Ranger farm buggy drivers who find themselves tugging or pushing hard at the selector lever to shift into forward or reverse should have an easier time of it, according to Polaris, with the Gen 2 transmission fitted to selected 2026 models becoming available later this year.

Changes to the mechanism are said to have reduced the shifting effort involved by some 50% and it is being introduced on the Ranger Diesel and range-topping petrol-fuelled XP 1000 ABS.

See also: On test: Battery-powered Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic

The diesel and all Ranger 1000 buggies also get a new high-output electric power steering setup reckoned to need less muscular effort, especially at slow ground speeds, while giving a livelier response to the helm.

Complete with cab

Top-spec Nordic Pro models across the range are the first to have a new factory-installed, all-enclosing cab fitted as standard equipment.

It comprises a roof, tip-out front windscreen, a rear panel and full doors with wind-down windows for when a little extra ventilation is called for; and also included are a heater and windshield defrost outlets.

The Nordic Pro package now comes with a heavy-duty Polaris winch for pulling logs or de-bogging the vehicle if it becomes mud-bound beyond the four-wheel drive system’s capabilities.

New tyres are also part of the upgrade package – a “variable” tread pattern featuring alternate short and long tread bars that put more rubber down the centre of the tyre aim to reduce noise and vibration.

ABS variants of the XP 1000 Premium and Nordic Pro get 27in Pro Armor X Terrain 8-ply rated tyres, while the non-ABS models get taller 29in versions.

Polaris Ranger Nordic Pro 1000 © Polaris

Upgrades specific to the Ranger SP 570 models include a full-length underside skid plate as standard to tolerate more abuse on deeply rutted farm tracks.

Fresh colours add to the choice of specs, including “blue dusk” available pretty much across the range and “mirage beige” for the Ranger 1000 line-up.