Product review – The Polaris General XP 1000 Ultimate

Nick Faulkner with Young Powersports called me with an offer to ride and review the Polaris General XP 1000 Ultimate. There are three models, in two and four-seat versions, in the General lineup – a sport, premium, and Ultimate. Nick brought an Ultimate to the trailhead for this ride.

The General is in a class of crossovers. That means that, while it has a lot of sporty features, it still has a dump bed with a 600-pound capacity that will carry a lot of gear. The Xpedition also fits in the crossover class. Nick mentioned that this class has 15 models, prompting me to inquire about the total number of models in Polaris’s full lineup.

Nick had to run some numbers for the answer. When he called me back, he asked if I was sitting down. I did, and he started going through the categories. Including crossovers, the RZR line, Rangers, Sportsman ATVs, and youth models, Polaris offers 108 different styles. With Polaris, there is a different model number for every color, so that raises the number to 193 models offered by Polaris. Whew!

The basic General is the Sport model, and it comes with some great features:

• 14 inches of travel – 13.5 inches of ground clearance
• A poly-sport roof
• A Polaris HD Plus 4500-pound winch
• 30-inch Pro Armor Crawler XG tires
• LED lights
• Walker Evans velocity shocks

The premium edition adds:

• A Rockford Fosgate audio system
• A convex rearview mirror
• A padded center console

The Ultimate edition adds:

• A 7” screen displayed in the cockpit powered by Ride Command with an Integrated Rearview Camera
• A Rockford Fosgate Stage 3 Audio system with four speakers and a subwoofer.

One of the features Nick pointed out to me has to do with the Pro Armor tires. The tread pattern on the front set of tires is different from the pattern on the rear set. The purpose is to enhance turning and handling. I haven’t heard of that before, but I like the idea.

One of the features Nick pointed out to me has to do with the Pro Armor tires. The tread pattern on the front set of tires is different from the pattern on the rear set. The purpose is to enhance turning and handling. I haven’t heard of that before, but I like the idea.

Nick brought the four-seat model for this review. When I slipped into the cab, I noticed how roomy it was. The seats were also comfortable. I drove the General 77 miles, and the ride was enjoyable. I also noticed that the back seat is not short on comfort. Nick pointed out that the Walker Evans shocks had a lot to do with the comfort factor. He had adjusted them to a comfort setting before starting our ride by simply turning a nob on the top of each shock.

This was the top-of-the-line General, which features Ride Command. I am a big fan of this navigation system. My grandson was on this ride, and his Polaris Pro XP also has this feature. He joined our riding group, and we were able to keep track of each other on the trail. The backup camera is also a feature of Ride Command that I enjoy.

Some four-seat UTVs are so long that they are challenging to maneuver on tight trails. The General is 150.2 inches, which is just over 12.5 feet. I didn’t notice the length being a problem on this ride. I missed a turn and was surprised at how easy it was to turn around.

The General doesn’t have engine braking, but the driveline features an engine deceleration assist (EDA), which does help in steep descents. It keeps the clutch engaged until a certain speed is reached before disengaging.

The 64-inch width is the same as on my RZR. It is my preferred size for comfort and stability. Stopping the General is accomplished by 4-wheel hydraulic disc brakes with dual-bore front and rear calipers.

There was one thing I didn’t like about the four-seat. I was sold on buying one until I did the math. Not financially, but in length. I can’t fit my RZR and the General on my 22’ trailer.