As pebbles and grasshoppers flew at me through my full-face helmet, we drove along the trail in the Nevada desert just outside of Las Vegas. The track in front of me vanished as we increased my pace – 20 mph, 30 mph, then 40 mph. The faster we traveled, the quicker we saw the shrubs, pebbles, and other tiny creatures in the route get run over by the tires of the UTV we were riding in. Sorry, Mother Nature, but the Polaris RZR Pro R 2022 is here.
Last November, Polaris unveiled the highly anticipated RZR Pro R and took us to the desert for some seat time. I’m pleased they did, not just because the RZR Pro R is a blast to drive but also because it seemed at home in the scorching, rocky terrain.
The Polaris RZR Pro R 2022 is Available in Three Trim Levels
During my time with the Polaris RZR Pro R, we had the opportunity to ride in the highest of the three trim levels.
- RZR Pro R Sport: $34,199
- RZR Pro R Premium: $37,499
- and RZR Pro R Ultimate: $40,699
Choosing the two higher trims – Premium and Ultimate – grants you access to amenities like Ride Command Technology, a powerful Rockford Fosgate audio system, and the all-new DYNAMIX DV system. The Pro R comes basic with two doors and two seats, but a four-seat option is available.
The Polaris RZR Pro R is a Fearsome-Looking Mini-Buggy
Whether you’re into Powersports or not, glancing at the Polaris RZR Pro R tells you precisely what it’s supposed to accomplish. Its plastic exterior is aggressive, with two body lines on the doors. It’s not built to win auto shows, but it shows.
The enormous Fox 3.0 suspension components allow 29 inches of travel and sit above the 32-inch tires. That amount of travel, along with the 16 inches of ground clearance, was helpful throughout the journey as we mowed over everything in our path.
Is the RZR Pro R Comfortable to Ride?
Yes, technically, a side-by-side car is relative. But the RZR Pro R has cushioned bucket seats that keep you and your passengers securely in place. To assist you in finding the perfect seating position, the chairs include expanded sliders and three-position tilt control. We may fold down the back seats to offer 16 cubic feet of storage space if you have a four-person vehicle.
The steering wheel tilts and telescopes to customize the driving position further. Otherwise, the tightness of the six-point harness that secures you to the seat determines your absolute comfort. It’s restrictive, but it’s necessary.
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How is the Tech on Polaris RZR Pro R 2022?
The Pro R is available with an inbuilt navigation system and Ride Command, in addition to the optional Rockford Fosgate music system and Bluetooth.
You may use Ride Command to organize and share routes with your party and keep track of them if they split away. We got a taste of this technology when we became separated from the caravan of RZRs we were with. When we arrived at a clearing full of grasshoppers and other bugs, we felt it was strange that we had gone right when we should have turned left.
It took me a minute to realize we were definitely off the track, so we turned back and walked over a few rock structures in quest of my friends. They spotted me fast and stated they could see me on the Ride Command function the entire time. Fortunately, no one could see my humiliation through my helmet.
The RZR Pro R 2022 is the Most Powerful Model Yet
The RZR Pro R is powered by a Prostar Fury 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with 225 horsepower and a CVT transmission. To date, it’s the most powerful RZR you can purchase, and believe us when we say that power level is more than adequate for most of the driving you’ll do. It has a quick throttle response, and the power increases even faster because there is no need to wait for the turbo to spool up. Three drive modes – sport, racing, and rock – alter the throttle mapping according to your mood.
Also, the RZR Pro R weighs roughly 2,000 pounds, comparable to driving a Honda S2000 with a significant weight decrease. It certainly felt like that on the dirt trail we were driving on. We were thinking the whole time, “this thing seems like a sports car on dirt,” which isn’t too far off since it can go 90 mph with a bold driver behind the wheel. It rapidly decompresses all four shocks and puts them fully hard, allowing you to escape any nasty (and rough) conditions.
Speaking of suspension adjustment, the Dynamix DV active suspension performed admirably on my desert journey. The control module monitors the suspension components 200 times per second to maintain optimum stability. We tried all the driving modes, including Baja, Rock, Track, and Comfort.
Is the Polaris RZR Pro R 2022 Safe?
Regarding UTVs, “safe” is relative to “comfort.” With a six-point harness, no windshield, and half doors, the Polaris RZR Pro R is safe. There are no airbags, adaptive cruise control, or other modern features, but the RZR Pro R’s chassis is twice as sturdy as other Polaris models. The cage also helps.
Polaris offers over 70 various extras, including custom wheels and tires, full-aluminum doors, steel rock sliders, and side mirrors, to improve the safety or appearance of your Pro R.
Polaris RZR Pro R 2022: Final Verdict
The Polaris RZR Pro R received an overall rating of 7.9 out of 10 from the editors of GudStory. It’s difficult to grade a car in this category, primarily when we haven’t yet driven a competition like the Can-Am Maverick X3. However, regarding UTVs, the RZR Pro R is quite the whole deal regarding performance and its tech features.
It is somewhat expensive in the sector. However, you won’t be disappointed if you’re willing to spend close to $35,000 on a weekend toy like the Pro R. Just make sure you don’t get lost in the desert as we did.
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