We Took 2025 Model Year Polaris Rangers for a Test Drive

Polaris had me at the air-conditioning. Normally, these off-road rides sponsored by utility vehicle manufacturers feature machines sans air-conditioning but still with plenty of mud and dust.

For this new model year 2025, Polaris has introduced to its line the flagship Ranger XP100 Northstar Edition with factory-installed heating and air-conditioning systems. Plus -- and it was important to this cool and dustless ride -- in-cabin air filters. The price for the single-bench seat Premium begins at $27,999, and Ultimate begins at $32,999.

The Polaris ride took media and influencers out to OX Ranch, at Uvalde, Texas. The ranch is 18,000 acres in southwest Texas, two hours west of San Antonio in Texas Hill Country.

We navigated the ranch ride in the 2025 Polaris XP 1000 Northstar, featuring a new bumper and grill, plus the solid and well-sealed Polaris Pro Shield Cab System (front power windows with the Ultimate trim package) with that air-conditioning beating back temperatures rising into the 90s.

The XP 1000 Northstars are built for the trail and for work around the farm and ranch. "This vehicle is built specifically for farmers and ranchers. We like to call this the everyday workhorse," says Brent Erspamer, director, Enterprise Program Management at Polaris. "For hauling feed or firewood, hauling bales of hay to feed the animals, this vehicle will do it every day at a high level of quality and comfort."

Polaris provides the proof. Northstars carry 82-hp ProStar engines (1000 cubic centimeter [cc] and top speed of about 62 mph). It tows 2,500 pounds with a two-inch hitch and carries 1,000 pounds in the bed -- standard gas assist dump. Electric dump is available as an accessory.

The effort to shift from park, through neutral, high and low has been reduced 50%. "We improved the overall shift mechanism in the transmission. That smooth operation of the shifter is well-received if a [farmer putting up fence, for example] has to do it 100 or 300 times a day," Erspamer says.

Entering and exiting the XP 1000 Northstar's Pro Shield Cab is enhanced by doors that open past 90 degrees. Operators step onto a flat floor and seat themselves onto a bench seat. The bench seat is bolstered to provide extra passenger support and limit wear.

Operators will find a couple of additional features in the XP 1000 Northstar Ultimate. The cab includes a full-glass tip-out windshield, JBL Trail Pro 2000 Audio system and 7-inch display powered by Polaris RIDE COMMAND. RIDE COMMAND features GPS mapping and location among vehicles, intervehicle messaging and a backup camera.

Nice to have for time-starved farmers and ranchers are doubled service intervals. What was a standard 100 hours and 1,000 miles of operation between servicing is now 200 hours and 2,000 miles.

"This offers farmers and ranchers more uptime, less time in their barns working on the vehicles and more time using them. It increases the use efficiency of the machine," Erspamer explains.

The front of the Northstar mounts a 4,500-pound winch with synthetic rope, auto stop and wireless remote. It can also be operated by way of a switch to the left of the steering wheel. You'll get an argument about which performs better, steel or synthetic rope. Polaris chose synthetic for one reason, among others: It won't sink into the mud.

The best part of the ride was the ride. It was fast and always felt controlled and safe. The XP 1000 Northstar hugged the trail superbly -- up and down hills, around corners at speed. In true all-wheel drive (AWD), the Polaris XP 1000 Northstar took on steep hills in high or low gear. AWD engages when the rear wheel begins to slip. Riding on 29-inch 8-ply Pro Armor X Terrain tires, the Northstar editions have 14 inches of ground clearance.

It felt like the Northstar edition was planted to the trail -- no tipping and no uncontrolled slides around corners.

"Polaris is a ride and handling company. That's what we've built our heritage on," Erspamer points out. "This model year '25 is no exception to that. The way we design our chassis that are super stiff, the way we design our suspension geometries and how we tune our suspension -- these allow the vehicle to work hard and to play hard. The vehicle stays planted and stays flat in the corners, and that offers a safe, secure feel for the operator."

The Ranger Crew XP 1000 Waterfowl Edition also returns to the hunt for 2025 (999 cc, 82 hp, starts at $25,499). The Waterfowl Edition is designed for flooded and muddy terrain. It runs on 29-inch Pro Armor Mud XC tires and has arched A-Arms for traction, ground clearance and stability. The special-edition model also features a high-mount winch over the bed and high-mount intakes, and is available in Waterfowl Hunt Camo.

The all-new Ranger Crew XP 1000 NorthStar Texas Edition (999 cc, 82 hp, starts at $36,999) features a new beefy front steel bumper and upper bumper arched A-Arms, 14 inches of ground clearance on 29-inch Pro Armor X-Terrain Tires, factory-installed heating and air-conditioning, a 4,500-pound winch, RIDE COMMAND, Pro Shield Cab with full glass tip-out windshield and power front windows, Texas Edition badging in a Bronze Pearl Metallic coating.

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-- Visit www.polaris.com/en-us/off-road/ranger for more information about the 2025 Ranger line.

-- Follow Dan on social platform X @DMillerPF

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