$24,499 MSRP / 100 HP

• the general that‘s built for trail duty

• serious bang for your buck

• because you can’t haul mulch in a rzr

The father of the modern rec-ute.

Sure, you could argue that the Polaris General hasn’t changed a great deal since 2016, but we’d argue that’s a testament to just how right Polaris got it the first time. The General is essentially the blueprint for every modern rec-ute that came after it. It pairs great handling and a fun engine with what has become the industry standard in capability: 1,500 pounds of towing and 600 pounds of bed capacity. The General XP 1000 steps up the fun factor of the original with better suspension, a wider track, larger tires, and a factory winch bumper.

How much power does it make?

The 2024 Polaris General XP 1000 makes 100 horsepower from its 999cc liquid-cooled parallel twin engine. When running unencumbered, the General is plenty fast enough to deliver the sort of thrills that pure utility rigs lack, but even with a full load in its four-door configuration, there’s still plenty of power on tap to get you where you’re going without too much drama.

What makes it special?

The secret sauce of the Polaris General XP 1000 is its outright versatility. The base model General is a useful rig, but adding higher quality and longer travel suspension, a wider track, high clearance A-arms, and larger 30″ tires truly transforms the machine into a proper trail rig you can hammer without fear.

The XP 1000 works just as hard as the standard General, but it plays a lot harder. It’s also a smart buy in that it comes standard with stuff you’d normally end up adding to a base model General anyway like a full poly roof, a steel bumper, and a 4,500-lb winch for work or recovery.

Why do I want it?

In short, you want a fully capable rec-ute rig, but you don’t want to drop the $40,000 required to get into a base model Xpedition two-seater. Even in its most expensive configuration, the four-seat Ultimate trim, the General XP 1000 costs a hell of a lot less than any Xpedition, yet still hits the trail just as hard as its competitors.

Why don’t I want it?

The General XP 1000’s drawbacks are minor, all things considered, and can all be chalked up to the dated design. The interior is all-day comfortable yet covered in acres of cheap black plastic, and after a few months of dedicated use, you can expect to hear some squeaks and groans from the chassis. It’s also worth noting that competing brands didn’t just copy the General’s formula, they improved on it: Yamaha’s RMAX 1000 is particularly tough to ignore.

Which trim do I want?

Both the two and four-seat versions of the General XP 1000 offer three trim levels: Sport, Premium, and Ultimate. They all share the same improved suspension and trail manners, but the Premium and Ultimate trim levels add infotainment to the mix in the form of Rockford Fosgate sound systems.

The Ultimate trim distinguishes itself by getting a 7″ full-color dash that includes Ride Command navigation and connectivity with an integrated backup camera. If you’re buying used, we’d vote to pony up for the Ultimate trim since the price differences between the three are much less pronounced, but sticking a Bluetooth soundbar on a Sport model probably makes the most sense for folks on a budget as the mechanical performance of the three machines is identical.

If I like this… what else should I look at?

There’s no shortage of stiff competition in the rec-ute segment nowadays. Yamaha’s Wolverine RMAX1000 offers a more refined interior at comparable prices, while Can-Am’s Commander can be had with Fox suspension and beadlock wheels. Kawasaki’s latest Ridge XR even offers a full HVAC cab if your money’s green enough.

2024 Polaris General XP 1000 Specs

*Note: “XP 1000” designates two-seat model, “XP 4 1000” is the four-seat version*

Length: 118.2 in. (XP 1000) / 150.2 in. (XP 4 1000)

Width: 64 in.

Height: 77 in.

Wheelbase: 83 in. (XP 1000) / 115 in. (XP 4 1000)

Dry Weight: 1654 lbs. (XP 1000) / 1951 lbs. (XP 4 1000)

Engine: Parallel twin

Displacement: 999 cc / 1.0-liter

Transmission: Automatic PVT with park, reverse, neutral, high & low range

Claimed Power: 100 hp

Claimed Torque: N/A

Fuel System: EFI

Steering: Electric Power Steering

Drivetrain: On-demand AWD with 2WD and selectable turf mode

Front Suspension: High-clearance dual A-arms

Rear Suspension: High-clearance dual arm with IRS/stabilizer bar

Front Brakes: Hydraulic disc w/ twin-piston calipers

Rear Brakes: Hydraulic disc w/ twin-piston calipers

Wheels F/R: Cast aluminum; 15 in.

Tires F/R: 30×10-15 / 30×10-15

Bed Capacity: 600 lbs.

Towing Capacity: 1500 lbs.

Seating Capacity: 2 (XP 1000) / 4 (XP 4 1000)

Ground Clearance: 13.5 in.

Fuel Capacity: 9.5 gal.