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Polaris set the stage in Nashville for the launch of its new Ranger XD 1500 that features a new 3-cylinder engine and steel belt transmission .

BY BRENDAN BAKER EDITOR IN CHIEF

Just when you think Polaris has reached the limit of what the market will bear with its premium off-road models , such as the new Xpedition adventure recreational sideby-sides , they raise the bar once again with an extreme-duty Ranger XD 1500 utilityfocused UTV .

When we got the invite to attend the Polaris ' summer dealer meeting in Nashville , we were excited since it was the first time since before the pandemic that dealers got together in one venue to get pumped up about the new models , get the inside scoop on the new Ranger and Xpedition side-bysides and talk to company reps about how many they ' ll receive for their showrooms later this year .

While walking the show , we ran into Nate McNeilly and Justin Ogg of Chopper City Sports in Fridley , Minnesota . Ogg says they can ' t get enough of the premium Polaris models . " It doesn ' t matter if it ' s Ranger , RZR , or a crossover ; we continually go back and forth on whether it makes sense even to order value brand stuff right now . If it doesn ' t have Ride Command and premium audio , it seems like why even bother ."

Every time the ceiling is raised , Polaris finds a way to blow it off again with an even more ground-breaking machine that doesn ' t fit into any category . That was the case with the Xpedition launched in May , as the sideby-side has since captured the hearts of overlanding enthusiasts everywhere . Now , the Ranger XD kicks it up another level in the utility category for heavy-duty rigs , basically creating a new segment with top-of-market , premium pricing to match .

Most of the dealers we talked to at the show say they can ' t get enough of these offroad rigs in their showrooms ( sometimes , quite literally ). In some ways , it defies logic that a side-by-side , costing as much as a wellequipped truck or SUV , could sell so well . But then again , not much in the past few years has made sense .

Polaris seems to know what their customers want . The Ranger XD was borne out of discussions with customers who said they needed a vehicle that could carry heavy loads like a truck but drive like a UTV through rugged terrain quickly and as comfortably . It ' s no small task , but the Ranger XD has delivered with impressive specs .

The rest of the 2024 lineup that Polaris unveiled in Nashville included a host of riderinspired updates , refreshed styling and new colors . The Sportsman 570 and XP 1000 Hunt editions return to the lineup , and a premium trim offering was announced for the 2024 General 1000 to upgrade the style and performance . Ride Command + also received enhanced features for 2024 , delivering more connectivity features , giving peace of mind to riders via new location bump alerts and check-in messaging .

" From the completely redesigned 2024 RZR XP and the industry ' s first ' adventure side-by-side ' Polaris Xpedition to the all-new Ranger XD 1500 , this year has been a powerful showcase of our ongoing commitment to lead the industry and innovate for our riders ," says Steve Menneto , president of Polaris Off-Road . " While those revolutionary product debuts are pivotal , our unwavering focus on refining and enhancing our current offerings based on customer needs and feedback remains essential , and that ' s what the 2024 updates represent ."

Menneto told us it was great getting everyone together for the dealer meeting . " It ' s a big deal to get everybody back together again . And then the products , if you look at what we ' ve done from almost two years ago with the new 570 , then the Turbo R Pro , Kinetic , Razor XP , Xpedition , and then finally the Ranger XD , it ' s been a string of big new models ," he says . " The Ranger , with its 3 / 4− ton capacity , and the new 3−cylinder engine , steel belt transmission , is really bringing together all these technologies and creating great packages for consumers . And that ’ s what ' s really cool because it shows what we ' re capable of . We ' ll see now how many derivative products come from this ."