2024 Polaris Ranger XD 1500 hits new highs in UTV capability

Farm folks rejoice, there is a new Polaris Ranger coming later this summer and by the looks of it, your work is going to get a whole lot easier. This new side-by-side combines many of the work features of a standard pickup truck in a smaller, easy to maneuver package at a starting price of just under $30,000.

The Ranger XD 1500 will be available in Premium, NorthStar Premium and NorthStar Ultimate trims with room for two or four people. Of these we like the mid-trim with its enclosed cabin, 30-inch Kenda tires – with the option to add 32-inch rubber – and a power-tilt bed.

Regardless of which trim you choose, the Ranger XD 1500 comes with a three-cylinder 1500cc engine pushing out 110 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. That beats the pants off competitors like the Can-Am Defender with a maximum of 82 ponies, Honda Pioneer with 72 hp and the paltry 50 hp of the Yamaha Viking.

That’s not to say we expect the Ranger to be a racer, even with 15 inches of ground clearance. Instead, this UTV is meant for pulling out stumps, hauling bales of hay and towing farm equipment. Buyers can drag up to 3,500 pounds behind it, as much as a Jeep Wrangler, and throw 1,500 pounds of payload in the cargo box. There are trims of the Toyota Tacoma that can’t handle as much.