This year, I had the chance to do a short test of the Sportsman 570 EPS 2022. Here are my impressions.
Introduction.
Although I’ve been riding ATVs since I was very young, the first one I bought new was a 2011 Sportsman 800 cc. I had a lot of fun and no major mechanical problems with this machine over 8000 km. However, the fuel consumption was excessive. I remember one spring day riding less than 90 km on a partially snow-covered trail, only to find myself running dry with a tank of nearly 16 liters.
Today, I’m lucky enough to be able to test-drive the Sportsman 570, and I’ll give you, my impressions. I’ll also take the liberty of making a little comparison with my old Sportsman. The aim is to show you some of Polaris’s evolution in off-road vehicles over a little more than ten years.
Design of the Polaris Sportsman 570 EPS 2022
Visually, I love the unique design that sets Polaris apart. Especially on this latest generation (2021) of the Sportsman. A nice evolution over the years, the engineers at Polaris do an excellent job in this area. The “Desert Sand” color looks great on this 570 and, in my opinion, is a little grayer than brown.
Screen and Ergonomics.
In terms of ergonomics, the buttons on the steering wheel are well placed, but I preferred the square ones on my old 800, even though they’re almost identical. The Sportsman now has a digital display instead of an analog one. This makes it easy to read, and everything is accessible at a glance while driving.
What’s more, it contains all the essential information, including the tachometer. In the past, Polaris had located the battery under the left rear fender on my Sportsman 800, which didn’t make it easy to put it back in position. Subsequently, on most models, it was located near the wheel on the front left side of the chassis. In both cases, the battery was easily accessible through mud, dust and water.
Since 2021, Polaris has now decided to place the battery at the front, incorporating storage space, and easy access to the radiator cap as well as the fuses, it’s better thought out.
To facilitate battery charging, the new Sportsmans also have an easily accessible socket to hold the battery, which is great.
The vehicle’s finish has become extremely refined over the years, and I can see many improvements over my old Sportsman, both visual and practical.
Engine, Suspension and Shock Absorbers.
On paper, although the Sportsman 570’s engine is much smaller than my old Sportsman’s 800 cc 2-cylinder v-twin (54 hp), this smaller single-cylinder ProStar engine is impressive. It develops 44 hp, which is excellent. On my Sportsman 570, Polaris uses a front suspension with MacPherson shocks and an independent double-wishbone rear suspension. The latter bears a striking resemblance to that of my old Sportsman 800.
The only difference is the height under the vehicle, which is 11.5 inches, ¼ inch higher than my old ATV. As you can see, the travel of 8.2 inches at the front and 9.5 inches at the rear is identical. I should point out that if you opt for a slightly better-equipped model of the Sportsman 570, you’ll get double-wishbone front suspension and greater travel. The tires on the test vehicle are also similar in size to my 800 cc, i.e., 12 inches, but the better-equipped models will have 14-inch rims.
Finally, an honorable mention for the extended luggage rack supports with multiple attachment points at the front and rear, standard on the test model. Also, the pre-moulded holes on the rear rack to hold the boilers in place are very practical.
Engine Efficiency & CVT
During my test ride, the 567-cc engine delivered plenty of power and the CVT transmission did a superb job. I have to say that Polaris has an excellent CVT, and it has a lot of heart for passing maneuvers. This engine and CVT combination are excellent, as is the calibration at all rpm ranges. Compared with my Sportsman 800, I don’t perceive such a big difference in terms of performance unless I’m driving above the speed limit.
What’s more, Polaris has refined its CVT over the years. The belt is less noisy, and there’s less rattling when you’re riding than with the transmission I had on my old ATV. There’s nothing wrong with the riding position.
Driving Dynamics.
The seat is so comfortable that I’d say it’s my favorite in the industry. The Sportsman is very comfortable and pleasant to drive over long distances, the combination of suspension and shock absorbers doing the job amply. Compared with my old Sportsman, this test vehicle has power steering, an option I now consider essential, especially if you install tracks. The power steering is just a little too sensitive at high speeds and has no adjustment. As a result, it’s by no means unpleasant compared to other ATVs I’ve tested.
The vehicle is stable and agile. The steering is precise, responsive and returns a lot of feel to the wheel.
Another positive point is that the engine sound is not as noisy as it used to be on the old Sportsman 570s, as the exhaust system has improved a lot. I must also mention that I appreciate the workmanship of the running boards and fenders, which do a good job of not getting abundantly wet. I appreciate that the Sportsman comes standard with LED lights at the rear, but they should also be included at the front. Although I didn’t calculate the fixed fuel consumption during my ride, it seems amply decent and under 10 liters per 100 km.
Negative Points.
Here’s where I liked this Sportsman a little less. First of all, the suspension is very comfortable, but it’s relatively soft on the 570 compared to my old 800 cc. Even though it’s technically similar on paper. I’ve already seen it literally sag on a Sportsman 570 with the shock settings being the firmest when having a second passenger and also with a loaded trailer.
Another problem is always the gear selector arm, it’s better calibrated than in the past, but Polaris is behind many manufacturers. It’s always hard to tell whether the gear is engaged properly, sometimes you fall a bit between gears and it squeaks a lot, which isn’t very good. Another thing I don’t understand is why they’ve removed the little storage box in the back. The front trunk offers a lot of space that wasn’t available in the past. So, I don’t understand why it was removed, especially as the space wasn’t taken up by anything else under the vehicle.
Another point that annoys me a little
A final point that annoys me a little is the CVT heat exhaust pipe in the left rear fender. You have to agree at the outset that an ATV should never be submerged that deep in water without being well-equipped to do so. All the same, this pipe could have been placed a little higher in the fender and better protected from seepage. In the old days with my Sportsman 800, when it rained heavily, I had to empty my CVT compartment through the drain plug and dry my belt before setting off on a long ride. Without necessarily saying that this is what’s going to happen with this model, I believe that water and mud could seep in while riding on trails.
Finally.
The reason I compared the Sportsman 570 to my old 800 is simply to show you how much Polaris has improved over the years. The Sportsman is a vehicle that I consider above average in this segment and competitive in terms of price. In terms of power, it comes very close to some of the larger-displacement Japanese ATVs. With its performance, reliability and reasonable fuel consumption, the Sportsman 570 is a fine evolution and a much better vehicle than my old 800 cc Sportsman. The Sportsman 570 is definitely a good buy and an ATV I enjoy.
