Polaris XP Kinetic

When it comes to big-boys’ toys, they don’t come much bigger, better, or more appealing than an all-electric UTV.

Traditional UTVs are the bread and butter of many hunters, keepers, and farmers working in rough country, but there has always been a slight problem from a hunting perspective. Traditional UTVs, or indeed quads, can get you anywhere – but they don’t tend to do it very quietly, and prey is often all too aware there’s someone about that they would probably do well to avoid.

Hence my interest in the Kinetic. In terms of sound, basically there isn’t any. When you power it up via the key and optional pin code, the only way you can tell it’s on is by the lights on the dash and some external LEDs. On the road (or the hill), the predominant sound is from the tyres, the hum of the motor, and the suspension. There’s no comparison with a traditional UTV; it’s an entirely different experience. On grassy fields and gentle slopes, it’s extremely stealthy, with sound levels in the cab (from the motor and tyres) louder inside the vehicle than outside.

So what do you get for your hefty investment?

The Ranger XP Kinetic ships with a 110 horsepower permanent magnet AC motor, delivering 140 lb·ft (190 Nm) of instant torque, roughly 35% more than any other utility side-by-side on the market. There are two flavours: the Premium Trim, featuring a 14.9 kWh lithium-ion battery, with an estimated range of up to 45 miles (70 km), and the Ultimate Trim, which happens to be the machine on test, boasting a 29.8 kWh battery that delivers an estimated range of up to 80 miles (130 km). Be warned, though, that you may lose 20% in extreme cold conditions.

You can charge the beast via a standard 240V household socket or a dedicated EV charging port. Charging times from 0% to 100% using a 240V outlet are approximately five hours for the Premium Trim and ten hours for its big brother.

What does that translate to in terms of time on the ground?

During testing, I’d estimate I was getting four typical three- to four-hour hunting trips between charges – with a safety margin. Bear in mind that was over some very rough country and during mid-winter in the Welsh mountains, with a minimum of two (far from lightweight) shooters aboard plus all their gear. That was a lot better than I was expecting.

These were typical foxing trips, not constant motoring. All my local permissions are strung along the valley, and trips involve driving up and down the road and into the farms, hills, and mountains, with regular stops as we scanned for Charlie. This was all done in Standard mode, although there’s also an Eco+ setting and the terrifyingly fast Sport mode, which is to be avoided unless you’re in open country. On the road, it flies along at 40 mph in standard mode, which is plenty fast enough in a very short wheelbase vehicle like the Kinetic.

The rough stuff

So how does this EV cope off-road? Let me give you an example. On one trip, Big Al and I headed down the valley after drawing a blank at a local farm, the destination being a large field of maize stubble that often produces a fox or two. True to form, there was a fox, which eventually sat on the far side of the field and fell to the shot. All that remained was to collect our prize.

There were two options: cross the field in the UTV or drive up one of the roughest rutted tracks in the area – or possibly in the entire UK. Neither option was particularly appealing, but we opted for the track as said fox was just over the fence line in the adjacent field. It was shockingly bad – even worse than I remembered – with massive ruts requiring us to crawl along with one set of wheels in a rut, which pitched the ATV over at a very worrying angle.

As we crept along, I was seriously regretting my decision and having visions of rolling over this £30k machine – not something I wanted to explain to the lovely people at Polaris. However, at this point, we were committed; it was onward or abandon the vehicle. Eventually, the ruts flattened out a little, and we managed to reach Charlie.

After that perilous approach, I really didn’t fancy a return journey via the same route. At this point, the moonlit stubble field suddenly looked very appealing, but 20m in, it proved that looks can be very deceptive as the sodden field swallowed up the massive tyres and 14in travel offered by the Kinetic. I gunned the throttle, and the XP fishtailed in a valiant attempt to break free of the mud. At this point, we started sliding sideways down the fairly steep field as Big Al and I shared a slightly terrified “this was a big mistake” glance at each other.

After scanning the dash for salvation, Al spotted that we were still in two-wheel drive, and with a push of a button, we were saved. All four wheels kicked in, and the Kinetic valiantly dug itself out of the hole I had created for it, getting us back to firmer ground in short order. I’ve spent a fair amount of time in UTVs, and this was as tough a spot as I’ve ever been in. Mud with the consistency of cold porridge was up to the axles. The Kinetic saved the day, and indeed my blushes. So yes, it’s as good as it gets off-road. I have no qualms in stating that for the record.

Any issues?

In terms of driving experience, bells and whistles, I have no complaints whatsoever. The Kinetic has smartphone connectivity, music system, reversing camera, tipping flatbed, and all manner of system-tweaking options courtesy of the 7in Ride Command touchscreen control panel. There was even a tow bar fitted, but I’m not sure that it comes as standard. Driving the thing is a doddle. It’s fully auto with a central gear selector, just like a traditional UTV, with the added bonus of a flick switch to swap between forward and reverse. The only thing you need to do is get into the habit of remembering to press the brake when switching modes, but it really is all perfectly straightforward.

The test vehicle supplied was a track-day demo unit, so there was no winch, but by far the biggest omission, especially for a guy who lives halfway up a mountain in mid-Wales, was a heater – or more specifically, the lack of one. There were several nights when the temperature dropped well below freezing, icing up the flip-up windscreen both inside and out. Unfortunately, a heater is an optional extra and costs £2,998.80, but I’d say that it would be a must-have for most people in the UK.

A rational argument

For most of us, the Kinetic probably won’t make it any further than our lottery win wish list. It’s a fantastic machine but toe-curlingly expensive for a hunting hobbyist, placing it well beyond all but the most well-heeled. However, if you actually need an ATV for other things, even at the current price, the Kinetic does have real appeal.

When Storm Darragh ripped down the valley, it took a number of my trees with it – my home is basically a woodland smallholding, with lots of trees growing on steep slopes. Over the following days, the Kinetic came into its own, not only as a hunting tool but also as a real lifesaver when it came to clearing up. There’s a narrow switchback-style track that runs from the top of the property down to the level of the house. In the summer months, I just might attempt tree extraction with my pickup, but it would be a very tight squeeze, and given that it has the turning circle of an oil tanker, it would be a very challenging process in the best conditions and downright impossible in winter.

The Kinetic took to the task like a duck to water, flying up and down the steep, muddy slopes effortlessly. Within a couple of days, all the damage was cleared away, some of which might otherwise have still been lying there this time next year. A couple of days’ hard labour that would have been impossible without it, and it barely put a dent in the battery charge level.

That’s the argument in favour of the Kinetic. If you do have a real-world job for it, other than the hunting, which given its silent nature it does exceptionally well, it’s very appealing. It’s a 14-mile round trip to the nearest petrol station to fill up jerry cans for a traditional petrol UTV, diesel variants are notoriously sluggish and often best avoided, but with this little truck, you just pull up to the shed, plug it in, and head off to bed, safe in the knowledge that there’ll be another 80 miles in the tank the following morning.

Tech specs

Overall length: 120 in (305 cm)

Width: 62.5 in (158 cm)

Height: 78 in (198 cm)

Wheelbase: 81 in (206 cm)

Ground clearance: 14 in (35.6 cm)

Wheels: 14 in with 29 in Pro Armor X-Terrain tyres

Towing capacity: Up to 2,500 lb (1,134 kg)

Payload: 1,500 lb (680 kg)

Cargo box: 1,250 lb (567 kg)

Additional features: LED headlights; charge-indicating centre accent light; full-body skid plate; full-coverage front bumper with integrated winch and plough mounts; 12V cargo box power port with integrated dash switch; selectable drive modes: Eco+, Standard, and Sport; on-demand all-wheel drive; regenerative braking; optional 7 in infotainment display with Ride Command technology.

Supplier: www.polarisbritain.com

Price: £29,199 + VAT