2025 Snowmobile Of The Year: Polaris 850 Indy VR1 Dynamix

In this era of artificial intelligence, digital surveillance and quantum computing, it’s easy to be feel wary or even paranoid about emerging technologies.

Other times, though, the right combination of traditional thinking and cutting-edge innovation comes together to create something truly remarkable. Like the 2025 Polaris 850 Indy VR1 with Dynamix – our 2025 Snow Goer Snowmobile of the Year.

The Indy VR1 was already a technological leader in the snowmobile market, with its 7S digital display, Ride Command on-screen mapping and trip planning, climate-control-style SmartWarmer hand and thumber warmer technology, group-ride functionality, on-board diagnostics and much more. However, other snowmobiling brands have started catching up in some of those arenas.

(Editor’s Note: This story first appeared in the November 2024 cover date issue of Snow Goer, which mailed to subscribers in early October. It was packaged with our Top 10 Snowmobiles for 2025 article).

For 2025, though, the self-adjusting Dynamix Active Suspension System takes the Indy VR1 to a whole new level while also sparking our imagination about even more applications for its breakthrough technology.

Dynamix relies on an underhood-mounted Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) black box, plus feedback from the ECU, to sense virtually every input affecting the overall machine. Much like how Santa Claus sees when you’re sleeping and knows when you’re awake, Dynamix instantaneously detects whether the skis and track are encountering bumps or other irregularities, if the machine is accelerating or decelerating at a certain rate, or if the sled is airborne or otherwise if the suspension is fully or partially unloaded.

What’s more, it senses the effects of cornering, including the natural g-force shifts from directional changes and rider input.

The IMU takes all of that data and more and then makes a multitude of decisions per second. It then feeds orders to all four of its Fox Live Valve shocks, depending on which of the three drive modes the rider is using, to make the best of every situation.

The Dynamix system’s influence in absorbing common trail bumps is notable but not game changing at this point. But its impacts in handling, cornering and anti-bottoming are mind blowing. Whether the rider is leaning far off the machine in a corner or staying planted in the center of the seat, the Dynamix system senses the overall vehicle’s body roll and adjusts the suspension accordingly, letting riders rail turns with newfound confidence. From independently biasing each of the front shocks to controlling weight transfer in the rear, it constantly optimizes the suspension whether the sled’s being hucked through corners or launched off of field approaches.

Our annual Snowmobile Of The Year award has always honored new and emerging technologies that propel the sport forward. With that in mind, we can’t help but to envision what else is possible with Dynamix. Imagine a crossover sled with “trail” and “playground” modes, where a sled could allow slotcar handling on the groomed path but could then be turned into a playful, easy-to-tilt sled in a powdery meadow with the push of a button. With this new technology, imagination might be one of its few limitations. 

The Dynamix technology is a game-changer worth celebrating, and that’s just what we’re doing with the 2025 Snowmobile Of The Year award.

Editor’s Note: Every Snow Goer issue includes in-depth sled reports and comparisons, aftermarket gear and accessories reviews, riding destination articles, do-it-yourself repair information, snowmobile technology and more. Subscribe to Snow Goer now to receive print and/or digital issues.