The Polaris RANGER was the smallest of the UTVs that were at the test and it would be unfair to put it up against the two big hitters in the comparison test. The RANGER has a gutsy 567cc petrol engine producing an impressive 43hp. This power is transferred to the ground via a CVT gearbox which Polaris call their Polaris variable transmission (PVT). Drive to the wheels is selectable as four-wheel drive, two-wheel drive and one-wheel drive. One-wheel drive may seem a little odd for an off-road machine but this is Polaris’s very smart Versatrac turf mode. This allows the RANGER to turn on grass with no dragging as all the differentials are disengaged and one-wheel is only doing the pushing. The RANGER is a simple machine with just what is required to be a serious off-road machine.

The Polaris is priced very reasonably and the company believe it is the perfect stepping stone from quad to UTV. On the move the Polaris is a very different machine to drive than the diesel machines. It accelerates like a quad and carries on up to a top speed of 80km/h. There may be certain applications where this speed is required but at the test site speed was not required or used.

Climbing

The RANGER shows goat-like ability to climb inclines and its compact size allowed it to go around obstacles and over the top of sharp peaks without any nasty grounding noises. The PVT gearbox is belt driven so engine breaking was not available on the declines but a slight input of throttle was enough to not make the descent feel in any way out of control. Once you get over the strange sensation of pushing the throttle rather than the brake to go downhill, controlled descents became easy to master.

Changing from two- to four-wheel drive is easily done using a three-way rocker switch on the dash. Engaging the Versatrac mode while in the muck may not end well but in either two or four wheel drive the little Polaris is more than capable. The differential locks are automatically engaged once four-wheel drive is selected which means there is one less thing to think about when you are faced with a tough situation. When bringing the Polaris for a run down a smooth farm lane, a very good safety feature came to my attention, the RANGER will only travel at much slower speed until the seat belt has been closed. This is a very smart piece of safety equipment especially with the lofty top speed of this machine. Once back in the rough – with all four wheels doing the driving – the Polaris is a seriously capable machine, feeling like a big safe quad more than a UTV. The way the power comes from the petrol engine can both get you out of trouble and also make you arrive at a situation quicker than you want to if you are not careful.

Its ability to climb and ford water are very impressive with lots of power and grip if throttle inputs are kept fairly gentle. However, it does tempt you into getting overly brave, so reining yourself in is very important with this little machine. With a load of sheep feed (100kg) on board the RANGER carried on around the off-road course with very little difference except a possible improvement in grip when climbing, meaning less wheel spin.

Verdict

The RANGER 570 is an interesting piece of machinery. The fact that it feels like a bigger, safer quad it will appeal to the people who are used to quads but want some extra comfort and safety. For a small amount more money this machine makes sense for anyone who wants to move from quad to a UTV without breaking the bank.