It’s the perfect place to shake down a UTV – because we can beat on them and if we get in a pinch we’re not stranded in the middle of nowhere. It’s 90 minutes from our ranch and offers at least four distinct types of riding conditions sandy washes, tight hard-packed canyon runs, wide-open desert hills, and some taller narrow mountain trail riding. So for the past ten years or so we’ve been very lucky to have access to some amazing property in Ocotillo Wells. None of this is rocket science but you’d be surprised how many little things other OEM’s screw up! The steering wheel, steering column, instrument cluster, and gear shifter all feel robust, solid, and have a very logical layout. They really keep the dirt and dust off your body without obstructing airflow. The doors are by far best in class because of their height and finish. The seats are firm, comfortable, and breathe nicely even in the heat. We feel this should be standard on all machines as riding in a group with Ride Command is really a game-changer and everyone wants to listen to their music. This Deluxe model features a Ride Command system and Rockford Fosgate stereo system which is great. The interior of the General has come a long way. We like the extra width but be sure to do your homework when measuring for Toy Haulers. The 64” stance makes the vehicle feel STABLE – but it’s not SO wide that you get hung up on tighter trails. We may end up seeing a Dynamix version of this machine down the road as well. This again is a feature that Polaris nailed and it surely comes from their R&D on the RZR side.
#Polaris general xp 4 1000 pro
The 30” Pro Armor tires, Walker Evans Velocity Series shocks, and Long Travel, High Clearance Dual A-Arms all combine to equal 14” of suspension travel which is best-in-class by 3”.
And it’s here where the General really shines. The smoothness of a ride is really a combination of the suspension travel, wheel and tire size, shock setup, and clearance of the machine. The towing capacity of 1,500 pounds and payload capacity of nearly 1,300 pounds means the General is ready for most hauling tasks.
#Polaris general xp 4 1000 full
We’ll get into how the motor feels under a full load in a minute, but suffice to say this vehicle has a LOT of power and is very responsive, even under load. So some of that power advantage is equalized by weight. That being said it does weigh more than any other crossover UTV – coming in at 2K pounds. Most of the competition is at or near 1000cc and 100 horsepower – but Polaris does have the technical edge on the specs side.
#Polaris general xp 4 1000 plus
It’s the same tired and true electronic fuel injected 100 horsepower motor and automatic on-demand all-wheel drive transmission that Polaris has had so much success with these past ten plus years. The General has a 1000cc, ProStar 4-stroke engine with dual overhead cams and twin cylinders. It makes adding accessories light additional light bars and audio components a breeze. This is something Polaris introduced a few years ago and it’s absolutely killer. Another feature we love is the accessory bar. You can see and feel how solid the car is right away when you walk around it. It’s very well proportioned and the exterior plastics feel rock solid to the touch. This machine just feels like it’s ready to run right out of the gate. The General also has the nicest dumping cargo box in the class right now just ahead of the Commander. The Yamaha Wolverine and Kawi Teryx4 both still feel too upright for our taste, and the Honda Talon and Can Am Commander Max are simply not as well refined on the exterior to us. It’s by far the best looking vehicle in the class as well. Everyone else is running 27” or less and we feel this is a huge advantage for the General. The 30” tires are what really set the General apart visually and they serve a purpose – they handle the trails and dirt better than anyone else in the crossover class. From the outside, it has the same look and feel of a nice four-door midsize truck, like a Tacoma crew cab. The four-seat General is 64” wide and just over 150” long. Exteriorīack in June Polaris shipped us a nicely broken-in Deluxe General with about 600 miles on it – in grey with some nice Dukes of Hazzard Orange! The Deluxe comes standard with a roof, 4,500-pound winch, and a Rockford Fosgate audio system. Check out the specs for these cars listed on if you want to do more digging.
Models available include four 2-seat options ranging from $16K – $23K, and three 4-seat models starting at just under $22K and going up to $25K. This year we saw the lineup swell once again to seven machines including two Deluxe models – illustrating strong sales and the growth of the crossover segment.