Watch: The latest workhorse for Irish farms - the Polaris UTE 570 HD

The Polaris UTE HD (heavy duty) was designed for the Australian market where it is said they are tougher on machines than anywhere else in the world. To develop the UTE 570, Polaris management and engineers visited Australia and New Zealand to solicit input from dealers and end users about the usage of ATVs in the unique conditions.

The Polaris UTE 570 was the result of the endeavour and was developed specifically to withstand the challenging conditions in Australia and New Zealand by offering greater utility and work capacity in a market so agriculturally dominated.

This is due to the fact that in the outback, maintenance and service is not number one on farmers’ to-do lists. The climate and conditions in the outback are harsh and demanding on both man and machine.

Rear tilt-box

Polaris had to look at what these machines where being put through on a daily basis and design an ATV that could easily cope and perform.

To prepare this quad for a hard life, several modifications were carried out. It has mirrors, indicators and a horn, so it can be driven on the road.

The ball-joints are now sealed and greasable. The driveshaft and suspension bushings are also sealed, in the hope that dust and debris cannot get in and cause wear.

Finally, for practicality, the UTE is fitted with a rear tilt box with 180kg capacity, has a front lock-and-ride lockable waterproof front storage compartment and rides around on durable four-ply tyres.

Engine

The UTE is powered by the same 567cc single-cylinder DOHC fuel-injected engine as the recently released Sportsman 570 EFI. The UTE 570 has plenty of power to handle even the toughest of tasks and towing with its 556kg towing capacity.

The engine is liquid-cooled, with the radiator mounted safely high up in the chassis and angled rearward to keep it clean and out of the mud. The UTE has an increased fuel capacity of 13% over the previous sportsman ATV.

The power from the engine is transferred to the ground via an automatic PVT consisting of park, reverse, neutral, low and high. The gears are engaged by pulling a large agricultural-type lever which can sometimes leave you in two minds on what gear you have selected.

Electric power steering

For steering ease and control under all conditions, the UTE 570 offers electric power steering as a standard feature and Polaris’s on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD) system which automatically engages when the rider needs more forward traction and reverts back to two-wheel-drive automatically when the AWD is no longer needed.

This system is easily engaged via one control on the right-hand switch-block which manages the two- to four-wheel-drive transition.

For optimal control on descents, the vehicle also features a new Polaris four-wheel descent control (4WDC) which was designed specifically for the hills and duty cycles of Australia and New Zealand. The system automatically engages all four wheels when travelling down slopes for optimal traction and control in all conditions.

Suspension

The UTE is fitted with a McPherson Strut up front with 20.8cm travel and dual A-arms down the back with 24.1cm travel. McPherson Strut assemblies are cheaper to manufacture and of a simpler design so they tend to need less maintenance than dual A-arms.

Generally speaking, ride quality is not as plush with a McPherson Strut and handling is less precise. Nevertheless, the set-up on the UTE works well.

The ride quality is pretty good and no compromise seems to have been needed to achieve this in a suspension package that handles heavy as well as light loads, with no mechanism for rebound or compression adjustment.

The Polaris UTE 570 HD may be a machine designed and built for the vast farms of Australia and New Zealand, but its practicality and build quality will be just at home here on Irish farms.

The UTE is limited to 40km/h top speed and Polaris says it can be taxed as an agricultural vehicle. Priced at €10,350 including VAT and with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty, the UTE would be a welcome workhorse on any farm.

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