Our business brings us into contact with a multitude of people who are passionate about the motorsports industry. Some of these encounters are more distinct, as they develop towards a friendly way and these people also amaze us by the know-how and the devotion they give to their business. Among them, we can name the Thibault Marine inc. dealership in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts to illustrate a team inspired by their work. It was therefore only natural to partner with them for the testing of a snowmobile from the Minnesota manufacturer: Polaris.
2020 Polaris Switchback Assault 850
If there’s one snowmobile that’s getting a lot of attention from Polaris, it’s the 2020 Switchback Assault 850. Why the interest? The answer is simple: this snowmobile has become the reference in the hybrid segment since it was first introduced with the 800 Liberty. Everyone in the market claims to offer the best hybrid snowmobile every year. Is this the case? One thing is for sure, everyone’s efforts in this category are very commendable, as it is a very popular segment among enthusiasts.
While some people are getting excited about the hybrid snowmobile, Polaris hits a home run with its 144-inch snowmobile that has incredible balance for both trail and off-road riding. It’s very smooth and pleasant on a surfaced trail, but if the opportunity arises for an outing in snowy areas, this snowmobile offers the traction and power to face these challenges without any restraint.
Its chassis:
The AXYS chassis has a very different feel compared to the previous generation. The steering is smoother and the handlebar resistance is reduced.
Its suspension:
The 2020 Switchback Assault 850 features a non-coupled suspension, which by definition allows for free weight transfer. This type of suspension makes it easier to handle in deep snow and allows for more flotation, but stability on the trail is a little challenged. It is more difficult to keep the skis on the ground when accelerating and exiting a turn. You have to compensate by increasing the stiffness of the rear springs to keep the skis on the ground, which reduces comfort. Control in a series of large bumps remains very effective, the Walker Evans shocks are among the most effective on the market, and their calibration is well done.
Its motorization:
From a performance point of view, Polaris continues its good start with the Patriot 850. On this point there is no hesitation, the performance is there.
Polaris continues to emphasize lightness. Seeing how they still haven’t bought into the four-stroke engine euphoria, they continue to hammer home the benefits of the power-to-weight ratio. Polaris is keeping a tight lid on the horsepower numbers of this new engine introduced last year. What is the main reason for this silence? We don’t know, but we can speculate that Polaris probably prefers that snowmobilers judge the engine’s capabilities by their perceptions rather than by specifications reported by a dyno. Nevertheless, Polaris confirms that the 850 Patriot makes 9% more power than its predecessor, the 800 Cleanfire, which brings us to between 165 and 170hp, making it the most powerful engine Polaris has integrated into a production snowmobile to date.
It only takes a few seconds behind the wheel of the 2020 Switchback Assault 850 to realize its true capabilities. One of the most noticeable features of the Patriot engine is its smoothness and sound. Polaris gives us a refined engine with less vibration.
Although this engine offers a lot of power, we rarely ride at full throttle all the time. However, it is during acceleration and acceleration that this engine shines. When we hit the throttle, the 850 Patriot pulls hard and fast. The snowmobile has no hesitation and leaps forward quickly. It’s almost like a blast of horsepower at the tip of our thumb.
The only drawback we can find is that it emits a lot of white smoke during a cold start. We have experienced this a few times when we had to unload this snowmobile from our closed trailer. These occasions left the interior of our trailers in a cloud of smoke and it was almost impossible for us to see where we were putting our feet. It would be desirable to the designers of this engine to perfect the calibration. However, this inconvenience no longer fell to us disappeared when our snowmobile had the engine warmed up properly.
Its adherence:
To handle all that power, Polaris hit the nail on the head by equipping the 2020 Polaris Switchback Assault 850 with the Cobra track. This track offers great versatility, the 1.6-inch lugs allow for a smooth trail ride, and offers acceptable traction for occasional powder fun.
Perfect… or almost!
The only complaint I could point out about this snowmobile, but which is not specific to this model, is its short seat. This tendency makes it easier to maneuver off-road, but when sitting on the trail, I feel that it does not fit my stature.
Polaris has a rich heritage in snowmobile design and this experience is felt when we have the chance to ride the snowy spaces. It has long been number 1 in the world in sales and at no time do they want to give up an inch to its rivals. The 2020 Polaris Switchback Assault 850 is a good example of this legacy and this Roseau, Minnesota manufacturer is definitely evolving in every way.
If you are in the Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts area, come and see our friend Steve and his team at Thibault Marine Inc. You won’t be disappointed!
