The mountain snowmobile continues to grow in popularity and it’s easy to see why: an aggressive look, powerful mechanics and above all, the ability to climb where no one would think possible. The feeling of freedom and being able to explore any terrain is a big part of the reason why they are gaining new fans. In such a competitive market, the 4 major snowmobile manufacturers work tirelessly to innovate with improvements and technological advances year after year. Today, I present you my top 3 Off-Road snowmobiles 2022. And you, which one would you put first?
Pole position: POLARIS PATRIOT BOOST PRO RMK MATRYX SLASH
Polaris offers us a very complete range of mountain snowmobiles. From SKS, RMK KHAOS and the mythical PRO RMK, this manufacturer offers a wide range of snowmobiles depending on the type of terrain you want to dominate.
This year, a new platform is available with some models. It is the MATRYX platform. Based on the excellent AXYS chassis that we have known since 2016, this new platform has revised every component to improve the mountain experience in every way. For example, the panels have been redesigned to limit their width and slide through the snow more easily. New controls, improved look, better stiffness, … There is a long list, but the big difference would be mainly in the rear tunnel with the SLASH version. We get a short tunnel, without “flap” and narrower in width. This way, the drag in the snow is drastically reduced. The effort required is reduced and the handling is greatly improved. You have to try it to adopt it.
The other big news on the model is its turbocharged engine, which provides unprecedented power for a 2-stroke engine. This supercharging in the air intake offers power maintenance as you climb in altitude. However, it does better than its biggest competitor since this turbo version also provides 10% more power than the naturally aspirated version. We can therefore expect a power output close to 190 horsepower under the hood. WOW! In addition, this is probably one of the best battles between the two biggest manufacturers since the beginning of snowmobiling.
So when you combine all these new features into one model, the PATRIOT BOOST PRO RMK MATRYX SLASH is what you get. As an added bonus, you can choose the amazing 7S touchscreen to access a goldmine of information right on your snowmobile, including a built-in GPS and the ability to navigate directly with your glove on the screen. Nothing has been overlooked on this ride. However, the most important thing about this snowmobile, and we’re coming back to this, is the amazing abilities and performance that are offered to you. You get the best snowmobile in the industry to float on the snow and propel you to the top. In the past, we sometimes felt like we were running out of power towards the end of an intense climb and had to turn back because we couldn’t complete the climb. Now, the turbocharged version of the Polaris PATRIOT engine provides us with insane power throughout the entire power range and the difference is very noticeable. We finally have access to that little bit more that we sometimes miss. With all these attributes and this fabulous mechanic, the RMK (Rocky Mountain King) is well named to dominate this list.
On the 2nd level: Ski-Doo Summit X 850 E-TEC TURBO with Expert Package.
Arriving in 2017, the Summit with the 4th generation platform has already been at the top of my personal charts with its handling and easy grip. It’s probably the easiest snowmobile to get comfortable with right off the bat. When you pair it with the 850cc E-TEC Turbo 2-stroke engine, you get 165 HP of power that is maintained up to 8000 feet. With the Expert package, you get even more with a short tunnel, a tiny snow guard, a minimalist seat, a strap to quickly adjust the length of the rear suspension strap, …, reinforced suspensions and especially the light hood that reduces weight in a key area. The result is a very competent snowmobile in terms of handling, excellent chassis rigidity and a well-designed riding position.
When you sit on the Summit, you notice that the ergonomics are really oriented towards the rider’s needs. The experience you get when riding it is very intuitive and you quickly reach a “chemistry” with this machine. In this way, it is easy to climb any mountain that comes your way. The side-hill is done without too much effort and the jumps are absorbed with a disconcerting ease so limited are the counter-shocks. In spite of these good abilities, we realize that since 2017, the platform is starting to age and we can expect that in 2023, Ski-Doo will offer us a new platform to try to regain the first place in the mountain snowmobile niche.
The 3rd position and not the least!
For the 3rd place of my prize list, I hesitated a long time. I had a hard time deciding between the ARCTIC CAT M8000 ALPHA ONE and the YAMAHA MOUNTAIN MAX. I hesitated to give this position to Yamaha who decided to finally make a comeback in mountain snowmobiles with 2-stroke mechanics or ARCTIC CAT which offers almost the same package with some differences. In fact, the Yamaha has been put aside since it is in a way a copy of the American brand except for a few details. Thus, ARCTIC CAT proudly deserves the last place on my list of achievements.
ARCTIC CAT M8000 ALPHA ONE
The last big change at ARCTIC CAT was the introduction of the single center beam rear suspension. THE ALPHA ONE. With this construction, the rear of the snowmobile is lighter by design compared to a 2-rail structure. This design also limits the amount of snow that can accumulate in the rear of the sled, and this advantage is really felt in deep snow conditions. However, its driving “feeling” is different from what we know with the other models and we have to spend an adaptation period to drive it perfectly. Moreover, when faced with terrain where the snow is “hard” it becomes much more difficult to drive than the others and it is at this level that the ARCTIC CAT loses points.
Even so, the ARCTIC CAT M8000 provides an excellent 794cc 2-stroke CTEC2 engine producing a solid 165 horsepower. Its last revision was in 2018 and we should expect something new in the next few years even though this engine still provides very competitive performance in the market.
Its 2018-era Ascender platform offers a very predictable chassis and an aggressive approach angle that allows you to float through the snow quickly. ”Side hill” maneuvers are very easy in powder and the ALPHA ONE suspension allows you to redirect up the mountain in a fraction of a second. The overall handling of this snowmobile is excellent and the rider is placed in the center of the action even if the ergonomics are not convincing from the start.
TOP 3 Off-Road Snowmobiles 2022 Conclusion
Year after year, manufacturers are betting big on this constantly evolving market niche. This is totally predictable as the number of enthusiasts continues to grow. The technological developments are interesting every season and it’s exciting to be able to try them out. Even if my track record shows a big winner, you should know that these snowmobiles are all extremely powerful and that too often, it is the riders’ techniques that will make a huge difference in their ability to operate them at 100%. In the end, all you have to do is choose the one that makes you “tripping” when you see it!
Picture sources : Polaris, Ski-Doo, Arctic Cat
