UTV TEST: POLARIS ACE 900 SP

On Jun 7, 2016

By the staff of Dirt Wheels

When Polaris released the original Ace, we couldn’t decide if it was an ATV with a roll cage and a steering wheel, or a UTV that had only one seat. Sure, it was big fun with the original 330cc motor for 4WD-type riding/driving. Then the 570 version came out, and we realized then that the original Ace must have sold very well and made some traction in the industry. It has a lot more power than the original Ace, and as usual more power made driving it a blast. Polaris decided to really make things interesting when they stuffed an 875cc ProStar engine with 60 horsepower into the Ace’s frame! Of course, we had to test it. How could we not want to drive an $11,499 machine with more power than it needs?

**The plastics on the Ace are well-designed to keep mud from covering the operator easily. A full door would be a nice touch, but the half door is nice to have and is easy to open and close.**

THE POWER

Polaris has cornered the single-seat UTV class, mainly because they are the only big-name manufacturer producing one. When we took a seat in the Ace 900 SP and turned the key, we couldn’t help but smile. The deep, throaty tone of the Polaris’ exhaust and vibrations from the motor told us that we were about to have a lot of fun. The 900 carries a liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke engine in its frame. Basically, it holds the same twin-cylinder engine that the RZR 900 S and Ranger XP 900 utilize. The RZR 900 S puts out 75 horsepower, which you will only get out of the Ace’s powerplant by changing engine internals, ECU mapping, throttle body and clutch components. The fact is, you don’t need any more power than what the SP already puts out. If you step on the gas pedal hard enough from a standstill, the front wheels will come off the ground.

**The coackpit of the Ace is spacious. The seat is adjustable, along with the steering wheel. There is a cup holder next to the seat.**

The engine is paired to an automatic CVT-style transmission that assists with the machine’s two- and four-wheel-drive capabilities. The transmission has high, low, neutral, reverse and park gear. The 4×4 system in the 900 is controlled by a switch on the dash that operates the two- and four-wheel drive functions.

CONTROLS AND HANDLING

If you take a close look at Polaris’ Sportsman 570 ATV you will realize that the suspension on the Ace was derived from the Sportsman ATV. The front end is softened by MacPherson struts that have 8.2 inches of wheel travel. The rear suspension utilizes dual A-arms on both corners with coil-over shocks that boast 9.5 inches of rear-wheel travel. The shocks are only spring preload adjustable. The Ace 900 SP’s rear shocks have been stiffened up and enhanced with dual-rate springs, and stabilizer bars have been incorporated on the front and rear suspension. Polaris felt the stabilizer bars were required to handle the added power and the additional 136 pounds added by the new 900 ProStar engine. Dual hydraulic disc brakes front and rear slow this Polaris down.

Like the other models in the Ace series, the 900 SP doesn’t have an Electronic Braking System. On descents the machine will start coasting instead of slowing you down. The brakes work very well, though.

The Ace 900 SP’s standard electronic power steering makes piloting the machine smooth and easy. It runs on cast-aluminum wheels with 25×8-12 front tires and 25×10-12 rear tires that provide good traction in all types of terrain. To help tackle rocky terrain, the Ace has a ground clearance of 10 inches and a wheelbase of 61.5 inches.

FEATURES

Polaris’ Ace 900 SP has two exterior cargo locations, along with a cup holder in the cockpit. The front storage box doubles as a cargo rack that can hold up to 120 pounds, while the rear bed can hold another 240 pounds. This Ace can tow up to 1500 pounds with the standard 1.25-inch rear hitch receiver, and it has a 5.25-gallon gas tank that helps get the job done.

**The shocks on the independent rear suspension have been upgraded with heavier-rated springs to handle the increased weight of the bigger engine over the Ace 570.**

Getting in and out of the 900 is easy. It has half doors with easy-to-operate latches, and the floor of the Ace is low, so climbing in and out of the machine is practically effortless. The steering wheel is tilt adjustable and the seat can be easily adjusted to suit the driver’s comfort as well.

**The 900 SP has a 875cc, twin-cylinder, four-stroke engine that is liquid-cooled and has dual-overhead-cam shafts per cylinder.**

TEST RIDE

For those of us who have experienced a Honda Odyssey or Pilot, we know how fun a compact single-seat machine is, but the Ace exceeds those expectations. Not only does the Polaris have better suspension, it also has 4×4 capabilities that the old Hondas never had. The 900 SP utilizes a close-ratio AWD system that engages the front wheels for more traction when needed and reverts back to 2WD when the computer senses it doesn’t need more traction. We thought this would hinder the Ace’s rock-crawling or hill-climbing abilities, but it actually performs quite well in both situations. When descending in low gear the machine free-wheels when the rpm drops too low. You must keep your foot tapping the gas occasionally to retain appreciable engine braking.

**Stabilizer bars have been incorporated onto the Polaris Ace 900 SP on the front and rear suspension. This helps with cornering and driving the machine fast.**

When it comes to power the Ace 570 had enough to have fun and go most anywhere you can take the single-seat UTV. The 900 SP has almost too much power for its suspension. If you step on the skinny pedal hard enough from a standstill, the Polaris will pull a wheelie; however, you could burn up a CVT easily by doing that.

**The front storage rack doubles as a cargo compartment that does well at keeping water out. The rear bed of the Ace can hold up to 240 pounds, while the front rack can handle 120 pounds.**

In turns the Ace’s new stabilizer bars in the suspension help keep the machine stable and cut down on body roll, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t easy to tip over if you drive it beyond its capabilities. One of the design parameters was to keep the Ace narrow enough for 50-inch trails. The suspension is bouncy in the front end, while the rear feels smooth and stable. The Ace series would greatly benefit from dual-A-arm-type suspension in the front end with 2 more inches of wheel travel.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Polaris Ace 900 SP is the ultimate single-seat UTV. It has massive amounts of power in a small and nimble frame. The suspension and steering provide stable feedback. While this machine isn’t one for handling big jumps, it is great for having a blast out in the trails with a roll cage around you for protection. It has great cargo-hauling abilities to help tackle work around the ranch as well.

Polaris has created one of the best single-seat machines to date. It fits on 50-inch-wide trails and isn’t too much longer than a 4x4 quad. — **Polaris has created one of the best single-seat machines to date. It fits on 50-inch-wide trails and isn’t too much longer than a 4×4 quad.**

The 900 SP comes in one color option—Stealth Black. It starts at $11,499 with great standard features like EPS. If you want to get your hands on an Ace, go to your nearest Polaris dealer or search www.polaris.com.

POLARIS ACE 900 SP

Engine DOHC, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke twin

Displacement 875cc

Transmission Fully automatic CVT w/ reverse

Final drive Shaft

Fuel system EFI

Fuel capacity 5.25 gal

Length/width/height 90.0”/48.0”/68.0”

Ground clearance 10.0”

Wheelbase 61.5”

Estimated dry weight 966 lb.

Suspension/wheel travel:

Front MacPherson strut w/ 8.2”

Rear Dual A-arms w/ 9.5”

Tires:

Front 25×8-12

Rear 25×10-12

Brakes:

Front Dual hydraulic discs

Rear Dual hydraulic discs

Rack capacities 120 lb. front/240 lb. rear

Towing 1500 lb.

Colors Stealth Black

Price $11,499

Contact www.polaris.com