Polaris RZR XP 900 EFI

We are all busy with our workaholic lifestyles these days. The usual 10am to 6pm job, 5 days a week tires you so much that you want to cuddle up in your bed during the weekend and sleep like the Sleeping Beauty. Even going for a drive is no more a charming proposition. So, is there anything left in the world that’s still interesting?

Polaris has the answer for you. Polaris All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) brings fun back into your boring lives. We got a Ranger RZR XP 900 for a short drive, off the beaten path. This once was a rally-ready vehicle, having won several prizes in the past in the country.

Like the speed junkie I am, I gladly agreed to take it for a spin in the jungles near the MG Road in Gurgaon. The off-road terrain was rough and exciting.

The RZR XP 900 weights less than 600 kilos and is powered by an 875cc mid mounted 4-stroke, 2 cylinder engine which in all honesty is a lot for something that weighs that less. The engine is mated to an automatic PVT transmission with low and high range and all wheel drive or 2 wheel drive on demand. Behind the bulky cast aluminium wheels, you have 4 hydraulic Disc brakes with Bore-Calipers in the front to stop you from hitting a tree or falling into a ditch. 

The overall design of the exterior isn’t much, except the moulded plastics to make it look like a car with head lamps and a roll cage to protect you. With all the mechanical elements exposed, you can see them working quite clearly and I love that. Yet with barely any body panels, it looks mean, beautiful and alluring.

IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT

Inside the cabin you have the steering wheel which can be easily adjusted, a digital gauge with speedometer, a gear indicator, two seats, two pedals and a gear lever. In the one I drove, the standard seats had been removed and were replaced with racing seats with a 5 point harness which I’m quite thankful for.

All strapped in and for the first time with apprehension in H mode, I gingerly ease on the throttle and nothing happens, you press a little more and still nothing and then you press a little further and you go like hell. The steering is so easy to use, the system works perfectly and the big bulky tyres seem to be made out of helium as it made its way on some very bumpy terrain. It’s just so smooth and still easy to maneuver. If you get caught up on a hill, you can stop and just easily get up without a hitch, or if it seems too steep, put it into low range at it will get you out no matter what the surface or angle of the hill. 

But mind you, this Polaris Ranger is not something that you only have fun with over the weekend. It can be modified and put to great use. Polaris can fit the car with accessories to your liking. For a large farm you can get Plows or Winches attached to the front, or get a cabin enclosure to feel a bit safer, bumper guards and covers to protect the car, a stereo to entertain you, luggage and storage for added practicality or you can also opt for a 4 seater for your family. It’s not a road legal vehicle, but off-road it’s a man’s best friend. Farmers, construction workers, paramedics, army men, and sundry other people living and serving in the country’s inhospitable terrains can make full use of this vehicle, putting it to some very purposeful tasks. 

But for those living in the mundane concrete world like me, the Polaris Ranger RZR XP 900 is your best friend, off the beaten path!