Is this ATV Better than a Side-by-Side?

UTV Driver

ATV vs UTV? What's the right rig for you? To find out, we took a trip to Windrock Park with the 2025 Polaris General XP 1000 Ultimate and the 2025 Polaris Scrambler XP 1000 S. These two rigs are at the absolute top of their respective class and make the strongest argument for each side of the debate. To help us each make our case, we brought along the Cardo PackTalk Edge ORV to stay in communication with each other throughout the entire ride. Packtalk Edge ORV: Code 'octane' for 10% off https://cardosystems.rfrl.co/z8qy5   Looking to buy? Get prequalifed https://octane.co/vehicle-selection/?partner=A8PrQQB&a=298&flow=long-prequal&appTheme=3a49337c5724d18079602a4ca5a91626  Favorite Gear:  Packtalk Edge ORV: Code 'octane' for 10% off https://cardosystems.rfrl.co/z8qy5  For more stories, reviews, and first-looks check out https://www.utvdriver.com/   Want to see even more shenanigans from the UTV Driver team? Give us a like and follow:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UTVdriver/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utvdrivermagazine/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/utvdriver/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@utvdriver

Transcript

00:00Do you think I should get an ATV or a UTV?

00:03There we go!

00:05We are at Windrock Park yet again in Oliver Springs, Tennessee,

00:08and we have come here to answer an age-old question.

00:11People ask us buying advice all the time.

00:13We get it in the comments, we get emails,

00:15we get conversations in person saying,

00:18dude, I'm looking for something to go off-roading,

00:20but I kind of want to do some work, I want to party on a trail.

00:23Do you think I should get an ATV or a UTV?

00:25And well, that's kind of a tough question to answer,

00:28and it really comes down to your specific preferences.

00:31But here we stand with a 2025 Polaris General XP-1000 Ultimate

00:35and a 2025 Polaris Scrambler XP-1000S.

00:40We have an ATV and a UTV from the same company.

00:44It's a foggy day at Windrock,

00:45and we thought, why not try to answer that age-old question?

00:49Let's take a look at the players.

00:51On my left, we have the Polaris General XP-1000 Ultimate.

00:54This is the absolute top of the pile in Polaris's two-door general lineup.

00:59This thing has ride command.

01:00It has a stereo.

01:01It has adjustable Walker Evans needle shocks.

01:03It comes with a winch from the factory.

01:06If you're looking for a rec-ute from Polaris

01:07and you don't want the Expedition, this is your girl.

01:10It retails for right around $25,000.

01:13It has near as makes no difference 100 horsepower

01:15from a 1000cc ProStar parallel twin

01:18mated to Polaris's PVT continuously variable automatic.

01:22Now, on my right, we have the 2025 Polaris Scrambler XP-1000S.

01:28This is the absolute top of the pile when it comes to Polaris ATVs.

01:32It's sort of a rec-ute ATV,

01:34but it leans much more heavily towards recreation and sport,

01:38probably a better analog for the likes of the Polaris Razor Pro R.

01:41This is the most expensive ATV in Polaris's lineup at $17,999 as it sits.

01:48And you may notice, the footprint is not that much different from the General's.

01:52It's 55 inches wide, which for an ATV is ludicrous.

01:56It also has a 1000cc parallel twin mated to the PVT continuously variable automatic.

02:02It makes 89 horsepower, so it's ridiculously close to the Ranger in horsepower.

02:06It weighs about half as much,

02:08and so it should be a pretty good analog

02:11if you've got to sit on top of something to get your riding done.

02:14With me is UTV driver editor Anders Carlson.

02:17Anders, you ready to party, man?

02:18What do you think? You got any predictions?

02:20You know what? I try to come to everything with an open mind.

02:22This is the most fun kind of problem to solve.

02:24Which one is more fun?

02:26You know, on one hand, we've got the rec-ute here,

02:28and we spend a lot of time with UTVs,

02:30and this works and parties.

02:32ATV seems like it just parties.

02:34So, you know, on paper, I think you're right.

02:35That thing does have a bed, and it does have a trailer hitch,

02:38neither of which the Scrambler has,

02:39but the Scrambler's got racks front and rear,

02:42and it's a big machine.

02:43Like, you could bolt some stuff to it.

02:45I think this thing's a harder worker than you're giving it credit for.

02:48So to figure this out, you're starting in the UTV,

02:50I'm starting on the ATV.

02:51Is that how we're doing this?

02:52That's how we're doing it.

02:53Okay, and at the top of the mountain, we're going to switch,

02:55and when we get back here, we'll talk about which one we'd have.

02:57You know what?

02:58I did forget something.

02:59Before we go, we should tell the fine people

03:02that we brought our Cardo Pac-Talk edges along.

03:05You know, we're going to want to talk to each other going up the trail,

03:07kind of take notes as we go.

03:08That's why we brought the Cardo Pac-Talk Edge.

03:10This is a great solution for an in-helmet communicator.

03:14You can also get a set of headphones to put these in

03:16and stay in touch with your buddies on the trail.

03:19Cardo was kind enough to sponsor this video for us,

03:21so let's talk a little bit about the Pac-Talk Edge.

03:23These things install in your helmet with absolutely no tools.

03:27You just kind of pull out some of the insulation to route the microphone.

03:29This thing has some double-sided tape on the back, basically.

03:32You can stick it on there.

03:33You don't have to unscrew anything, unbolt anything.

03:35No tools required.

03:36Just slaps right on.

03:37And it's a similar deal with the Edge phones.

03:39Those are even easier.

03:40The Cardo just slots right onto the side of the headphone, and away you go.

03:44The Pac-Talk Edge also features Cardo's dynamic mesh communications.

03:48That means you can connect up to 15 comms in one group

03:51with up to one mile of head-to-head connectivity,

03:54or you can connect up to five miles if you've got enough people in the group.

03:58If you lose sight of your buddies or you get out of range,

04:00the Pac-Talk Edge will automatically reconnect once you get back into range

04:04to keep you in contact for the entire ride.

04:06They also feature natural voice technology,

04:09which means, essentially, there's no button to push to talk to people.

04:12If you want to reach out to your buddies, you just start talking.

04:14They're going to hear you.

04:15And because these things can Bluetooth to your phone,

04:18if you want to hear audio or control the Cardo from the app,

04:20you just say,

04:21Hey Siri, play music.

04:22And it plays music right through the Cardo.

04:24And something that's especially important on a day like today,

04:26when it's gross out, these things are IP67 rated.

04:29That means they're water, mud, and dustproof.

04:31There's a JBL speaker in here, so you get crystal clear audio.

04:35That's for the helmet solution and for the Edgephones helmetless solution.

04:39And when you're rocking that JBL speaker, listening to tunes,

04:42they also feature audio mixing,

04:43which means you can be listening to tunes,

04:45your GPS, and your buddies all at the same time.

04:48And the Cardo will automatically figure out

04:49which one it needs to prioritize.

04:51When you're rocking down the trail

04:52and your GPS needs to tell you to take a turn,

04:55but you've got your tunes on,

04:56it will automatically cut in and say,

04:58Hey, turn right.

04:59Or if your friend needs to stop and have a water,

05:01it'll automatically cut in

05:03and let you know that he's going to stop.

05:05The Pac-Talk Edge is also powered by the Cardo app,

05:08which is fantastic because on here,

05:10you can mix audio profiles for your JBL speaker,

05:13so you can adjust volumes,

05:14you can adjust mic sensitivity,

05:15you can connect it to music,

05:17and it will tell you how much battery you've got left.

05:19This thing is fantastic,

05:20and it just Bluetooths right to the Cardo.

05:22It's super simple.

05:23It takes five minutes to set up,

05:25and then you are on your way.

05:26With that out of the way,

05:27let's throw these helmets on and get up the mountain.

05:28All right, let's do it.

05:29All right, let's go.

05:30Oh, Polaris Scrambler 1000 S.

05:34Woo!

05:39Even in standard throttle mode,

05:41this thing is pu-pu-pu-peppy.

05:43I guess that makes sense

05:44when it's got just about 1,000 pounds to move around

05:48and 100 horsepower to do it with.

05:50If you fall off the mountain,

05:52just yell, and we'll stop.

05:54You'll know because you won't see me anymore.

05:56Oh, it's true.

05:57So if you fall off the mountain,

05:59just go,

05:59oh,

06:00and then we'll know that you're falling off the mountain.

06:03Hey, where'd the big nuclear yellow ATV go?

06:05Well, off the mountain.

06:07How's it going back there?

06:08You staying dry?

06:09No.

06:10I mean,

06:11the weather is positively liver puddly-ing today,

06:13and, well,

06:15it's a bit English.

06:17I'm feeling pretty liver puddly-ing about it.

06:18Oh, no, the mud!

06:20Ah!

06:20It's so muddy!

06:24Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

06:25Hey, I tell you what,

06:26I was a little nervous about how big this ATV is

06:30with handlebars and a fairly wide track at 55 inches,

06:34but Polaris puts electronic power steering on these things.

06:38It is positively telepathic.

06:41Yeah, you just look where you want to go and think about it,

06:43and the ATV's like,

06:44all right, bro.

06:45If anything,

06:45you kind of got to make sure that you're committed before you look

06:48because it turns pretty quick.

06:49I got to tell you, man,

06:51this General is like a mountain goat, man.

06:52This thing will just climb up anything.

06:54Oh, yeah.

06:55Don't say that too soon.

06:56We all know what your tendencies are.

06:58Oh, come on now.

07:00See, you're going to jinx me, man.

07:02No, never.

07:04Uh-oh.

07:04Oh, no.

07:05Oh, look at that.

07:06Uh-oh.

07:07Looks like we have a non-UTV,

07:09non-ATV that is stuck on the way up this mountain.

07:13Oh, we can maybe just get around you.

07:14We'll get out of your way.

07:15How about that?

07:16Okay.

07:17That's very kind of them.

07:18Thank you, guys.

07:20Thanks, buddy.

07:33Man, I do not envy those boys.

07:36No, I don't either.

07:37Here comes the sun.

07:39Do-do-do-do.

07:40It got sunnier and muddier at the same time.

07:43This is America.

07:44We can have it all.

07:45What do you think?

07:46That was some fun.

07:48Yeah?

07:48You know, I'm a motorcycle guy,

07:50but I've got to tell you,

07:51that is just a lot of fun.

07:53Right?

07:53You just couldn't put a foot wrong, man.

07:55No, and so stable and fast.

07:56I've got to tell you,

07:57this thing is awesome.

07:59It is so fast.

08:01It's so stable.

08:02Like, most ATVs I've been on

08:04have felt pretty sketchy.

08:05They're narrow,

08:06and they're not nearly as planted.

08:07This thing's got a nice wide drag.

08:08It really does feel like a side-by-side

08:10that you sit on,

08:11which is super comforting.

08:12And it's got electronic power steering,

08:15so the steering takes no effort.

08:16I'm pretty into that,

08:17although you can see

08:18why people go for side-by-sides.

08:20Based on the amount of mud on you

08:22versus the amount of mud on me,

08:24I'm wearing Windrock right now,

08:26and I've got to say,

08:27that is one drawback.

08:28But you know what?

08:28We don't come out here to stay clean.

08:30To me, it's better a muddy day

08:31than a dusty day.

08:32So I'll take this any day of the week.

08:34Now, I am interested to see

08:35the back-to-back comparison,

08:37but I've got to say,

08:37it's going to be hard

08:38for that general

08:39to beat this scrambler, I think.

08:41Well, I guess it's my turn

08:41to get muddy, huh?

08:42Yeah, I think it's your turn

08:43to get muddy

08:44and figure out where you stand.

08:46But one thing I'm looking forward to,

08:47though, is the screens in that thing.

08:49You just have one little gauge pod.

08:51That's got ride command

08:52to tell you where you're going.

08:53I'm really looking forward

08:54to getting into that,

08:55maybe putting some tunes on.

08:56Gotcha.

08:57Well, after we're done,

08:58I'll see if I can actually see

08:59what the gauges say.

09:00Ah, good call.

09:01All right, let's get back to it.

09:02I'm going to get less muddy.

09:03You're going to get more muddy.

09:04So let's jump in and get to it.

09:07Okay.

09:08Ah, look at this.

09:09This feels familiar.

09:12Oh, this is just terrifying already.

09:15It's only going to get more terrifying.

09:17All right, we'll keep the pace normal.

09:19I think I'm still Team ATV,

09:21but I can really see the appeal

09:22of a side-by-side

09:23now that I'm in one.

09:24I'll bet you I've only unleashed

09:25about half of the,

09:27what is it,

09:2889 ponies to this thing.

09:29And man, this thing is fun.

09:31This thing is wild and wooly.

09:33You know, from a motorcycle riding perspective,

09:35it's kind of the opposite

09:36of what you're trying to do.

09:37You're trying to lean,

09:38but you don't got to lean.

09:39You really just kind of got to work with it

09:40and just sort of feel it underneath you

09:42and kind of hang loose.

09:43No, I definitely get you.

09:45It's weird to have handlebars

09:47and not have to counter-steer.

09:48I love Ride Command.

09:50It's telling me all the functions,

09:51all the,

09:52everything that's going on with the rig

09:53and I can switch it over to the map mode

09:55if I want to know where I am,

09:57which is the United States of America.

09:59I've got my buddy with me.

10:01All right, Anders,

10:01what are your impressions?

10:02Doesn't it feel stable?

10:03More stable than you would have thought?

10:05No, I love this thing, man.

10:06It just ruts.

10:07It doesn't matter.

10:08You just power through

10:09in and out of anything.

10:11You know, I'm pretty solid UTV,

10:13but I don't know.

10:15I'm kind of ATV curious with this thing.

10:17This thing could be sort of inching ahead.

10:19It's not as simple as I thought.

10:21Oh, the brakes work too.

10:22Great.

10:23I've got to tell you,

10:24I really kind of dig the thumb throttle.

10:25To someone who hasn't spent

10:26a lot of time on ATVs,

10:28it's kind of the one thing

10:29that always sort of pleasantly

10:30you can sort of hang on

10:31and just let your thumbs do the talking.

10:36Digging these cartos, man.

10:38It's really nice to stay in touch

10:39and like keep our notes together

10:40as we're driving, you know?

10:42That reminds me,

10:43I've got a poem I wrote to you.

10:44And now with the Cardo,

10:45I can, you know.

10:46Oh, yeah?

10:47How's it go?

10:48I'm not lying.

10:49I didn't actually write you.

10:50Yeah, so you didn't actually

10:51write a poem, did you?

10:52I knew if I tried to make you improvise,

10:54your ruse would fall apart.

10:57Oh, that's going to be fun.

11:02I told you this trail

11:03would make you money

11:04whether you want it to be or not.

11:05All right.

11:06Pull up in the waterfall.

11:07Okay, so we both spent time

11:09on each machine.

11:10I have got the ancient debate

11:11of ATV versus UTV

11:13settled in my head.

11:14Where are you?

11:14It's close.

11:15It's a lot closer than I thought.

11:16I agree.

11:17I am 99% ATV,

11:19but I'm 100% UTV.

11:21Okay, 99 to 100.

11:23Well, 100's still more than 99.

11:25Two winners, almost.

11:27Well, almost two winners.

11:28I got to tell you what,

11:29I'm going with the ATV in this.

11:31I'm sort of more 98 UTV,

11:32100% ATV.

11:33And I'll tell you why,

11:35and it's maybe a little unfair

11:36to the general.

11:37That ATV is kind of the pinnacle

11:39of ATVs right now, right?

11:40Like, it's the biggest,

11:41it's the baddest,

11:42it's the most expensive,

11:43it has close to as much horsepower

11:44as you can get in an ATV.

11:45There are competitors

11:46with similar numbers,

11:47blah, blah, blah.

11:48But like,

11:49it's an absolute riot.

11:51Like, ATVs have come a long way.

11:53When you get on that thing

11:54versus like,

11:55a Yamaha Banshee

11:56or like an old Polaris sportsman

11:58or a Honda Rancher,

11:59like,

12:00they're a different class of machine.

12:01Now,

12:02ranchers and sportsmans

12:03and that kind of stuff

12:04are made for more utilitarian purposes,

12:06but like,

12:06you'll hear out there

12:07that the sport ATV is dead

12:09and I can tell you it's not.

12:10It's the Polaris Scrambler XP1000.

12:13That thing,

12:14rrrr, rrrr,

12:15rips

12:15and it feels so planted

12:17compared to what you're used to

12:18on an ATV.

12:19If you used to ride an ATV

12:20and you thought,

12:21no, I'm getting away from that,

12:22they're scary,

12:22come ride one of these.

12:23You will have your mind blown

12:25between the power steering,

12:27the adjustable suspension,

12:29the PVT automatic transmission

12:30and that wonderful engine,

12:32that thing's the winner in my book

12:33and that's not to say anything bad

12:34about the General.

12:35Still love the General.

12:36You've heard me say

12:37that you should buy one in 2025

12:38even though they're old.

12:40I stand by that.

12:41Your team,

12:42UTV,

12:42tell me why you love the General.

12:43The General just never puts a foot wrong.

12:45It's kind of like,

12:46you know,

12:46if I had to explain it,

12:47it's kind of like a mountain goat.

12:48Right.

12:48Right?

12:49The ATV,

12:49the Scrambler,

12:50is kind of like the Chupacabra.

12:52Okay.

12:52I like that.

12:52I feel like it's,

12:53you know,

12:54it's a little mythical.

12:55You feel like,

12:55I know I was in a gear,

12:57but I felt like

12:57I was just floating on top of stuff

12:59and every moment was just like,

13:00oh my God!

13:01And then nothing happened

13:01and it was fine.

13:02There's a lot of freedom

13:03and responsibility

13:03that comes with the Scrambler.

13:04What made you pick the General

13:05over the ATV?

13:07You know,

13:07I think in the General,

13:08you can just sort of chill.

13:09You can sort of pick your speed.

13:10Now,

13:10you can go full send.

13:12You know,

13:12sometimes you just want to chill

13:13and,

13:14you know,

13:14and it works.

13:16We know that.

13:17It works and plays.

13:18Yeah.

13:18Oh yeah.

13:18You can do work.

13:19You can do play.

13:20Yeah.

13:20I do notice that with the Scrambler.

13:21Like,

13:22you can never just relax.

13:23I think I said coming up here,

13:24you know,

13:25just don't twist the throttle as much.

13:27That's true,

13:28but like in the General,

13:29you can totally relax,

13:30throw some tunes on.

13:31This thing demands your attention.

13:32It's kind of like riding a motorcycle

13:34or a dirt bike.

13:35Yeah.

13:35Great power comes great responsibility

13:37and sometimes it's nice

13:38to just go on a little cruise.

13:39That's a great app comparison too

13:41because,

13:41you know,

13:41you can't really,

13:43your brain can't take a moment off

13:44when you're riding a motorcycle

13:45and that's how I felt on the ATV.

13:47Yeah.

13:48And it was nice to just kind of chill

13:49and just sort of

13:49relax,

13:51drive.

13:51Yeah,

13:51the General.

13:51I will say the General

13:53is a little bit easier to justify.

13:55The expense is pretty big

13:56in either camp

13:57and you're getting like

13:58five things with the General

13:59and you're getting

13:59one or two things with the ATV.

14:01So that's it.

14:03Yellow shirt,

14:04yellow rig,

14:04I've picked the ATV.

14:06Anders has picked the side-by-side.

14:08For reasons we've just described,

14:09as we said,

14:09it's a tough choice.

14:11And so now it's time

14:12to talk a little bit

14:13about who we think

14:14each rig is for.

14:15The General is for

14:16the Everyman.

14:17If that's your first side-by-side,

14:18it is a fantastic rig

14:20because it will do everything

14:21that you want a side-by-side

14:22to do admirably.

14:24It doesn't stand out

14:25at any of them,

14:25but it does them all

14:26super well.

14:27The Scrambler

14:28is not for a beginner.

14:30If you've been off ATVs

14:31for a while

14:32and you rode sport ATVs

14:33back in the day,

14:34great place to jump back on.

14:36But otherwise,

14:37steer away

14:37if you're a beginner.

14:38That is too much horsepower

14:40for someone who's brand new.

14:41But,

14:42if you've been riding ATVs

14:43for a long time,

14:44if you want something

14:45that's a little bit bigger

14:46and a little bit more stable,

14:47that's your girl.

14:48And also,

14:48if you've got buddies

14:49who have Polaris Razor Pro-Rs

14:51or Can-Am Mavericks

14:52and you just can't get

14:54into a bucket seat,

14:55you want to be on top

14:56of something

14:56but you want four wheels,

14:58there it is.

14:58That thing will absolutely

14:59keep up with any of those rigs

15:01on just about anything

15:02you can ride it over.

15:03I gotta say,

15:04I know that rig

15:05is braver

15:05and more capable

15:06than I am

15:07and that's a nice little

15:08security blanket to have.

15:09So,

15:10if you're the full send dude

15:11who sometimes needs

15:12to put something on a rack,

15:13the Polaris Scrambler

15:14XP1000S

15:15is your thing.

15:16Would I have it?

15:16over a Sport UTV?

15:18Well,

15:20I think that kind of

15:20depends on the context.

15:22Out here at Windrock

15:22it makes a huge amount

15:23of sense

15:24because it's as fast

15:25as a Pro-R

15:25and it's narrow enough

15:26to get down

15:27any of the trails here

15:28but if I was out

15:28in the desert

15:29it'd be a much tougher choice.

15:30You know,

15:30the footprint of the General

15:31really isn't all that different

15:32from the Scrambler.

15:33You know,

15:34we're on the same trails

15:35all day long

15:35and I just happen to love

15:37having the cage around me

15:38and the chill speed

15:39that I was talking about before

15:40so it looks like

15:42we're just agreeing to disagree.

15:43Yeah, I know.

15:44I mean,

15:44if you want to live

15:45in a squirrel cage

15:45for the rest of your life

15:46that's your business.

15:47Ooh.

15:47Yeah.

15:48So,

15:48I think we have to come back

15:49and do this again

15:50on a sunnier day.

15:51Okay,

15:52so there you have it.

15:52We haven't solved

15:54the debate

15:54we set out to solve

15:55because you know what?

15:56It's almost impossible

15:57to figure out

15:58what works for you

15:59until you've gone out

16:00and done it yourself.

16:01We've tried to present

16:01an accurate description

16:02of who each rig is for

16:03and then you just have

16:04to decide who you are.

16:05So,

16:05why don't you jump down

16:06into the comments

16:06below this video

16:07and let us know

16:08which one you're picking

16:09and why

16:09and then

16:10give this video a like

16:11and subscribe to our channel.

16:13We are trying to get

16:14to 25,000 subs

16:15by the 4th of July.

16:17We're coming up on that

16:18real quick

16:18and we need your help.

16:20Then,

16:20head over to

16:21utvdriver.com

16:22where we've got news,

16:23reviews,

16:24and buyer's guides

16:24including a buyer's guide

16:25on that general

16:26and atvrider.com

16:29where we've got news,

16:30reviews,

16:30and a buyer's guide

16:31on the Polaris

16:32Scrambler XP1000.

16:34Thank you so much

16:35to Cardo

16:35for sponsoring this video.

16:36Head over to their website,

16:37get you a Pack Talk Edge,

16:39get you a set of the Edge phones,

16:40stay in touch

16:41with your buddies.

16:41We will see you

16:42on the trail.

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