Polaris Launches All-New Ranger 500

Ever since the days of the Polaris RZR Turbo S launch, people have been saying, “Why are these so expensive?! Make side-by-sides cheap again!” The offroad industry has been on a steady incline of more and more premium vehicles; across the board with all manufacturers and segments. This includes the best selling Polaris Ranger line of utility vehicles. You can easily start to break the bank going all-in on a Polaris Ranger 1500 Crew Northstar Edition. Today., Polaris shows the community that it CAN listen to customer feedback and bring affordable and capable machines to market!

New for the 2026 model year, Polaris launches the Ranger 500; a $10,000 utility vehicle that provides familiar functionality and capability, but at a much more palatable price point. Is this a monster UTV that can pull a trailer of cattle or unearth a massive oak tree or climb the local hill climb? No. This is an entry level bench seat side-by-side that will fit right in on small rural properties, job sites, or even campuses. The new Ranger 500 is modern and subdued at the same time, making it an attractive (or less intimidating) choice for less aggressive or older buyers.

2026 Polaris Ranger 500 Specifications

	2026 Ranger 500 Specs
Engine	De-Tuned 567cc Single Cylinder
Total Horsepower	28 hp
Transmission	CVT
Drive Modes	D/N/R/P w/ Limited Slip 4WD & Turf Mode
Curb Weight	1,210 lb
Wheelbase	73.2″
Dimensions (LxWxH)	110″” × 58.5″ × 74.8”
Ground Clearance	10″
Front Wheel Travel	9″
Rear Wheel Travel	10″
Wheels	12″ Aluminum
Front Tires	25x8r12
Rear Tires	25x10r12
Front Suspension	MacPherson strut 9″
Rear Suspension	Dual A-Arm
Bed Capacity	300 lb
Payload Capacity	1,000 lb
Towing Capacity	1,500 lb
Fuel Capacity	9.5 gal
Winch Included	2,500 lb w/ Steel Cable
Stator	660 watt
Infotainment	None
Bluetooth	None
Navigation	None
Colors	Sage Green
Warranty	1 Year

Looks & Features

The new Ranger 500 retains the latest modern design aesthetics from its bigger brothers, but has a more subdued and, in our opinion, a simpler and more flat look. Factory LED headlights make for a nice addition to a budget vehicle. The hood is a full-width removable piece that reveals a bit of hidden storage. While Polaris thinks you’ll store your gardening gloves and pruners there, we suspect most people will keep their straps, shackles, or less used items there. While open, the hood area provides access to the various fluids, battery, and medium sized radiator. While there is no Polaris Pulse Bar from the factory, it will be an available accessory.

The cabin will look familiar and new at the same time. Polaris has included a nice looking steering wheel with thumb rests, the standard Ranger reversed floating shifter, mono-color LCD cluster, 12v outlet, and standard stamped brake pedal and throttle by wire pedal. The nice thing about the dash is that the entire thing is open storage! Anybody that’s used a utility vehicle to constantly get in and out with tools or gloves, etc. knows that this excess of space to throw something on the dash will be a welcome feature. Additionally, the shape of the dash storage also doubles as a cup holder. More storage is found at the glove box.

The dash cluster is a mono-color blue crystal LCD but includes some nice features fro this segment. You can speed limit the machine in 5 mph increments with lock-out, starting at 15 mph. To the center of the dash, you’ll find three placements for accessory switches. One is populated with a Turf Mode switch to unlock the rear differential. There is no AWD switch like in most other larger Polaris UTVs. The Range 500 has an always-engaged 4WD with a physically automatically limited slip front differential. Only the rear can be selected open/locked on the fly.

The new Polaris Ranger 500 does have a tilt bed that is rated at a 300 lb. capacity. While that’s less than it’s larger model family, it is more than enough for light duty tasks related to small property maintenance or job site and campus transportation tasks. While the bed and suspension limit the overall load rating, the small but useful Ranger maintains a 1,500 lb. towing capacity making it useful for a wide range of towing jobs with the included 2″ receiver.

The 2026 Polaris Ranger 500 also comes with some additional standard features. The form-fitted roof comes factory installed along with mesh doors. We asked about the option of half doors and full enclosure kits and representatives said there are not plans for them at this time. There is a stamped steel front bumper/skid plate with factory installed 2,500 lb. Polaris winch with steel cable. There is a full length skid plate to protect the undercarriage and de-tuned 28 hp 567cc single-cylinder engine and CVT transmission borrowed from the Polaris Ranger 570. We asked about commonalities of consumable suspension parts like axles and we were told that most parts are existing SKUs except for the CVT belt as the CVT is spec’ed for the lower power and torque.

Target Market

So while we started saying that the community is demanding lower cost options in the UTV market, this is starting on the far opposite end of the $50k options out there. This will ultimately bring out those that say that this is too far and that the 500 is too light weight and too small, etc. I believe they’re wrong.

I see a huge market for these units. As a small property family with a handful of acres to maintain, animal pens to service, fences to mend, landscaping, and more… this small unit would be perfect for our family to get around, transport tools and materials between sheds and barns or the house. We don’t have to travel “far” but far enough that it would be hard to look back once you introduced a tool like a mini Ranger to the property.

Additionally, this new $10,000 option from Polaris directly competes with other UTVs in the farm/job site market like the Kabota RTV520 ($11,500 MSRP) and the John Deer XUV560E ($13,300 MSRP). While there are some larger numbers for bed capacity or towing with those options, I frequently hear from users of those units that they just simply dislike using them. Additionally, many people either don’t have, or have bad experiences with, a local dealer to maintain their UTVs. Any Polaris authorized dealer would be able to service these vehicles.

The similarities of looks and comforts in the 2026 Polaris Ranger 500 and the larger 570/1000’s will inevitably win over a large group of buyers/leasers in the market. Polaris believes that the Ranger 500 is the “right tool at the right price.” For many, I believe this is true. This price point also allows Polaris to expand to additional trims with nicer amenities in the future and still be price competitive.

The 2026 Polaris Range 500 launches today in green at an MSRP of $9,999 with deliveries expected in early August 2025. Units come with a 1 year factory warranty and 30 compatible Polaris accessories.

You can find out more at Ranger.Polaris.com.