Have you guys seen the new Polaris Xpedition? Let me start off by saying it looks like a blast. While these aren’t yet available to the public. Their non enclosed versions have been for sometime. They're popularity has allowed Polaris a cozy spot in the side by side world. As pricey as these suckers are, boy do they seem to sell! I am not sure what the official sales numbers are. But I have a dealership close by and dont think I have ever been there and seen the same models on the floor twice.
Your inner child would have to be dead and gone to look at the Polaris website and not be intrigued. Action shots abound. Whoever shot these pics must have had a hell of a time. These Side by Sides are pictured adventurin! With all manner of racks and lights! Coolers, cases and even tank treads. Pics of them blasting through all manor of terrain. Picture after picture of flying dust, splashing mud and flurries of snow all being slung off aggressive tires or treads! They sure do look fun and capable. And good lord the accessories! I have to imagine any manufacturer would swoon to have option list like these suckers have. The world is quite literally your oyster. As my dad said, "Cool Costs money". The only limit to how cool you can make your Polaris? It's pretty much gonna be proportional to your credit limit. Or the wifeys permission.
I can absolutely see the attraction.
And then I saw the cost involved.
Holy shit, it hits like the aching back of reality. Currently listed on their web site with four models ADV, ADV 5, XP and XP 5. Each model with three trim variants. Northstar, Premium and ultimate. Starting at $29.999 for the entry level two door model and well north of $44k for the crew cab. Thats before you start bolting on any of those awesome accessories! Yup, seeing those numbers? That's when the shine of the Polaris tarnished greatly, at least for me.
Who the hell is buying these things? First you drop 30-40K on a Polaris and then you need a trailer to bring it home since it's not even street legal? Lets just assume you already have a truck to haul the whole thing. Your still gonna need a place to store it and its trailer hell there's another 3/5 grand right there! Don't forget all those cool accessories! I mean it'd damn near be criminal to leave it stock! That's not gonna be cheap either!
I am not sure who is affording these suckers but if you're one of them and your hiring....
Thats when it hit me
You guessed it... This might be the best argument for Suzuki to bring the Jimmy back to America yet! Hear me out. If you want a stereo on the Polaris you have to step up to the ADV line a jump from $29 grand to $32,999. The Jimmy comes with apple car play stock. How about Ac and Heat? Pretty nice options to have in any vehicle. If you want it on the Polaris you have move it up to the Expedition ADV Northstar at $39,999. A feature that comes standard on the Jimmy.
There's no doubt the new Polaris will shine in its intended purpose off road use. with 114 HP engine, True On-Demand AWD, 2,000 lb. towing capacity. The Polaris also has 20 inches of usable suspension travel! Add to thats is aggressive, wheels pushed out past the front and rear overhangs stance? Theres no question it's a legit off road beast.
The Jimny with its comparable power at 100Hp isn't gonna blow minds speed wise. But then it's not supposed to. The body on chassis Suzuki has the benefit of choice when it comes to picking gears. An automatic or legit 5 speed transmission transfer case allowing for 2 or 4wd. Granted it does loose to the Polaris in suspension travel and with a 1300lb towing capacity. But that loss is quickly eclipsed when you see that a Jimny retails around $20,000 entry and $25,000 fully loaded! Oh and did I mention the Jimny is street legal!?! Even at the lowest bar of $29 grand for the entry level Polaris. having an extra $4 grand to play with on a jimmy is nothing to sneeze at! And with the Jimnys already impressive array of body kits and off road accessories. It might just be one of the few new vehicles that could match the Polaris in available options. And you can enjoy it any time you want. No trailering to special locations required!
In closing I'd still like to take a Polaris out for scientific reasons. But the Jimmy? well thats the one I want in my own driveway, with my name on the registration! C’mon Suzuki!! Bring the Jimny to the US!!!
James
The Lowered HMFIC
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