$6,299 MSRP / 150cc

• Impressive Safety Features

• Surprisingly Capable

• Cheaper than a youth RZR

Put your freeloadin’ kids to work.

Offroading is a family activity. Any riding area you go to, from Glamis to St. Anthony, you see kids piled in the back of four seat RZRs with huge grins on their faces. At some point, it’s only natural they want to take the wheel themselves.

Polaris is effectively the only major name in the game that actually builds a youth side-by-side, so unless you’re looking to roll the dice on a Chinese manufacturer, you’re buying a Polaris. The Ranger 150 EFI is one of two models (the RZR 200 EFI being the alternative), and is the more affordable (and slightly less powerful) of the two.

Luckily, Polaris includes all the same industry-leading safety features on the Ranger 150 EFI as the class-leading RZR, including a top speed limiter, helmet detection technology, and even geofencing via their Youth Ride Control mobile app.

How much power does it make?

Polaris doesn’t actually list the Ranger 150 EFI’s power or torque figures, but most 150cc-ish four-strokes typically make somewhere in the neighborhood of 9-13 horsepower. The number isn’t all that significant for reasons we shouldn’t have to go into, so let’s just say it makes enough to haul two younguns, plus up to 50 pounds worth of stuff in its adorable little bed.

The more important and/or relevant figure here is top speed: the 2024 Polaris Ranger 150 EFI comes from the factory electronically limited to 16 mph. That number can be increased to 29 mph by an adult supervisor (or a cool uncle) as they grow and develop their skills..

What makes it special?

The main feature that makes Polaris’ youth UTVs stand out from the rest is its litany of parental controls. As noted above, parents can set the Ranger 150 EFI’s top speed to whatever they’re comfortable with, and can even set up a GPS-enabled geofence using the Youth Ride Command app to ensure the kids don’t stray too far.

That same app also allows parents to track their children’s location via GPS, which works just like the full-sized Ride Command systems you get in modern RZRs. Perhaps most impressive is Polaris’ on-board Helmet Aware technology, which automatically detects whether or not both rider and passenger are wearing their helmets, and prevents the vehicle from moving until the helmets go on.

It’s also worth noting that while the Ranger is physically small, Polaris actually does a pretty impressive job of outfitting these little rigs from the factory. Four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes are standard (no drums here), as are LED lights, more than five inches of suspension travel, 22″ Wanda tires, and eight inches of ground clearance.

Why do I want it?

The 2024 Polaris Ranger 150 EFI is an excellent stepping stone for parents who want to teach their children how to drive safely on their own. The class-leading safety features are a major windfall for parents, and blow every other brand out of the water before you even get into things like capability or build quality.

Both of those things are also important, especially considering the lil’ Ranger is no small investment with a starting MSRP of $6,299. Luckily Polaris covers the Ranger 150 EFI with the same one year, unlimited mileage warranty that full-sized Rangers enjoy.

Last but not least, these Rangers are built for simplicity and ease of use, which anyone who owns a few machines (plus a daily driver or two) can appreciate. Fuel injection, hydraulic disc brakes, and chain-driven rear wheels all ensure maximum enjoyment with minimal maintenance.

Why don’t I want it?

Because RZR 200 EFI. The Ranger is a great starter rig in its own right, but there’s no denying the appeal of Polaris’ RZR 200, which looks just like the full-sized sport rig right down to the sharp LED headlights. The RZR 200 EFI costs a few hundred bucks more, but also has a bit more performance and a more capable chassis while sharing all the same safety features as the Ranger 150 EFI.

The Chinese question. As is often the case in this industry, you’ve got plenty of China-built alternatives that severely undercut Polaris in price. Rigs from brands like Kayo and SSR offer comparable performance for a lot less cash, but they also skip on the safety features and arguably give up some build quality to the Polaris.

Which trim do I want?

This is an easy one, because there’s only one trim level for the 2024 Polaris Ranger 150 EFI. You do get two color options, Avalanche Gray or Sagebrush Green, but the machines are identical under the skin.

Polaris does offer a number of factory accessories. There’s a brushguard, a full poly windshield, and a full poly roof available as add-ons, and the brushguard will likely pay for itself the first time your kid whiskey throttles into the side of your house, barn, or pickup.

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

Truth be told Polaris’ own RZR 200 EFI is the only true competitor in terms of safety and refinement here. You could look at any number of Chinese competitors (or even go-karts) to save some cash, but it’ll cost your kids some street cred out on the trail.

2024 Polaris Ranger 150 EFI Specs

Length: 85 in.

Width: 48 in.

Height: 58 in.

Wheelbase: 65 in.

Claimed Dry Weight: 673 lbs.

Engine: Four-stroke single cylinder DOHC

Displacement: 150 cc

Transmission: Automatic PVT/Chain drive

Claimed Power: N/A

Claimed Torque: N/A

Fuel System: EFI

Steering: N/A

Drivetrain: 2WD; chain

Front Suspension: Single A-Arm with 5.1 in. (13 cm) Travel

Rear Suspension: Dual Shock Swingarm with 6 in (15.2 cm) Travel

Front Brakes: 4-Wheel Hydraulic Disc

Rear Brakes: 4-Wheel Hydraulic Disc

Wheels F/R: Stamped steel; 10 in.

Tires F/R: Wanda 22 x 7-10

Bed Capacity: 50 lb.

Towing Capacity: N/A

Seating Capacity: 2

Ground Clearance: 8 in.

Fuel Capacity: 2.5 gal.