When we attended Snowshoot for the 2026 models, given the lack of anything new on the engine side from the manufacturer, we decided to pay particular attention to the 600cc class. Admittedly, this class is often neglected in the journalistic world. Older readers will remember that, in the 90s, 600s were still among the most powerful in the industry. Then came the 700, 800 and even 1000 cc models. At the time, the race for big displacement was in full swing. In the space of just two or three years, 600cc models were relegated to the bottom of the ladder in terms of cylinder capacity.
What an encounter!
During our Snowshoot test, we rode with a very nice guy from Polaris, Josh Leonard, who has been Director of Product Planning at Polaris for 23 years. This kind of meeting allows us to have more personalized exchanges on various subjects, and especially off-camera. These are privileged moments for us, when we sometimes obtain confidences or very important technical details. This information enables us to go into greater depth in our articles, making them easier for our readers to understand. And it was a good time to discuss the vocation of the XCR vs VR1 with Dynamic suspension. It was confirmed that the Dynamic suspension is intended for trail use, with comfort as its primary goal, while the XCR remains the undisputed extreme bump snowmobile in the American manufacturer’s line-up. Josh also confirmed that no changes had been made to their electronic suspension setup.
New Longtail rear suspension!
Time and time again, we’ve noticed in the past that, on occasion, certain small changes seem minimal, but bring major different behaviors to the vehicle. Polaris, in 2026, is no exception to this rule, with a small modification to their suspension that puts them among the top of the podium in terms of behavior and handling. For several seasons now, Polaris snowmobiles have shown a slight stall in suspension under acceleration. Well, for 2026, the XCR gets a new rear suspension configuration that improves ground clearance for skis coming out of turns, as we noticed during our test ride. These improvements have been put to the test during the Iron Dog race over the past 2 years. This race tests the endurance and strength of the suspensions over 4000 kilometers across Alaska.
To achieve this result, the engineers increased the length of the two rear springs and repositioned their contact points on the suspension cradle (rail) in front of the front lever arm mount. The guide block is located some 8 inches further forward than the previous version.
Although this modification seems minor, it has a considerable effect on the way the weight transfer works. The grip of the swingarm (front) on the cradle (rail) is a pivot point for the suspension. By moving the hitch in front of the cradle, more weight has to be exerted on the rear of the snowmobile to lift the skis.
According to our engineer, its length and the repositioning of the guide block in front of the front swingarm attachment point improve resistance to sinking, making weight transfer more gradual. The result is a significant reduction in ski lift during recovery. A small change that greatly improves handling!
Suspension…
For the new season, the 650 Indy XCR is available in two suspension configurations, the 129-inch version or, like our test version, the 137-inch version. As in the past, we continue to rely on the excellent Walker Evans shocks in the 2-inch Racing version. Both front and rear.
An abundance of equipment!
Our test snowmobile was equipped with the optional 7S display. This incorporates Ride Command functions, renowned for their performance and clarity of display. The touchscreen remains fully functional even when wearing gloves, and provides access to GPS navigation, offline trail data and Group Ride technology. The latter lets you track your group members in real time, even in the absence of cellular coverage.
Other exciting options include Polaris’s exclusive Smart Warmers. They allow you to precisely configure the intensity of the heating you want, both on the grips and on the thumb.
And let’s not forget the famous Nightblade headlight, which provides excellent illumination for evening driving. It’s worth mentioning that on our test vehicle, we also had the option of two auxiliary headlights, located higher up on the chassis to enhance visibility.
On the track…
During our time in West Yellowstone, we encountered a variety of trail conditions. Bumps and also freshly surfaced trails with long curves that allowed us to test the stability of the new suspension. Our test ride did indeed demonstrate the effectiveness of the modifications. During acceleration out of corners, the skis stayed on the ground to provide good grip, enabling us to maintain the pace. Curiously, the increase in this sag resistance doesn’t seem to have affected comfort in small bumps, at least according to the conditions we encountered.
And although we’ve pointed it out several times in the past, the Matryx chassis continues to impress. It offers great freedom of movement on board, and the shape of the fairing at tank level greatly facilitates lateral transitions, allowing for fluid, natural left-right movement.
In conclusion, the 2026 Polaris XCR 650 is definitely one of the best trail snowmobile versions ever produced by Polaris. This little gem offers incredible handling with skis that are downright nailed to the ground, which will delight those who love winding trails. And in 95% of trail conditions, this powerplant is more than enough to put the big boys to shame, so your wallet will be better off when you get to the gas stations.
