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REAL TALK: Ranger 900 vs. Ranger 1000 – What’s the deal?

Dec. 17 2019 Equipment Reviews / Updates By Mandy Witt

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There’s been some confusion in the industry lately about the 2020 Ranger lineup. “What’s with the new Ranger 1000?” “What happened to the Ranger 900 XP?” “Where does the 1000 XP fit in all this?”
Well, we’re here to clear up some of the questions regarding the work machine that leads the industry.

The truth of the matter is, the Ranger 900 XP is retiring and Polaris launched the Ranger 1000 to take its place. And man did it. Similar to a car company, Polaris launched their 2020 models with upgrades to their lineup and that’s what the Ranger 1000 is – the 900 XP with the improvements everyone is looking for. Polaris re-thought the machine carefully and made critical, thoughtful upgrades for an extremely minimal price increase. We’re talking $300 for a huge number of upgrades.  The Ranger XP 1000 is the premium version of the 1000 model and has 50+ upgrades to boast about as well. But, for this article, we’re going to focus on the Ranger 900 XP vs. the 1000 to shed some light on the value customers are getting in the all-new Ranger 1000.

Here’s your upgrade list from the retiring Ranger 900 XP to the Ranger 1000:

  • New, larger engine: New, 999cc Single Over-Head Cam (SOHC) ProStar® Engine (vs. 875cc ProStar 4-stroke twin cylinder engine in the old Ranger 900.)
  • More towing capacity: 2,500 lbs of towing capacity vs. 2000 lbs in the 900. That’s a 25% increase! Plus, 4% more torque at lower RPM (Ranger 1000 has 55 lb.ft. @ 3,600 rpm vs. the 900 with 53 lb.ft. @ 6,500 rpm) 
  • Industry-leading hauling: The same 1,000 lb rated cargo box and 1,500 lb payload rating as the Ranger 900. But, haul and tow more smoothly at lower RPMs with the new SOHC ProStar Engine which is optimized for smooth operation and strong pulling power.
  • Adjusted horsepower for better low speed handling and towing: The Ranger 1000 is 61 HP vs.  68 HP in the Ranger 900. Yes, we hear you on the lower horsepower but wait until you tow with this thing and work with it in low power mode. As one customer put it: "At first, I hated the fact that it only has 61hp whereas my 900 had 68hp… but I love the low grunt this thing has and so glad I got it over a faster top speed machine." 
  • Larger cargo box: 10% larger cargo box in the 1000 vs. the 900
  • A redesigned interior:
    • 5-inch larger cab opening for easier entry and exit
    • Maximized cabin space with 8.4 gallons of under-seat storage and 3.4 gallons of in-dash storage
    • Cut and sew seats with 25% more padding
  • New clutch for smoother ride: The all-new Pro- PVTi clutch was reengineered for improved low speed drivability (making this the smoothest Ranger we’ve ever driven)
  • The tough became tougher: 
    • Stronger, one-piece chassis
    • Longer lasting, sealed bearings and bushings
    • Full-body skid plate (which gives it 50% more coverage than the 900 XP)
    • The premium model comes with a huge steel bumper with 25% more front protection and accessory integration
  • Better maneuverability: 8% tighter turning radius
  • Larger fuel tank: 13.5% larger to be exact
  • Set up for the accessories you want: 
    • 3-position Pulse electrical system bar
    • Same Ranger Pro-shield cab system as the XP 1000 giving you a tight seal
    • Integrated accessory mounting points
  • The same great travel and suspension:  12 inches of ground clearance and 10 inches of usable suspension travel

At a mere $300 in cost difference and with the list of the above upgrades, we can say comfortably that you’ll get your money’s worth. The biggest pushback we get from customers lately is, “I don’t need a 1000. That’s too big with too much power.” Well, you’re right. It has more power but at the same price point. So, our question back to you is:

Why wouldn’t you want more power, better handling, a smoother ride and a better interior for the same amount of money?

Still have questions about the Ranger 900 XP vs. the Ranger 1000? Give us a shout or stop in. We’ve got a machine in the showroom decked out with interactive signage and indicators to visually show you what you’ll get in the all-new Ranger 1000.