2011 Arctic Cat Prowler 1000 XTZ Review
By: Joseph “Joey D.” DiGiovanni
UTVUnderground.com
The 2011 Arctic Cat Prowler 1000 XTZ
is arguably the most powerful UTV to ever hit the UTV market. When
Arctic Cat introduced the 2010 Prowler 1000 XTZ it quickly became one of
the most popular UTV’s for performance minded individuals. With tops
speeds reaching the high 70 MPH range the Prowler XTZ was the fastest
UTV to hit the market.
For 2011 Arctic Cat chose to build
upon this winning platform of power and performance retaining the 951cc
SOHC 4 stroke, 4 valve, V-Twin Liquid Cooled H2 engine with EFI. Arctic
Cat prides itself on putting power where it matters, to the ground! As
power hungry enthusiasts we love when manufacturers have this mind set.
To compliment this “monster power mill” is the Duramatic Transmission
with Low, High, Neutral, and Reverse. This year’s model has increased
engine breaking which really helps when on a downhill slope. Not having
to ride the breaks is great when trying to navigate rough and rocky
downhill terrain. A front locking 4WD differential with an all in one
2WD/4WD/Diff Lock Rocker Switch button for quick engagement shifting and
rear mounted sway-bar for improved trail riding round out the Prowler
XTZ power train.
New for 2011 is the Variable Assist
Electronic Power Steering (EPS). Arctic Cat’s Variable Assist EPS
allows steering assistance to the XTZ before it even starts to move at
idle. We find this extremely helpful when moving the vehicle at slow
speeds, for example when moving in/out of the garage, off/on the
trailer, or just turning around on a tight trail. The EPS is also a
tremendous help to the driver when in 4WD, especially when the
differential lock is engaged. It takes away the fear of the wheel
ripping out of your hand by reducing the torque necessary to steer the
XTZ when changing direction with a full load in the bed or when
traversing over tough terrain like rocks or deep mud. I feared a
feeling of the vehicle being loose with the EPS when moving at high
speeds and while you still get a feeling of “lightness” due to the
shorter wheelbase of the UTV, the handling was still very responsive and
over steer wasn’t a problem.
The stance and suspension were
race-bred and performance calibrated with what Arctic Cat calls
“Ride-In”. Ride-In is described by Arctic Cat as having roughly 2
inches of squat (depending on driver/passenger size) while providing 10
inches of ground clearance and 10 inches of suspension/wheel travel. I
will attest that the Arctic Cat does have a rather sporty feel to it,
especially at high speeds and when cornering under power. I really
enjoyed the pull it had when coming out of a turn and off the line and
because of the power and stance sliding in and out of corners was
exceptionally fun and sturdy. I never had the feeling of being too top
heavy or the feeling of “bicycling” the UTV when turning hard through a
corner. One area of the suspension we were slightly disappointed in was
the gas-charged “Ryde FX” monotube coil over shocks. While Arctic Cat
claims them to be the best, and they may be, I just think that with this
type of power and aggression an adjustable compression/rebound coil over
shock is necessary. With all of the different terrain enthusiasts will
be taking the XTZ through I feel the ability to adjust to your personal
ride comfort is a huge benefit.
Another new for 2011 feature is the
ROPS compliant Baja-inspired round tube roll cage. One of the biggest
complaints we heard over the last year with the Prowler lineup was the
use of the square tube roll cage. It made it hard for aftermarket
accessories to adapt to the cage style and it also wasn’t the most
appealing in the style department. Arctic Cat took note and introduced
their new style round tube canopy for 2011 and it not only gave the
Prowler a more appealing look but it also now gives the Prowler the
aggressive cage design enthusiasts and XTZ lovers wanted. In addition
to the round tubing design the Prowler also comes standard with a very
useable convex rear view mirror. I found it very useful while on our
adventure to the Grand Canyon, I took pleasure in watching all of our
friends eating our DUST! HA HA
Interior creature comforts also took a
turn for the better in 2011. A digital gauge redesign was implemented
and includes a new seat belt indicator light to remind you of always
keeping safety first when operating the Prowler XTZ. A new
race-inspired steering wheel was also applied to the 2011 XTZ and works
in conjunction with the 5-Position Tilt Steering set up which is lever
actuated and makes for an easier entry and departure from the vehicle.
A console-mounted automotive style parking brake was also added and is a
huge improvement over the 2010 model. Arctic Cat also took notice to
what was being labeled as a “sensitive” throttle in 2010. So for 2011
they designed the Prowler with a new foot throttle that has a lighter
actuator spring. This reduces the “jerky” feeling you get when applying
pressure onto the throttle.
Storage is not a problem with the XTZ
with plenty of cargo space both in the bed and under the hood. The XTZ
has 1,500-lb towing capacity and a 600-lb payload capacity for the bed.
The under hood storage box is rated for 25-lbs and is large enough to
hold a backpack which we found really useful on our trip in the XTZ.
The XTZ sports an 8.2 gallon fuel tank which provided surprisingly good
fuel economy even when driving the vehicle like we had stolen it across
the Arizona/Nevada deserts. The rear bed cargo box also comes with bed
rails which give you some convenient locations to place your tie down
hooks.
The Prowler 1000 XTZ will be available
from Arctic Cat in 2 paint options for 2011. White Metallic or Viper
Blue Metallic is the options and personally I love the White! Gone is
the hood scoop that was featured in the 2010 lineup which I am a bit
torn on. We lost the scoop to make room for the under hood storage so I
can accept that change. One of my favorite additions to the Prowler
1000 XTZ lineup is the 26” Maxxis Bighorn Tires. Wrapped around the 14
inch aluminum wheels the Bighorns are some of the most reliable and
popular tire options in all of the UTV market. Front and rear hydraulic
disc brakes help bring the kitty to a halt.
Overall I was pleasantly
surprised with the performance, handling, and overall comfort of the
Arctic Cat prowler 1000 XTZ. It has all a performance minded UTV
enthusiast can ask for and is primed for some very exciting aftermarket
modifications.
 Manufacturer Info:
Arctic Cat Inc.
601 Brooks Avenue South
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Website: www.arcticcat.com
About Arctic Cat:
Arctic Cat Inc., based in Thief River Falls, Minn., designs, engineers,
manufactures and markets all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and snowmobiles under
the Arctic Cat® brand name, as well as related parts, garments and
accessories. Its common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under
the ticker symbol “ACAT.” More information about Arctic Cat and its products
is available on the Internet at
www.arctic-cat.com
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