Uploaded October 2018 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
While the Sportsman is an amazing all-terrain vehicle, if you want your ATV to excel in the deepest mud and last, it’s going to take a machine somewhat more specialized, like the 2019 Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition. Polaris recently invited us down to the High Lifter Proving Grounds in Shreveport, La, to put our mud riding skills and the 2019 High Lifter Edition to the ultimate test.
Conclusion
There are thousands of products out there that will help turn your 4x4 ATV into a dedicated mudder. However, you’re going to work awfully hard and spend a lot to build a better machine than the Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition as it sits on the dealer’s showroom floor due to Polaris’ ground up approach to building the ultimate ATV for the mud. If the 1000’s $13,999 asking price is a bit much, you could go for the 850 at $10,099, although it gives up the bumpers, winch, and other smaller items found on the 1000, not to mention that it won’t be a 1000. While we could easily recommend that most riders looking for a multi-use ATV might do well to consider a Sportsman 850, you really can’t have too much power when it comes to turning big tires in the deep stuff. At this point, we can’t imagine asking for a higher level of performance, capability, and excitement in the mud than the 2019 Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition delivers!
While the Sportsman is an amazing all-terrain vehicle, if you want your ATV to excel in the deepest mud and last, it’s going to take a machine somewhat more specialized, like the 2019 Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition. Polaris recently invited us down to the High Lifter Proving Grounds in Shreveport, La, to put our mud riding skills and the 2019 High Lifter Edition to the ultimate test.
Conclusion
There are thousands of products out there that will help turn your 4x4 ATV into a dedicated mudder. However, you’re going to work awfully hard and spend a lot to build a better machine than the Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition as it sits on the dealer’s showroom floor due to Polaris’ ground up approach to building the ultimate ATV for the mud. If the 1000’s $13,999 asking price is a bit much, you could go for the 850 at $10,099, although it gives up the bumpers, winch, and other smaller items found on the 1000, not to mention that it won’t be a 1000. While we could easily recommend that most riders looking for a multi-use ATV might do well to consider a Sportsman 850, you really can’t have too much power when it comes to turning big tires in the deep stuff. At this point, we can’t imagine asking for a higher level of performance, capability, and excitement in the mud than the 2019 Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition delivers!
