The Snowmobile of the Year award is reserved for the sled that does more than simply perform well — it has to represent something meaningful about the future of snowmobiling
Powersports Business’ sister publication Snow Goer awarded the 2027 Snowmobile of the Year to the Ski-Doo MXZ X-RS 600RR, a sled that it says stands out for more than just its performance.
Snow Goer says it didn’t choose the MXZ X-RS simply because of its exceptional performance as a trail sled. What truly set it apart from other machines was the technology under the hood and how that tech could shape the outlook of snowmobiling.
At the heart of the MXZ X-RS is the new Rotax 600RR E-Tec, a liquid-cooled 599cc 2-cylinder 2-stroke that produces a claimed 130 horsepower. Although just a 5hp increase over the 600 E-Tec it replaces, the 600RR uses additional booster injectors, revised cylinder porting, a new throttle-body design, and a higher maximum engine speed of 8,250 rpm. This results in a 20% improvement in throttle response, with stronger acceleration and a more aggressive power delivery.
At its core, the 600RR E‑TEC uses direct fuel injection, with a primary injector for normal operation and a booster injector for high RPM, delivering precise fuel, crisp throttle response, efficient combustion, and lower emissions. An ECM continuously monitors throttle, engine speed, load, and temperature to adjust fuel and ignition.
Ski-Doo also walked away with Snow Goer’s top honors last year, as the publication named the Summit X with Expert Package 850 E-TEC Turbo R 154 as its 2026 Snowmobile of the Year.
Snow Goer says the MXZ X-RS 600RR stands apart because of the meaningful step forward it takes without abandoning the hallmarks of what made the 600-class so attractive. It delivers more power and quicker response while using less oil and gas, all in a compact 2-stroke package.
The 600RR also introduces Smart ECO mode, which allows riders to prioritize efficiency and reduce fuel and oil consumption by 5% and 20%, respectively. It also introduces Silent-Stop, an automatic engine shutoff and restart system. It’s like what we’ve seen in the auto industry for several years, but the first time it’s been used on a snowmobile. This technology is a small but welcome detail for riders conscious of winter riding etiquette at trailheads and staging areas and helps to conserve fuel when not moving.
However, Snow Goer emphasized that it is not recommending this machine for everyone. At $15,500, it isn’t the most expensive sled on the floor, nor is it necessarily the fastest on the snow. But it chose the MXZ X-RS 600RR as its 2027 Snowmobile of the Year because it provides a vision of where the sport of snowmobiling is headed, and what is taking it there.