It’s a question that’s been on the minds of off-road fans for years. Why did Polaris discontinue the ACE? The answer may be more complicated than you think.
A Brief History of the ACE
The Polaris ACE was first introduced in 2014 as a new model in the already popular RZR line of UTVs (Utility Task Vehicles). Featuring an innovative single-seat design, the ACE was touted as being more nimble and easier to maneuver over tight trails than traditional side-by-side UTVs. Additionally, its smaller stature allowed it to fit in smaller spaces such as garages and ATV trailers. This made it extremely popular with hunters and recreationists who were looking for an easy-to-maneuver vehicle without sacrificing performance or power.
However, despite its promising start, sales for the ACE quickly began to decline shortly after its initial release, and by 2018 Polaris announced that it would be discontinuing production of the model entirely.
Reasons For Discontinuation
The exact reasoning behind Polaris’ decision is unclear, but there are several theories as to why they suddenly decided to pull the plug on this unique UTV.
One possibility is that they wanted to focus their efforts on their longer-established four-wheeler models, such as the Sportsman and Ranger series. By focusing their resources on these already successful models, they may have felt that they could better serve their customers while not having to worry about developing new technology and features for an experimental model like the ACE.
Another possible explanation is cost efficiency: The ACE was powered by a single-cylinder engine that had to be sourced from outside Polaris’ own manufacturing plant – making production more expensive than other lines, which relied solely on proprietary engines developed in-house by Polaris itself. With limited market exposure and higher production costs than comparable models, it could have just been too costly for them financially to maintain the production of the model any longer.
Ultimately, only time will tell what led to this decision, but we know that many off-road enthusiasts will miss this unique UTV, which first showed us just how much fun you can have in a single-seat ride!
