New 2025 Polaris RZR Pro Side-by-Side Series Blast the Dunes of Oregon
Original Source:New Atlas
The author gets wheels off the ground in the forested dunes of Oregon’s Coos Bay Polaris / Align Media / New Atlas
Traveling to Coos Bay, Oregon, I recently experienced the new lineup of RZR Pro side-by-side models from Polaris. On the sand, in the dunes, and on the beach, every 2025 RZR Pro showed what it can do.
At a glance
Pro Series is based on racing machines
All new design for the UTV
Three options: XP, S, and R with varying engine outputs
Only one gets a better shift
Last year, we were introduced to the RZR XP in Tennessee. That’s the lighter-duty option from Polaris. The Pro series adds more robust features and engine outputs. It’s the basis upon which the Polaris racing team builds its machines, as seen when the factory team RZR was introduced earlier in 2024.
The Pro series introduces new styling for the side-by-side, flattening the face and adding what used to be a signature of Polaris: fang lighting. Interiors are also changed, adding more conveniences like lockable storage and more technology integration for smartphones.
Steering-mounted controls for both music streaming and Polaris’ Ride Command navigation are a big change for the better. Even seat belts and harnesses are set higher and are more glove-accessible. Adjustable cabin air intakes to increase airflow within the side-by-side aid comfort as well.
Out in the sandy wilderness of Coos Bay, Oregon, wearing my signature “Not Slim, Kinda Shady”hi-vis shirt, I started with the top-end RZR Pro R. This is the newest in the Polaris lineup, adding a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that outputs 225 horsepower (165.5 kW) through a wide RPM band.
If that sounds familiar, it’s the same engine (tuned differently) that powers the Slingshot three-wheeler. The Pro R sits at 74 inches (188 cm) wide with a 104.5-inch (265.4-cm) wheelbase. Its suspension has 29 inches (73.7 cm) of usable suspension travel. The shock absorbers automatically adjust to terrain changes, while driver-selectable settings can change traction controls on the fly.
Transmission shifting was noticeably smoother than what is usually found in Polaris machines. The continuously variable transmission has been tuned to accept the power output of the Pro R’s engine, and feels more positive when shifted into position.
This machine is also breathtakingly fast. During sprints on the beach, I reached 80 mph (129 km/h) and stopped pushing the throttle down. It could have easily broken 100 and kept gaining speed. My will to live was stronger than my need to go even faster.
The author nonchalantly makes sand waves in the 2025 Polaris RZR Pro S Polaris / Align Media / New Atlas
In the dunes and forests of southern Oregon, the RZR Pro R was a beast. It absorbed jounces very well and always seemed to keep its feet on the ground no matter how harsh the turn or how powerful the acceleration. The big red button on the steering wheel stiffens suspension temporarily for keeping grip. Now it can be locked into stiff mode with a double-tap of the button; a feature requested by Polaris’ race teams. There’s a reason the most expensive model in this Polaris Pro lineup is also the easiest to handle and most powerful to drive.