2025 Polaris Trail, Crossover: 9R Expansion, Dynamix Suspension

When Polaris Snowmobile Product Manager Nels Eide recently unveiled the brand’s 2025 snowmobiles to the sledding media, he said the lineup “is really focused on delivering the best performing snowmobiles for every rider.”

                The brand targeted that in several ways – adding more power options to some trail and crossover sleds, high-tech semi-active suspension setups to others, stripping weight from mountain sleds and overall dropping a long list of quality improvements that will be seen throughout the lineup.

                Even with a few models parked for model year 2025 due to high inventory levels, the brand still has a very long list of machines for consumer to dream about – whether they want a 9R-powered XCR or Switchback Assault, a 414-pound Pro RMK or a more modern Titan Adventure utility crossover.

                We’ll cover 2025 Polaris trail and crossover models and technology below. The company also attacked many of its quality and reliability issues. Click through to read about them. The RMK deep-snow and Titan and Voyageur utility models will be covered here.

Polaris 9R Fun For Trail, Crossover Riders

When Polaris unveiled its Patriot 9R engine as an option for mountain riders starting in model year 2023, trail and crossover riders wondered aloud, “Hey, what about us.”

                Before it turned into a full-pledge mutiny among flatlanders, Polaris officials are bringing the grunty, quick-spinning engine to the Indy and Switchback lines for 2025.

                According to Polaris, the big bore 900 falls into a family of low inertia engines that started with a 600-class race motor. It features a lightweight crankshaft and flywheel, ceramic coated pistons plus CNC machined ports. Polaris says the 9R produces 7 percent more power and 12 percent more torque than the 850 Patriot – which itself is a mighty grunty engine.

                The results are truly smile inducing. The 9R Indy XCR and 9R Switchback Assault models we tested recently at Rode Reports were reactive, playful, mega-powerful and fun without paying a weight penalty or waiting on an occasional ramp-up delay of a boosted sled.

Polaris Dynamix Shocks For VR1

Snowmobiling observers of Polaris have been waiting a couple of years for the 9R, but those with more of an overall sense of the brand’s products have been waiting even longer for the semi-active Dynamix suspension system to make its way to sleds. The wait is over for 2025.

                Dynamix was first unveiled by Polaris’ off-road division way back in 2017 for its 2018 Ranger RZR side-by-side models. The high-tech system utilizes an underhood black box that measures inertial measurement units (IMUs) to sense virtually everything the vehicle is experiencing. It then adjusts the suspension system to the conditions. We’re talking about inertia, velocity, roll, pitch, yaw, brake position, throttle position or even if the suspension is unloaded – whether airborne or just lightened by going over a roller in the trail.   

                It then adjusts all four snowmobile shocks to anticipated forces. That allows the Fox shocks to stiffen if the sled is airborn, soften through chatter, control chassis roll in hard corners, maintain traction during hard acceleration or braking and much more. Like the SmartShox unveiled by Ski-Doo a couple of years ago, it has three driving modes – in this case, Comfort, Rally and Extreme. Unlike the Ski-Doo system, Dynamix affects all four shocks. They can self-adjust up to 200 times per second, according to a Polaris suspension engineer.

                The effects of the Dynamix system are played out before the rider on an intoxicating screen that can be called up on the 7S display. It shows which shocks and being loaded how much based on changing conditions, and also shows shifts in the sled’s center of gravity through corners and such.

                The Dynamix system is making its debut as an optional upgrade on Polaris Indy VR1 models for 2025. In our recent testing on the system, it did a great job with cornering and in big bumps. In common trail chatter, the effects of the upgrade were less noticeable, but designers said final calibrations are still being dialed in.

Polaris Trail Burners

Breaking down the 2025 Polaris snowmobile lineup by market category, let’s start with the popular Indy trail lineup.

                Most aggressive is the Indy XCR, available with 128- or 136-inch track lengths with either the 650 Patriot twin, the 850 Patriot twin or, new for 2025, the 9R Patriot twin.

                The XCR letter signify that this sled is tied closed to Polaris’ cross-country racing efforts, and that’s reflected in reinforcements in the rear suspension plus the quick-grabbing high performance brake, Pro-Taper handlebar, double limiter strap, high-capacity Walker Evans Velocity shocks with exterior high- and low-speed compression damping and more.

                Aimed more at all-day, high-mile comfort is the Indy VR1, available with the buyer’s choice of a turbocharged 850, a naturally aspirated 850 or the Patriot 650, all with a 137-inch track.

                The big news is the aforementioned Dynamix shocks that are an upgrade available to Polaris customers for 2025.

                The Indy Adventure returns with a buyer’s choice of the third-year ProStar S4 four-stroke with multi-position Polaris TS shocks in the suspension, or a 650cc two-stroke with Fox QS3 shocks all around. An easily removable passenger seat is included.  

                Due to all of the products that are sitting at dealerships after this less-than-ideal winter, Polaris is parking the Indy XC line for 2025, leaving the Indy SP as the next step down. Other than some quality updates, it is essentially unchanged for 2025 and features a 650cc engine, Matryx chassis and base-level internal floating piston gas shocks.

                The 550 Indy Sport, powered by a fan-cooled engine placed in the old Pro-Ride chassis is back unchanged.

Polaris Switchback Crossovers

The big news in the Polaris Switchback crossover lineup is the additional of a 9R option on the Switchback Assault.

                We’ll state it right up front: In our recent testing at altitude, the quick-reacting 9R-powered SBA was twice as much fun when goofing around off-trail at altitude as the Switchback Assault with the turbocharged Patriot Boost.

                That said Switchback Assault shoppers can order their machine with one of four engine options: 650, 850, Boosted 850 or that 9R. Depending on which engine you select, the lug height and layout options for the 146-inch track vary from a 1.352 Cobra to a 2-inch Crossover, with a 1.5-inch Ice Storm and 1.6-inch Cobra in between. All comes with a 42-inch ski stance, Walker Evans Velocity shocks, Pro-Steer skis and the IGX uncoupled rear suspension. The 7S display is also included.

                Only one Switchback XC model – the 650 – is back for 2025, as the 850 model has been paused for next year. The XC relies on Fox QS3 shocks, offers two Cobra track options with either 1.352- or 1.6-inch lugs and features the Message Center gauge (though it can be special ordered with the 7S gauge). The budget-oriented 650 Switchback SP has also been paused for 2025, though there some 2024s in dealerships if you want one. The fan-cooled 550 Switchback Sport is back in the two-generations-old Pro-Ride platform.