The Prowler’s engine placement is probably as much as 6-inches higher than the RZR’s. If you park the XTZ next to the RZR “S” you can easily identify the RZR’s advantage. Obviously, Arctic Cat is targeting the performance buyer with the XTZ 1000 and even though their path is identical to both Kawasaki’s Teryx “S” and Yamahas Rhino SE, all three of these hot-rodded sport-more-than-utility vehicles have one issue keeping them from ultimate head-on comparos to the RZR “S”. Lastly, the XTZ sports four sweet looking cast aluminum wheels shorn with gnarly rubber. The V-twin reactor buried in the frame emits a deep and ominous melody capable of sending mothers and small children searching for cover. The XTZ gets nifty box rails, rock crusher bars on the running boards and a functional front brush guard.Ī fiery orange mist paint job and faux hood scoop are nice touches and grab attention everywhere you go. Ryde FX take-apart aluminum body gas shocks hang on all four corners. The XTZ 1000 adds some pretty sweet stuff to the Prowler platform. Actually, we felt uncomfortable at any speed in the XTZ without belts on. Combination shoulder and lap belts are a great inclusion and must be used to ensure both occupants stay put in this high performance vehicle. The Prowler has a stout and functional roll cage with a high mounted brake light. We’ll make it clear from the outset, you cant haul three in a Prowler, period. Seating is comfortable and both seats remove easily to provide access to the engine after removing the one-piece molded cover. If you’ve got a two-cheeseburger gut, you’ll find the wheel downright intrusive. The steering wheel is a contentious item for most of our testers as it doesn’t tilt or telescope out of the way, interfering with entry and exit. Switch-gear for lighting and 4×4 activation is center mounted on the dash and falls readily to hand from either side. The floor is an easy-to-clean and relatively flat plastic piece while the dash contains nice storage bins, a glove box and a multi-function gauge cluster identical to Arctic Cat’s Sport Utility ATVs. Interior accoutrements are pleasing and mirror the classy level of trim in all Prowler models. The sides are high enough to contain messy loads and the tailgate is a tight fitting, consistent functioning piece with a one hand, truck style release.
The Prowler’s double lined, molded plastic dump box is top-of-the-class for its precision finish and slick operation.
The frontal area of the Prowler is more Ranger-sized and the dump box is “Big Gulp” caliber, offering the highest sides in the biz. However, it’s important to understand its overall size is somewhat larger than a Rhino. Its engine is located between the front seats, providing a slightly sportier look and feel than a Ranger XP. In many ways, the Prowler is similar in layout to the legendary Yamaha Rhino. The original Prowler platform powered by both 550 and 650 H1 carbureted “hemi” engines has been near and dear to our hearts. Take note, the Arctic Cat Thundercat’s 950cc V-twin lurks next to your right knee. What we’re talking about here is the two time All-Terrain Vehicle Magazine Best-in-Class Award winning Arctic Cat Prowler platform injected with the largest, most powerful mill ever seen in a SxS vehicle. By the way, never sit on a live stick of TNT without wearing a helmet. If you threw a stick of TNT into a garbage can, slammed the lid on, sat down and held on tight, the upward accelerative force applied to your body from the explosion would be almost, but not quite as strong, as the forward force experienced when tramping the new Prowler XTZ 1000’s accelerator to the floor.
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