TESTED | POLARIS RZR 200 | Launch Report | Tested
We test the all-new Polaris RZR 200's revolutionary safety features and performance since going bigger and better.
For 2022 Polaris made some significant changes to the RZR 200 and when compared with its predecessor, the RZR 170, they look nothing alike. Don’t want to read all the detail? Check out our video review.
The first thing that Polaris addressed for 2022 was safety. They wanted to make this vehicle safer than any other vehicle that’s come before it because that seems to be what parents in 2022 care about the most.
Polaris loaded this vehicle with more tech to keep your kids safe than we see in some cars. First up is the helmet aware technology. Basically, every RZR 200 comes with a little device that you can put in the kids helmet that will prevent the vehicle from starting if it is not within range of the vehicle.
It’s a small rectangular white tab about half the size of your thumb. It comes with all the right parts to attach it to any helmet. It prevents the kids from putting the keys in the ignition and just driving off into the paddock without wearing a helmet.
The next new safety feature is the geo-fencing tech that you can setup using Polaris’s Ride Command app. The geo-fence allows mum and dad to setup an area with an invisible perimeter fence where the RZR 200 can be used to its full capacity. If the vehicle is driven outside that fence it cuts the motor out. It’s really handy if you have dams, paddocks, trees or roads on your property that you don’t want your kids near because it stops them from driving into those areas.
It also has speed limiting. You can set this up using the Ride Command app or you can do it directly through the digital dash. It allows you to slow the vehicle down to around 8-10km/h and let it go as fast as about 50km/h.
Also new for 2022 is the roll cage which is safer, stronger and better welded. It could be rolled onto its roof and rolled back with no worries whatsoever. There are new doors which are also stronger and thicker than the previous ones. It has a better grab handle for the passenger and the steering wheel is new and allows you to adjust it up and down with more ease.
The cab is also bigger and can accommodate kids up to about 16 years old or even adults. We had no problem getting this RZR 200 on and off the trailer and we could get in and out of it no problem. The 2022 RZR 200 also gets a new set of rims but you can get flash aftermarket XP style rims if you want.
The big talking point is the rear-end which is now independent as opposed to the previous, solid rear-end. It’s pretty much what you see in the full-size RZR 1000 rear-end only smaller.
The previous fixed rear-end had problems with some of the welds around a gusset cracking but this new rear-end should never have that problem. The old rear-end couldn’t handle some of the square edge bumps and whoops that kids would hit.
One of the biggest changes for 2022 is the motor. It’s still EFI but is bigger than the previous model which was a 170 and it packs more punch and torque. The new motor also has better access to the oil filter and the air filter. Although, the oil filter looks a bit precarious and may need protecting.
Finally, the RZR 200 also has a new digital display. It has most of the stuff you’d expect like speed, revs, battery voltage, air temperature and more. You can also access all the safety features via the dash using the mode button and the arrows on either side. So if you don’t want to use your phone you can change the speed and setup the helmet activation from the dash of the vehicle but you will not be able to set up the geo-fencing just by using this dash.
How much fun is it?
At 188cm and 100kg, clearly I couldn’t be the one to test it so we employed the services of three young girls: Henley, Blair and Skyla. They range in age from 5-8 years old, have their very own buggy and also ride dirtbikes, but before we get to what they thought, here’s what we thought as parents.
The safety features worked flawlessly and offered extra reassurance for our testers’ dad. The geo-fence was easy to setup and program into the vehicle which slowed the RZR 200 as it got close to the edge. If the vehicle was driven outside the fence entirely it stopped altogether so they never went in the dam! The helmet aware tech was also pretty handy and when we moved a few metres away from the vehicle it would not start.
We tested the speed limiting (much to the girls’ frustration) and it was easy to use and very accurate. It never allowed the girls to go over the speed we set.
From a performance perspective, it looked planted, comfortable and despite the girls’ best effort on a flat corner to roll it, they never managed too. The cockpit was spacious and could easily fit both an adult and a child as short as 120cm. The girls had no issues pulling the handbrake on or putting the gear shifter into Forward.
But enough from us, here’s what our hero girls thought:
Skyla: I didn’t take very long to get used to the steering and getting it to go in the right direction. It was easy to control and the motor was perfect, it didn’t feel too powerful or not powerful enough. I thought the ride was soft and smooth.
I like the windscreen on the front because it kept the mud out of our faces, that’s something our other buggy doesn’t have. The handbrake was really easy to get on and off. We could move the seat to reach the pedals which made the drivers seat really comfortable. I never felt scared while driving because I knew I could never go into the dam or into a fence.
Henley: I thought it was really smooth on the ground. I felt really safe with the big roll cage around me. The steering didn’t feel heavy, I could steer it easily. We liked how we could see what gear it was in, either Forward, Neutral or Reverse and we also liked seeing the speed on the dash in front of us. It meant we didn’t go too fast.
I was scared a little bit though in one spot. When we were up on that mountain I was the passenger and Skyla was going too close to the edge so I felt a bit scared.
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Polaris RZR 200
Motor
Engine Type 4-Stroke Single Cylinder
Displacement 180cc
Cooling Air & Oil
Drive System Type 2WD
Fuel System Electronic Fuel Injection
Transmission/Final Drive Automatic PVT F/N/R; Chain
Dimensions
Weight 334kg (Dry)
Fuel Capacity 9.5L
Ground Clearance 25.4cm
Wheelbase 165.1 cm
Brakes, tyres, suspension
Front Suspension Dual A-Arm with 17.8 cm Travel
Rear Suspension Independent Rear Suspension with 17.8 cm Travel
Front Tires 24 x 8 – 12 CST
Rear Tires 24 x 10 – 12 CST
Front/Rear Brakes 4-Wheel Hydraulic Disc
Parking Brake Hand-Actuated
Additional Specifications
Instrumentation Digital display with gear indicator, odometer, trip meter, voltage, engine temperature, engine hour interval, ground speed, engine rpm, youth ride command, lighting, LED running lights, single rear brake light/tail light
