I was recently invited by Polaris to spend a day charging around the historic West Wycombe Estate in Buckinghamshire in its latest all-terrain vehicles – an offer I accepted with alacrity.

Whether side-by-side buggy, quad or even Polaris’s 6x6 all-wheel-drive bike, the ATV is an essential tool for any gamekeeper, shooting estate or farmer. Most gamekeepers or farmers will spend the better part of their day hauling grain, forage, water or fencing equipment from one side of their ground to the other, so every aspect of their vehicle needs to be dependable and ergonomic. Even small details, like doors that open the opposite way to ease egress and ingress from the vehicle for endless solo gate-opening duties, become huge time savers.

Because of the ATV’s importance in shooting and rural activities, shooting estates such as Bettws Hall find synergy in aligning themselves with industry giants such as Kawasaki, which produces the utilitarian and hardworking Mule. EJ Churchill has found similar benefit with Polaris, and a vehicle that can handle the rigours of an outdoor working life can be the difference between a profitable business and one that folds.

RIGID CHASSIS

Prior to the day of field testing with Polaris, I enjoyed an evening of sumptuous hospitality and informative talks from the Polaris team at a smart hotel in Marlow. Over a cold beer they revealed to the assembled journalists the new design features on their latest batch of off-roaders. These include a redesigned chassis for more than twice the rigidity on the new line of side-by-side Rangers, heated hand warmers for driver and passenger available on the Nordic Pro editions of quad bikes, and even the option of a subwoofer on the Ranger XP 1000 EPS.

The next day we headed to the EJ Churchill Shooting Ground to get hands-on with the vehicles. After all the hype from the global sales and product teams, I was almost foaming at the mouth to get going. We were ushered towards the pavilion, where legions of shiny vehicles lined up. We walked around the various models for a recap on their specs and accessories.

POLAR CONDITIONS

The level of comfort was like nothing I had previously witnessed on agricultural vehicles. Electronic power steering on the quads, steep banking on the easily removable pillion seats that really gripped the passenger, as well as convenient handholds so that you aren’t forced to bear-hug the driver to stay secure.

The Nordic Pro iterations of the quad and six-wheeled bike include dazzling LED lights, which replace the halogen versions on previous models, and an engine block heater for starting in polar conditions. The Nordic Pros also have a heavy-duty 1,588kg winch with synthetic rope, which crucially – unlike a cable – floats. This allows easier use in watery environments.

Now to the testing. First we got to grips with the fully enclosed petrol and diesel Ranger options. With helmets on, we were asked to go and stand next to a vehicle, so we obediently trotted off down the line. After quickly posing for a photograph in front of our choices, we hopped in and switched on. I had opted for the Ranger Diesel Deluxe.

Our guide for the day, Shaun, set off, leading our convoy down the drive of the shooting ground. We trundled along a short stretch of main road and then into the woods and meadows of the Dashwood family’s West Wycombe Estate, nestled in the Chilterns. On the road the diesel Ranger was quiet and the cockpit was largely insulated from the roar of the massive 27in, ridged tyres on the tarmac.

This diesel version is equipped with a three-cylinder Kubota engine. We used to have a Kubota at home and one of the difficulties I found with it was the aggression of the engine braking. Each time you took your foot off the accelerator it felt as if you’d landed an F-14 on the deck of an aircraft carrier, with the deceleration throwing you violently forwards. Despite the shared engine, the Polaris had no such problem. However, when I tried to keep up with the petrol Rangers on the road, the diesel engine lacked pull. With only 24hp compared with the petrol version’s 82hp, it is easy to see why. Although the torque figures are a little closer to one another – 62lb-ft for the petrol and 41lb-ft for the diesel – the diesel version still felt underpowered.

ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

We charged off into the enchanting woodland and sloping fields of Buckinghamshire, pausing periodically for Shaun to share a little history of the estate with us. We wove a path through the estate, coming to rest by the lake in the shadow of the Italian renaissance-inspired West Wycombe Park, which has been used in several films from *The Importance of Being Earnest* to *A Clockwork Orange*. But we weren’t there to gawp at this neoclassical marvel, we were here to get these vehicles thoroughly mucky.

Polaris had organised a series of fording tests for us to take the vehicles through, so we set off individually to see how the Rangers coped in deep water. When it came to my turn, with four-wheel drive engaged as encouraged, I whizzed off the line towards the small river. A steep drop in sent plumes of water shooting out to either side, but the cleverly designed skid plate, and rugged and durable bumper, directed most of the water away from the windscreen, giving me a largely unobstructed view. On the other side, the Ranger climbed out of the river with ease.

ON TO THE QUADS

We paused for refreshments at a most extraordinary hunting lodge. It was festooned with monarch red deer heads, Chinese water deer that looked like sabre-toothed tigers and stuffed trout the size of skateboards. Then we were off to test the quad bikes.

I was testing the Sportsman Touring 570 EPS. For health and safety reasons, I had expected that we would be led slowly in single file along a tame, flat route. I was mistaken. A theme of the day was that the Polaris team, right up to regional director of central Europe Jim Clarke, were really keen for us to test their vehicles out to the limit. Their attitude was that we couldn’t review them properly if we weren’t able to experience their full capabilities.

With this in mind we were given multiple solo opportunities to get them revving and test their liquid-smooth suspension at speed over really rough terrain. They were superbly powerful and featured all sorts of well-considered electronic aids. The all-wheel-drive system was capable of identifying loss of traction and redirecting power to the wheels as needed. The Active Descent Control facilitated smooth deceleration downhill and the multi-setting electric power steering helped reduce fatigue for those on the bike all day.

We broke for a lunch of tastebud-tingling spicy pigeon tacos by field-to-fork caterer Veni & Son, then set off again for the next stage of the test. The final vehicle we got to have a go in was the Ranger XP Kinetic – the all-electric offering in the Polaris stable.

We were invited to start off in eco mode, slowly move up to standard and then sport to experience the difference in throttle response. The sport setting was ridiculous and, with the motor producing 110hp and 140lb-ft of torque, it’s easy to see why. With the Kinetic weighing a little over 800kg, stepping on the throttle in sport mode feels like standing on a landmine and you have to be careful that the 29in tyres don’t break free.

Punctuated by a quick session on clay pigeons with the EJ Churchill instructors, we whizzed the Kinetics around for more than an hour across challenging terrain where their agility and drive impressed immensely. At times the dust in my moustache and our rate of progress made me feel as if we were taking part in a desert rally.

Although not entirely silent, at low speed the Kinetics were almost noiseless, which would make them superb for checking ewes with young lambs or other stock without causing disturbance. For the single battery option on normal electricity tariffs, a charge would cost around £5, which is fantastic. However, the maximum range of 45 miles will soon be eaten up, especially if used for towing. Polaris claims that maintenance costs are 70% lower for the Kinetic than for combustion versions, which will help put a dent in its hefty £29,199 price tag.

After a wonderful day I finished feeling truly impressed with the Polaris range and grinning from ear to ear.