What You Need To Know About The Polaris Ranger CREW 570 SP Northstar

If you are looking for a Polaris Ranger that can seat four people, yet is still compact enough to fit into tighter areas, well, they have a model that fits that bill. The Ranger Crew 570 SP is a machine that is built to wiggle into areas a full-size machine can’t, yet has a backseat capable of fitting two adults. When you add in the SP Northstar package, and drape the whole thing in Polaris’ Pursuit camo, you have a pretty cool machine for hunting. Here’s what you really need to know about the Polaris Ranger CREW 570 SP Northstar model if you are thinking of buying one.

The five-seven-zero

The first time I ever got behind the wheel of a machine with Polaris’ 570 motor, it was a compact RZR model. That was a fun machine. Next up was a Sportsman, and again - lots of fun. Then I got behind the wheel of a full-size Ranger CREW model. That’s where things got a little less than good. I’m not dogging the machine really, it’s just that in my opinion, the 570 motor just didn’t have enough power to let you really get the most from a full-size, six-person Ranger CREW model. However - and this is a BIG however - The 570 motor is outstanding in the mid-size platform, and that includes the CREW 570 SP Northstar. Let’s discuss.

The latest incarnation of the 570 is a 567cc ProStar Single-cylinder dual overhead cam four-stroke that pumps out 44 horses. There are certain machines that the 570 motor is magic in. The Sportsman 570 Ride Command is amazing, as is the Ranger SP two-seat model. I was a little nervous going into the Crew Northstar Ranger simply because the longer cab body and full-cab enclosure add a lot of weight. I was pleasantly surprised with how much pep the machine had, though. It is a little slower to accelerate than smaller models, but it isn’t bad at all. The top speed for me was around 48mph on a straight trail with two other adult-sized people on board. The torque seemed pretty good, as it always is with this engine and you didn’t get excessive wheel spin when you got on the gas in two-wheel drive.

Capability

Suspension action is pretty good. Up front, the Ranger SP has 9 inches of travel from the McPherson Strut design. This is the same idea Polaris has been using in the Sportsman line for years and it works pretty well. Could the Ranger Crew benefit from going to a dual-wishbone design in the front? Probably, but for 99% of the users out there, you’d never notice the difference. The rear suspension uses a dual A-arm setup with 10 inches of travel. It is predictable and smooth, even under load.

The Ranger CREW SP 570 is rated to tow 1,500 pounds and handles that with little effort. When you add in a full load of passengers, it gets a little slower with a full trailer behind it, but it still worked, and the engine didn’t show any signs of overheating. This would be a great rig for field hunting waterfowl, like geese. The cargo bed is rated for 500 pounds and again, handles it just fine. You do need to be careful when hauling four adults and some cargo, as it can start to tax the machine a bit. The total payload capacity is 750 pounds, and that can be reached quickly with big dudes.

Northstar light

If you are used to the full-sized Ranger XP Northstar models, don’t think that the mid-size Northstar is the same - it’s not. I would assume that there isn’t enough space to add all of the traditional Northstar goodies to the SP, but it does come with some great features that make it a great option. The machine has a full cab enclosure with premium glass windshields and side windows that roll down with a hand crank. There is a windshield wiper system, too, which is great for rainy days. The Ranger Crew 570 SP Northstar has a heater, too that keeps the whole cab nice and toasty warm on cold days.

There is also a 3,500 Polaris Pro winch. The Polaris Pro winches are quite stellar and on par with the best in the industry. I have used several and installed them on machines myself. Polaris did their homework with these winches, and having one on your Polaris is a smart move.

Unlike the big Northstar-equipped Ranger, the mid-size model doesn’t come with Ride Command as a standard feature option. You can, however, add a version of it as an accessory. If you plan on doing much trail riding or riding in remote areas, Ride Command is a great tool and worth looking into.

Other tidbits

The Ranger CREW 570 SP Northstar rolls on 25-inch Pro Armor X-Terrain tires that are pretty beefy and seem durable. Traction is not a concern with the machine and the tires help with the 10.3 inches of ground clearance.

Handling is pretty good for a machine that is 12 feet long. The turning radius is around the 16-foot mark and you can wiggle it into some pretty tight terrain. The machine is just 58 inches wide, too, so those 60-inch limited trails are wide open to you. I was amazed at just how nimble the machine was in some tight wooded areas.

The unit we tested was in Polaris’ sweet Pursuit cam pattern. I’ve said this before, but as a hunter, I’d love to see some camo clothing options in this pattern as it is great for areas like mine where there is a mix of hardwoods and pine trees. A ground blind would be cool too, for turkey and deer season.

Overall, I am impressed with the 2024 Polar Ranger CREW 570 SP Northstar. It has enough power to handle most things, ample room for four people, and great handling for a crew-capacity machine. Add in the camo and you’ve got a great option for hunting. My wife likes the heater for the colder weather and the comfort level is really good. The starting price for the machine as we tested it is reasonable at $23,499. For more information, go to the Polaris website, or better still - your local Polaris dealer to see one in person.