There is a cry from within the automotive community for manufacturers to have more fun. Most cars have gotten so sterile and clinical in their missions to appease every living soul with a good enough credit rating. As it turns out, fun has been in your face this whole time. The 2024 Polaris Slingshot R is somehow a vehicle that combines sports cars, motorcycles, and pickup trucks into one totally ridiculous vehicle. Everything about the Polaris Slingshot seems to be a big middle finger to convention, yet driving one is ridiculously fun.
The Polaris Slingshot has been around for about a decade now. We’ve all seen these machines on the road before. I mean, how could you miss them? A Polaris Slingshot is like a Transformer that got stuck halfway through its morph. I’ve long wondered about the striking three-wheelers. I’ve wondered if they’re fun, if they’re comfortable, and honestly, the biggest question I’ve had is simply why? Why does the Polaris Slingshot exist? Why aren’t these people just buying a Miata?
For the next couple of weeks, I’m finally getting the chance to answer my own questions. I’ve now spent a day with a 2024 Polaris Slingshot R and I have some first impressions.
A Wild Concept
As of today, the Slingshot is the only road-legal vehicle to bear the Polaris nameplate. Sure, Polaris also owns Indian Motorcycle, but Indian also doesn’t make anything like this.
Polaris says the idea that became the Slingshot was conceived by Polaris engineers in 2010. Company brass loved what they saw so much that they greenlit the prototype for production. The engineers then formed a team to turn that idea into reality. According to the Star Tribune, the Slingshot was developed at the Polaris R&D center in Wyoming, Minnesota over the course of four years.
The original Slingshot debuted in 2014 for the 2015 model year, just in time for Polaris’ 60th anniversary.Â
The early Slingshots were parts bin specials, featuring a lot of bits of Polaris’ own design, such as the tube frame and the bodywork, but were very General Motors underneath. Power came from a 173 HP 2.4-liter GM Ecotec LE9 four-cylinder, famous for its use in the Chevrolet HHR. And the transmission? Oh, that was also GM, but we’ll talk about that one later. In other words, if you squinted really hard, the Polaris Slingshot was basically the coolest version of the Chevy HHR.
The Slingshot in my possession right now comes from the vehicle’s 2020 redesign. Polaris doesn’t call this a second-generation but does say the 2020+ Slingshots have 70 percent all-new content over the older ones.
The update brought new visuals and a much better cockpit to the table, but what’s under the plastic also got revamped. The engine is now a Polaris ProStar 2.0-liter four. This unit is making 203 HP at 8,250 RPM and 144 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 RPM. The transmission is where things get fun. Bolted to that engine is an Aisin AR5.
Before you drop your mouth, yes, that is the transmission from the first-generation Chevrolet Colorado (and related to the AX15 found in Jeeps and Dodge Dakota pickups) and adapted to the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. It’s a five-speed unit and has updated ratios for the Slingshot. The 2020 year also brought an automatic transmission to the Slingshot for the first time ever. This transmission is more or less the same manual transmission, but with the clutch and shifting handled by a computer. Instead of a stick and a clutch pedal to play with, you get flappy paddles. Think of it like BMW SMG, but Polaris-style.
The Slingshot has a trim level spread starting with the basic S for $21,999 and rising up to the Roush Edition for $38,149. The top of the regular line is the R, which sits at $34,799 before options. Much like with a car, the trim levels dictate how much content you get. For example, the base S has the 2.0 ProStar engine, but it’s tuned to 178 HP. You also get base-level bodywork, standard brakes, no windshield, and so on. Even the infotainment system is optional and you don’t even get the option to equip the Slingshot S with a backup camera.
The R is the top of the food chain, sporting all of the features either locked out of the S model or optional as standard. That includes a 20″ 305mm rear wheel, Apple CarPlay, tri-tone paint, a graphics package, a 200 W Rockford Fosgate sound system, and so much more. The R even gets big vented 339mm discs with four-piston Brembo calipers, which aren’t on the lower models.
I’ll cover all of this in my main review, but what you need to know for now is that the in-house engine and truck transmission is matched with coilovers and a double wishbone suspension. That truck transmission sends power that hits the rear wheel through a belt final drive.
A Total Riot
The first thing you’ll realize when hopping into a Polaris Slingshot is that this is nothing like anything else you’ve ever driven. The floor sits just 5.4 inches above the ground and its 1,636-pound curb weight is about 200 pounds shy of a Smart Fortwo. You don’t even have to look up to see absolutely nothing above you and the sides of the Slingshot also don’t come up very far either. A side-by-side feels more enclosed than this!
All of this lends to great visibility, well, so long as you don’t plan to look behind you. Turn your head and there’s a huge sail blocking your view. Reversing the Slingshot is reliant on either the backup camera, the mirrors, or by craning your head outside of the vehicle.
Hit the start button and you’ll be presented with a soundtrack that reminds you of a side-by-side engine. At idle, the ProStar engine sounds like a four-cylinder Suzuki. That’s just the first hint of what you’re about to be in for. The next hint is the realization that the Slingshot R’s windscreen is almost useless. If you’re of average height your head will sit above it. That’s one of the reasons, aside from safety, that this is a ride fit for helmets. That windscreen isn’t stopping rain, bugs, or rocks from pelting you.
Speaking of rain, I received my unit during a downpour and was crazy enough to commit to driving it right then and there. Sure enough, the windscreen fed water straight to my body. The good news is that the Slingshot’s interior is water-resistant and features drains, so it’ll be okay in the rain even if you aren’t.
I gave myself a good soaking before deciding to park the unit until the weather passed. Thankfully, that happened right on time for me to be done with work for the day, so I grabbed my wife and we plopped down into the Slingshot R.
We began to see the appeal of the Slingshot before we even left the neighborhood. No fewer than three neighbors walked up to the machine and gave it a look before complimenting it and asking me questions about it. Another neighbor looked on from her bedroom window. She looked shocked, like I shot a dog or something.
Eventually, my neighbors let me go and I clicked the transmission into first gear. Now, at this time I wasn’t aware of the AR5 down below, but I got a sense of deja vu. This was repeated as I took off and the transmission made a soft whine. I then grabbed second and the shift was as I’d describe as “agricultural.” Not bad by any means, but a bit like a pickup truck.
I didn’t really have much time to ponder the transmission because once I got free and clear of my neighborhood I punched the throttle. The rear tire let loose before traction control reined the wheelspin in. The result was a burst of speed, a ton of giggles, and the smell of a briefly burned tire.
Polaris says the Slingshot R can hit 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. I know that doesn’t sound all that amazing in an era when EVs can easily do the job much quicker, but it’s faster than a Mazda Miata ND and only a couple of clicks off of a Toyota GR Supra. It’s no supercar, but it’s not a slouch, either.
The Polaris Slingshot has the perfect formula for the kinds of hooliganism that would normally be reserved for muscle cars and Can-Am Rykers. It’s easy to light that rear tire up, turn that wheel, and go for a spin cycle or a few. If you keep that rear tire hooked, the truck transmission is also pretty satisfying to throw through the gears. Go ahead, race up to that 8,500 RPM redline — you’re going to need to if you want that 203 HP — slam it into the next gear, and do it all over again.
Something I’ve found refreshing about the Slingshot was that its complete disregard for convention made it feel better than many of the cars you’ll drive today. You get just enough technology, but the rest is all on you. Come in too hot into a turn? I hope you like drifting. Punch the throttle while doing a U-turn? There aren’t a million nannies that will scream at you. Traction control will try to stop you but you’ll find yourself overpowering it. Or, you could just turn off traction control and tell it to shut up. You aren’t going to find a radar, a lane-keep assist, or anything like that here.
I was also surprised to find out that the Slingshot is the exact opposite of everything everyone complains about in modern cars. You feel the road through the wheel and you can decipher what each wheel is doing through your tuchus. If you’re having a really spirited drive, you can even watch the front wheels work through their suspension range. Toss in the lack of a roof and driving a Slingshot fast involves almost all of your senses.
The best comparison I can come up with is that the Polaris Slingshot R drives like a modern sporty roadster. It grips the road surprisingly well for a vehicle with just three wheels and you will have a blast opening it up on a backroad. And the experience is not the same as just driving a convertible. I love my Saturn Sky Red Line, which has the same truck transmission and 57 extra horses, but it does not deliver drama like the Slingshot.
Quirks
I’ve had this machine just for a day, but I’ve already noticed a few quirks
One annoyance I’ve had was with the steering wheel. It sticks out pretty far, but there is no telescoping ability. I can’t quite find the perfect seat adjustment for a good pedal feel and to push the steering wheel as far back as I’d like it. Hopefully, this is something Polaris changes in a future update one day.
The Slingshot is also loud, like really loud. Thankfully, the noise is muffled by a good helmet, but it’s also loud enough that conversations with your passenger are a non-starter while you’re moving unless both of you have a helmet communicator system. I just waited until we stopped at red lights to say things to Sheryl. From what I can tell, this is because the engine is right ahead of you and there’s little in the way of sound deadening.
Some of the hard plastics, and there are a lot of them, rattled against each other, adding to the symphony of loudness.
One final quirk is with the Slingshot R’s Ride Command system. This infotainment system is found all over the Polaris portfolio and it’s usually good, giving you vehicle vitals, maps, and music. Sometimes it doesn’t play nice with my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Every now and then the track I’m streaming starts skipping hard like a heavily-scratched CD. The fix seems to be restarting Ride Command, which is easy enough, but it’s a weird quirk I’ve only experienced with the Polaris infotainment system and not other brands.
So Much Drama
If I had to find a common theme with the Slingshot, it would be drama.
Everything about the Slingshot is loud and in your face from its styling to the fact that the Rockford Fosgate sound system can be used as a boombox for a block party. The Slingshot doesn’t do anything without drama. It likes to billow clouds of smoke from the rear wheel, it likes piercing your helmet with its loud engine, and it can’t go anywhere without drawing a small crowd.
Seriously, the Slingshot has been out for about a decade now, yet it draws in people like bugs to a zapper. I’ve had it for just a day now and I’ve been approached at gas stations, red lights, and even a pharmacy. Everyone has something to say about the Slingshot. Sure, some of those people think the Slingshot is as ugly as sin, but everyone wants to say something, give you a thumbs up, or take a picture. You cannot own a Slingshot and be an introvert unless forcing yourself to talk to people is your kink.
Slingshot owners are also a diverse group of people. They include women, people of color, LGBTQ people, and just people of all stripes. Many of these people love customizing their rides to be as unique as they are. On any given weekend I’ll see Slingshots covered in chrome wraps, bearing giant wheels, and adorned with speakers so huge they could swallow your head whole.
I actually love the truck transmission in this application. Its mechanical feel and distinct whine only add to the drama. I feel like I’m commanding a racecar from a Forza Motorsport game.
The Slingshot R is somewhat practical, too. You get to sit in awesome heated and cooled seats and there’s more than enough locking storage for a couple of helmets and some light grocery shopping. I have no doubt you could have a Slingshot as a daily driver. I almost wish Polaris loaned me the Slingshot during the winter so I could really enjoy those bun warmers. But, just keep in mind that safety is more like a side-by-side than it is to an IIHS Top Safety Pick. Don’t get into a fight with a Toyota RAV4 because that’s a battle you won’t win.
In my day of driving thus far, I’ve found myself sitting on a fence. On one hand, driving a Slingshot R is such a visceral experience that I have not experienced in any normal convertible. On the other hand, I can put up the roof on my Saturn when the weather gets foul. A Polaris Slingshot requires a similar commitment to being in the elements as riding a motorcycle but with the ease of driving a car. In a way, a Slingshot is the closest thing you can get to riding a motorcycle without getting your endorsement.
The Polaris Slingshot also has a value proposition, provided you forget the extra 25 ponies and stick with the cheaper trims. Sure, a Morgan 3 Wheeler is a better looker, but you can’t buy one of those new anymore and used ones cost more than a Slingshot. There’s the Morgan Super 3, but that’s a pricey unit, too. Vanderhalls are also stunners, but cost more than the Polaris, are front-wheel-drive only, and automatic only.
My impressions may change over the next couple of weeks, but for now, I feel as if the Slingshot has been unfairly given a bad reputation. Sure, it’s not as practical as a normal convertible and the higher trims get silly expensive, but the fun factor is off of the charts. There’s lots of genuine joy to be had here and if you want a vehicle that’ll get you attention, prepare to become a local celebrity.
So, Polaris make the Slingshot, but also make the Razr SXS. The open, low slung, hard to see 3 wheeler is street legal, but the Razr (w/ essentially the same engine) is not. The Razr has headlights, tail lights, brake lights, seatbelts and doors. The windshield is optional. I’m guessing that the motorcycle-like 3 wheeler doesn’t have as many FMVSS to meet as a 4 wheeler would need. Most states say there is no way to make a SXS street legal, but I know which I’d rather take on the road.
I would bet that over half of the annual production is sold to rental fleets. For some reason on our last three trips, my GF and I on my Dark Horse have been approached by folks driving these. They seem to love them, and kinda not. They each complain about storage. The storage bins behind the seats are far smaller than bags on my Indian, and adding a trunk is really not an option. They do appear to give you 80% of the thrill of trading a bike, but they also appear to be half baked, just not the fit and finish you might expect at the price point. Given the MSRP on this and the Challenger you rode for a while are similar, which would you take?
Hopefully someday they add a radio volume control feature to the Slingshot.
Basically, these things are like a Harley w/radio. There is so much engine/wind/vibration noise that it takes120 dB to penetrate the riders helmet. You hear those jack wagons blaring the stereo as they lay through traffic.
I would love to have a motorcycle, but I have knee and foot problems that would make it dangerous to keep a cycle upright at a light. So if I want open motoring, trikes are my only option. I’m 6’6″ and the Slingshot is quite comfortable for someone my size. Incredibly spacious for such a small vehicle. I’d own one.
The Slingshot factors into one of the weirder carspotting days I had on a road trip in Florida in May. My brother and I are leaving Miami heading to visit our aunt in St. Pete. As we’re leaving, we see a pair of Mustangs (current gen) out driving together. OK, fine. Next up, we see two current gen Supras out on a pleasure cruise together. We’re starting to wonder if enthusiast type cars have to be in pairs. Then we see two Dodge Challengers. As this point we’re thinking “ok, where is the pair of Camaros.” But no, we pull into town to get a bite to eat and there’s a pair of Polaris Slingshots sitting at a stop light. Apparently our meal broke the pattern, didn’t see it again the rest of the trip.
4.9 in one of these has to feel faster than 4.9 in any car though, right?
Eh, I drive a yellow Corvette and am an introvert. Other than the occasional gas station conversation I rarely interact with other people because my routes are pretty much my garage to deserted back road to my garage. If you’re not dailying something like this (and not too many people are) it’s not hard to avoid interacting with people.
I would have really missed having a roof yesterday when I got hailed on, but I would really enjoy watching the suspension work. Tradeoffs, I guess.
Rented a Slingshot in Hawaii (O’ahu). Always wanted to try one. My takeaway was it’s a snowmobile with tires. Lots of fun until you get in the conga line traffic typical for the two lanes roads in HI. Overall enjoyed it, but glad I got it out of my system. Didn’t feel the desire to buy one nor rent one again (unless I can take it to a track!)
Another option – find a lotus 7 replica. I just got one with an SR20DET and no windsheild…just waiting on the title to come back. To me, it actually looks cool as opposed to like a Polaris slingshot.
There’s a Boomer in my area that dailies an orange Slingshot most of the year. He’s got flag poles mounted to the roll hoops, and always flies a US flag on the driver side and on the passenger either a second US flag or a black POW/MIA flag.
I want one of these so bad. But I don’t want anyone to look at me or talk to me.
These are just SO unbelievably stupid looking and ugly! I can’t even describe how horrible and terrible these things look…ND/Crackpipe
Important note – these are legally motorcycles – three wheels and lacking a lot of the safety features required in a car. This means you WILL need a motorcycle endorsement, and at least in Washington State you’ll also need a three wheel endorsement. (Polaris says so right on the specs page.)
The upside is that the carpool lanes are open to you, and you don’t have to pay the toll in HOT lanes!
I’ve never driven/ridden one of these, but I did have the chance to ride a Ryker during my 3-wheel class – it drifts if you just look at it. It’s fun, despite the dorkiness.
I’ll keep my Miata, but if/when I reach the point that riding a two-wheeler isn’t feasible, I might just want one of these!
While true they are, at least for vehicle safety regulations, considered three wheeled motorcycles, that doesn’t mean you need a motorcycle license to drive them. In most states, including Washington, you only need a standard driver’s license. At least according to Polaris: https://slingshot.polaris.com/en-us/license-requirements/ Standard disclaimer to always check with your local DMV to verify your local requirements.