
As side-by-sides have evolved from woods-and-desert rats into machines that can comfortably supplant your daily driver, Polaris has risen to the occasion. The Xpedition XP is the company’s first “adventure” side-by-side, designed to toe the line between the performance of a sport rig and the functionality of one built solely for utility. An excellent suspension, a willing engine, and the best sealed cab in the business make it an industry standout.

The 2024 Polaris Xpedition XP makes a respectable 114 hp from its 999-cc parallel-twin engine. That power plant is a little thrashy, but it’s up to moving the XP model around, especially in two-seat guise. Add four doors and a full cab, however, and the engine can feel taxed, especially when loaded with crew and cargo.

The Xpedition is the first Polaris side-by-side designed from the ground up for a sealed cab. That’s important, because in order to keep dust, mud, and water out, a side-by-side’s chassis needs to be stiff enough avoid the kind of frame flex that can open up gaps on the sealing faces of doors and body panels.
That stiffness has other benefits, even in machines built without full doors and a windshield. Namely: This thing handles incredibly well, soaking up rough terrain without breaking a sweat.

The Xpedition feels more grown up than its sibling, the Polaris General. The interior is nicer, the seats are more comfortable, and the suspension is more capable. If you’re looking for a side-by-side that needs to do a little work around your property but will spend most of its time getting you into the backcountry, this is that machine.

The Xpedition comes in multiple flavors, and the XP is the least desirable of the lot, especially in two-seat configuration. That two-cylinder engine is loud, and the bed is too small to be useful with most tasks. When you really get down to it, we much prefer the Xpedition’s ADV variant, with its more SUV-like configuration.

Both two- and five-seat models offer the same two trims. The base XP version goes without niceties like the tilt-out windshield, power windows, and HVAC. But at that point, why not save some coin and go for a Polaris General?
If you have your heart set on an Xpedition XP, step up to the Northstar trim, which adds all of the features listed above. It will cost you, though: The 2024 Polaris Xpedition XP Northstar features a manufacturer-suggested $38,999 price.

This is a tough one. The Xpedition XP is in a category all its own. Other side-by-sides can be had with full cabs and HVAC, but few of them offer this machine’s sport chops. If that isn’t important to you, take a good look at the Polaris Ranger XD 1500. That’s a better machine in 90 percent of use cases.
NOTE: Five-seat versions of the Polaris Xpedition XP are sold as the Xpedition XP 5.
Length: 122.5 in. (XP) / 152.5 in. (XP 5)
Width: 64 in.
Height: 74.9 in.
Wheelbase: 87.5 in. (XP) / 117 in. (XP 5)
Curb Weight: 2207 lbs. (XP) / 2545 lbs. (XP 5)
Engine: Parallel-twin
Displacement: 999 cc / 1.0-liter
Transmission: CVT with park, reverse, neutral, low, and high
Claimed Power: 114 hp
Claimed Torque: N/A
Fuel System: EFI
Steering: Electric Power Steering
Drivetrain: On-demand AWD with 2WD and selectable locking rear differential
Front Suspension: High-clearance dual A-arms
Rear Suspension: High-clearance dual A-arms
Front Brakes: Hydraulic disc w/ twin-piston calipers
Rear Brakes: Hydraulic disc w/ twin-piston calipers
Wheels F/R: Cast aluminum; 14 in.
Tires F/R: 30×10-15 / 30×11-15
Bed Capacity: 600 lbs.
Towing Capacity: 2000 lbs.
Seating Capacity: 2 (XP) / 5 (XP 5)
Ground Clearance: 14 in.
Fuel Capacity: 12.5 gal.