ATV Review: Polaris Sportsman ACE 4×4
We like to think that everything that can be invented already has been. That our labels and classifications are set in stone. ATVs are sat upon while UTVs are sat inside of; ATVs have handlebars and UTVs steering wheels. Then every once in a while a company comes along and turns all of rules we’ve clung to onto their head. Such is the case with the Polaris Sportsman ACE. It’s not a side-by-side because it only has a single seat. It’s not a standard ATV because that single seat is a bucket and forget handlebars, there’s a steering wheel responsible for directional changes here. It’s a machine sure to drive label junkies insane but for everyone else, it’s a unique riding experience that we’re excited to share.
Looking at the machine in person and perhaps even more so when climbing into the cockpit, all signs point to UTV territory. From said bucket seat, to steering wheel, from the pedal controls on the floor and roll-cage above: everything look and feels like a center-positioned, single-seater side-by-side. End of story, right? Well, no, not exactly. The chassis, specs, engine and transmission are identical to the Sportsman 4×4 ATV. In fact, the nimble nature of the machine and it’s narrow width are far more reminiscent to what we would classify as an ATV. Like we said, it’s a machine that defies classification. In fact, a good argument could be made that the Sportsman Ace is the unofficial successor to the Honda Odyssey (and then later Pilot) series of single-seater ATVs from the 1980s.
Powering the Sportsman ACE 4×4 is a new Polaris ProStar electronic fuel-injected dual-overhead-cam, single-cylinder, four-stroke good for 32 hp and a top speed around 47mph through an automatic CVT transmission/ shaft drive system. What this translates to in the real world is a smooth experience; a steady engine idle that, when put into gear, pulls strong and linear down low right up until its peak. While in no danger of breaking any land speed records, getting a machine that you’re seated inside up to nearly 50mph is certainly moving along at decent clip.
Additionally there are two ranges to select from- high and low. As logic would suggest, high is for zippier performance on relatively open terrain, yet we were hard pressed to find any obstacles, regardless of how technically challenging, that could give the Ace trouble even in high range. Chalk a lot of this up to the On-Demand True All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system that eliminates any and all terrain guesswork by automatically engaging AWD when needed, then reverting back to two-wheel drive when AWD is no longer needed. If you have yet to experience this system in action, trust us when we say it functions incredibly well and pulls the machine through all sorts of ugliness without ever making its presence known.
In our case, said ugliness consisted of several whooped out snow and slush covered loops containing large portions of semi-frozen standing water. The ACE zipped right through the muck and goo with nary a complaint. That reminds us, there is something ridiculously comforting about the the whole “being inside of” methodology of the UTV in nasty conditions that would have you soaked and eating slime on a traditional ATV. As your body is completely contained within the cozy cockpit, feet inside operating the pedals, there is a degree of detachment from the soup and slush that has to be experienced to be fully appreciated (Jeep owners and side-by-side enthusiasts know this benefit all too well). Beginners entering the fold with a Sportsman Ace and riders transitioning over from a traditional ATV will appreciate the element protection immediately.
The ROPS (Roll Over Protection System) cab frame is quite similar to the roll cages found on the RZR lineup and while unobtrusive from the factory, we wouldn’t hesitate to add the plastic roof official accessory from the Polaris catalog for additional element protection were this our machine to keep.
While we were unable to find the limitations of the ACE’s AWD traction (we also had low range at our disposal keep in mind), Polaris thoughtfully includes the wiring and mounting for a winch (3500 lb capacity) for those daring adventurers who might.
Suspending the ACE is 10.25 inches of ground clearance via 9.5 inches of rear travel (twin preload adjustable shocks) and a MacPherson strut design up front with 8.2 inches of wheel travel. Just like with the standard Sportsman 4×4, the suspension package here if fully independent. Does the similarity in spec sheets assure that both machines feel identical on the trail? Surprisingly, no. Chalk this up to the reality that being seated in a bucket in the center of a machine is inherently different than crouching atop a motorcycle-style seat and it’s immediately apparent that attacking the terrain demands a slightly different mindset. ATV riders have the added benefit of using their legs to absorb shock that the suspension and chassis don’t fully pick up but with the Sportsman Ace, the operator has to rely fully upon the shocks and choose his lines a bit more carefully as a result.
Out the box the suspension is plush and clearly aimed at sucking up trail clutter/ terrain imperfections and it does this very well. It can, however, be brought to its limits on square-edge lips, high-speed g-outs and jumps to flat of just about any size. If this describes the type of conditions you generally consider a good time, the move to fully adjustable aftermarket shocks may be a wise one.
Braking is predictable and consistent thanks to 4-wheel hydraulic discs with dual-bore front calipers. Of course the use of a pedal system doesn’t allow for the type of precision fore-aft braking control that a separate lever/ pedal would, don’t let this discourage. Anyone who has ever braked in a car will feel right at home with applying the single-pedal to scrub speed here. As an added bonus, Polaris even thought to include a dead pedal for your left foot. Sweet!
Perhaps the neatest sensation that a rider gets to experience with the Sportsman ACE is the seemingly contradictory feeling of UTV-style enclosure but ATV trail width. Trails that are otherwise far too narrow for a side-by-side will find the Ace right at home. With a width of 48-inches, this is a UTV that can hang with the ATV set in even the tight and twisties. As an added bonus there, no need to worry about special hauling arrangements either: The Sportsman ACE has no trouble whatsoever with the tried-and-true ramp to pickup truck bed means of transportation to and from the trail head.
On a final note it’s only right that we mention a final benefit to the ACE state of mind over that of a traditional ATV design: storage. The Sportsman ACE has a plenty! From an integrated 2.8-gallon semi-dry front storage trunk and high-capacity Lock & Ride cargo box with rack extenders and rear tie-down rails that also accepts the accessory Lock & Ride cargo box for additional dry storage, the little Ace is designed to carry 575-pounds of gear and can tow up to 1,500 pounds.
In conclusion, the times, they are a changing. The Polaris Sportsman ACE makes sense on so many levels it seems almost strange to consider that the side-by-side preceded it to market. It somehow manages to combine all of the best attributes of the ATV with the UTV without including the potential snags of either. Is this to say the machine is without flaw and will be universally cherished by all who encounter it? No, probably not. At 850lbs, it would be nice to witness weight shavings in subsequent generations and the option to lock the differentials for particularly ugly conditions/ towing duty would certainly be welcome. However, the list of pros on this $7,499 machine far outweighs the cons.
Perhaps the greatest trait the Sportsman ACE brings to the table is one that doesn’t cost a thing- and that is the fact that it’s the first of its kind to blur the lines between the ATV and UTV. Other manufacturers will surely follow suit in time and a whole new class of off-road machine will have been born thanks to Polaris’ forward thinking. Regardless of which brand you consider your favorite, it’s very difficult to argue with that.
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