside, and special processing in some of the final gears to make this transmission more tolerant of jumps.

It all goes back to durability. You can ride it all day. When you get home all you have to do is wash it and it’s ready to go again. It offers comfort and the confidence. It will do what you want to do. There’s less thinking and more of just enjoying the ride and having fun.And what else can consumers expect from this new model?
The biggest thing for people that don’t have experience in side by sides is how natural it feels. ​E​ngineers spent a lot of time making sure that even how the steering wheel pivots, where the pivot is located, the range of motion it goes through; it all feels comfortable, expected.

The seat height off the floor, how far the seat from the steering wheel, the dashboard, the controls, everything was designed around  a normal person, rather than having a vehicle and then just putting pieces on it. That’s the first thing to notice, how comfortable it is.
For more experienced riders what they notice is a little more nuanced, like the sightline. The front of the vehicle has been pulled down from where it used to be. It’s a lot easier to see your lines as you’re going through the woods and trails, now it has opened up your view of the terrain. It feels like you’re experiencing the ride rather than looking around.

The RZR XP is available in two and four-seat configurations in three trims: Sport, Premium and Ultimate.

RZR XP 1000 Sport:
Starting at $20,999 US MSRP, riders can get into the RZR XP 1000 Sport, featuring in-mold color, 29” Trailmaster X/T, color-matched seats and springs, LED headlights, illuminated in-cab switches, and a new digital display.

RZR XP 1000 Premium:
The RZR XP 1000 Premium starts at $22,999 US MSRP, and includes a painted body with premium graphics, 30-inch Trailmaster X/T 2.0, color-matched dash, seats and springs, PMX head unit, a Rockford Fosgate Stage 1 Audio, a poly roof and four-point harnesses.

RZR XP 1000 Ultimate:
Rounding out the lineup is the RZR XP 1000 Ultimate, starting at $25,999 US MSRP. Available with a premium painted body and two premium color and graphics options, RZR XP 1000 Ultimate offers Polaris’ industry-leading seven-inch touchscreen display powered by RIDE COMMAND, a Rockford Fosgate Stage 2 Audio, 900W operating system, along with front and rear LED accent lighting.

Also created specifically for the RZR XP are four rider inspired accessory collections, built for a variety of riding terrains that include trail, mud, backcountry and all-season.

To learn more visit Polaris.com/RZR or join the conversation and follow on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube  and Twitter.