The Polaris Slingshot is one of those vehicles that doesn’t make any sense. It’s technically a terrible car, and while it’s legally a motorcycle, it’s awful at being one. And yet, driving a Slingshot is inexplicably some of the most fun you can have with a road-legal vehicle. The people of Polaris have made the 2025 Slingshot even sillier with more power, more audio power, a little more refinement, and somehow an even meaner face. Get ready to see these all over your city this summer.
One of the wildest press vehicles I’ve ever had the honor of testing was the 2024 Polaris Slingshot R. Honestly, it’s impossible to view a Slingshot from a practicality standpoint. If you think of the Slingshot as a car, it’s a car that doesn’t have a roof, airbags, or much storage. It’s also a car that you pretty much have to wear a helmet to drive. Legally, it’s a motorcycle and while it’s an open-air affair like a bike and has a belt drive like a bike, that’s where the bike stuff ends.
If you try to view a Slingshot as a practical purchase I think you’ll find yourself disappointed. But as a toy for pure fun and hooliganism? There are few car-like vehicles that can match it. Now, Polaris has made the hooliganism even better.
A Decade Of Madness
Polaris says the Slingshot is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year. The Slingshot launched in 2014 for the 2015 model year, so Polaris is technically correct. In 2020, Polaris launched a redesign of the Slingshot that made it more of an in-house affair. While the 2020+ models looked like their older siblings, Polaris said they were 70 percent new underneath. The headlining change was a move away from the GM mills to the Polaris ProStar 2.0-liter four, which made either 178 HP or 203 HP at 8,250 RPM and 144 lb-ft of torque depending on trim level.
The open cockpit, the three wide wheels, and the alien looks complemented each other for one wild ride, from my review:
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.
So then, how does Polaris improve on its fun generator? Well, the only obvious path forward is more of everything that made the Slingshot a silly ride.
Still A Cartoon
The most visible change in the 2025 model is the new mug. It’s still cartoonishly ugly and aggressive, but that’s a part of the whole schtick with the Slingshot. The look is so shocking that everyone has a comment. In my experience, kids think you’re Batman and adults stop you to ask countless questions. This new front end will change nothing about that.
The other big news is under the hood, where there are mild improvements across the board. The Polaris ProStar 2.0-liter four makes a return, but it’s now making 180 HP and 128.7 lb-ft torque in the lower Slingshot L and SL models. The higher SLR and R get the same engine but with a hotter tune good for 204 HP and 149.8 lb-ft of torque. While the raw numbers are barely different than 2024, Polaris says the torque curve has been adjusted to deliver more acceleration earlier. Indeed, peak power comes on at 7,500 RPM now instead of 8,250 RPM as before, so now you get to enjoy the horsepower a smidge longer before hitting redline.
Along with the updated throttle feel, 2025 Slingshot drivers should detect more refined steering as Polaris says the suspension is now tuned for better handling. The lower trim levels have an extra inch of ground clearance for greater comfort and less of a chance of scraping the Slingshot’s face when you’re leaving parking lots.
If you’re not a manual driver, Polaris offers an automatic transmission, as it has since 2020. Amusingly, it’s an Aisin AR-5, the same manual gearbox used in the you-shift-it Slingshot, but with a computer handling the clutch and gear changes. It’s basically the Polaris equivalent of a BMW SMG. Polaris says the 2025 version’s new tune improves shifting performance.
The rest of the improvements for 2025 are small, but nice nonetheless. The press materials state that every touchpoint has been improved over the previous model. This is good because, while I loved the 2024 model, I did think the feel of the cockpit and the finer details of the driver-interaction experience were a bit on the cheap side.
For example, the 2024’s key fob felt like it was an afterthought, like something you’d get at a cheap aftermarket car alarm shop. Now, the Slingshot has the same hefty fob you get with an Indian motorcycle.
The audio system has gotten better, not that the 2024 model’s sound system was lacking – it was already pretty wild for an open-air vehicle. From my review:
Pair Ride Command with the 200 W Rockford Fosgate speakers and you have a boombox on wheels. Seriously, the Slingshot R gets loud enough that you could use it as the source of music at a block party. And in true Polaris rockstar fashion, the volume bar goes up to 11 rather than just 10.
I am a fan of the sound system in the Slingshot R. Rockford Fosgate knows people are going to crank its sound systems up way too loud and the company has done a great job of ensuring that the tunes come in loud and clear even when you have it set to 11. How loud are we talking about here? If you turn the Slingshot R’s system up to 9 you’ll feel the bass in your heart. Turn it to 11 and you won’t be able to think straight.
Polaris has doubled down here. If you equip your Slingshot with the Stage 3P system, you get a pair of 100-watt tweeters, a pair of 100-watt 8-inch midrange speakers, a quartet of 50-watt rear coaxial speakers, and a 400-watt 4-channel amp. If the 2024 model was loud enough to drown out your thoughts, the 2025 model must be like the eruption of Krakatoa.
As always, please music responsibly. Unless you’re playing Weird Al (and even then, really), nobody wants to hear your music from a mile away.
Oh, you can also get snazzy light rings around the speakers. Polaris understands Slingshot customers love modding their rides, and now you can get some of the most popular mods right from the factory, including eye-searing colors, night glow lighting kits, and painted ground effects. It’s almost as if the folks at Polaris are directly targeting me with these new ones because I love neon lights all over everything.
A lot of other goodies are carrying over including the option to get Brembo brakes, Sparco pedals, and the deeply underrated heated and cooled seats. The wide 305-section width rubbers also make a return for the higher trim levels. Something not boasted about in the press materials is that the mild improvements come without a weight penalty. Last year, the Slingshot R weighed 1,749 pounds wet while the weight has now been cut down to 1,640 pounds. That’s not a huge loss, but it’s still cool to see a vehicle lose bulk.
Crazy Comes At A Cost
Sadly, there have been some unfortunate pricing structure changes. The base model of the Slingshot is the S model, which gets you the 180 HP engine tune, standard brakes, narrower wheels, and basic equipment. That means fewer, weaker speakers that don’t glow and black ground effects. In 2024, the S model was $21,999, but now it’s $24,999. However, Polaris says you now get a 2.7-inch screen and a more basic Rockford Fosgate system standard as well as a windshield standard, which you didn’t get in the 2024 S model.
From there, you’re looking at $28,299 for the SL and $31,399 for the SLR. Moving up in trim levels nets you more features and the SLR is the first trim that gets you 204 HP. Meanwhile, the top-of-the-line Slingshot R is $34,999. This price is up only $200 compared to last year’s model. The prices you see here are for models with manual transmissions. Adding the automatic is roughly $2,000 depending on the exact trim.
No matter how you slice it, the Slingshot is a very expensive vehicle, especially since it’s not very practical as a daily driver for many Americans. However, Americans also like spending big money on toys (we’ve seen what people spend on RVs), so you will still see Slingshots everywhere the moment it gets warm outside.
Polaris says the 2025 models begin shipping next month. As I’ve said before, Slingshots are silly fun, but more than that, they’re loud and proud vehicles that piss off your HOA, excite children, and get everyone chattering. They’re basically convertibles for people who wish they were a comic book superhero. You bet I’m interested in seeing what these small, yet welcome improvements have changed one of the craziest things you can buy and put a license plate on.
(Images: Polaris, unless otherwise noted)
These things look like they would be a lot of fun to drive, like a Caterham 7 kind of vibe.
That being said, while I love the wild styling you would get with an Atom or an Xbow, this thing is just too garish and has a wonky profile.
Then comes the issue that you’re beaming bright look at me neon lights and blasting loud music through the subwoofers as you drive a car while wearing a helmet, crawling through traffic up Clifton hill in Niagara falls.
I’m sorry, but people look so dorky driving these. That wouldn’t matter if it weren’t for the fact that the car is screaming for attention.
There are so many better things to do with that pile of money.
These are super popular in my NC suburb, especially with the younger bros. Dozens will cruise my street on a summer weekend. Most have added lights, sound systems, etc way beyond stock. For the life of me, I don’t get it, but they do have a strong cult following.
Any summer night in nyc you’ll see 5-10 middle aged men roll up in these on Macdougal Street thinking they’re extremely cool but then stuck in traffic looking real dumb for 20 minutes just to drive to a bar they can park at off the west side highway, have a beer and then do it again 40 minutes later.
I can’t look at these things as anything else.
Great, now I wanna see a race where around 20 of these are blasting a Weird Al playlist in harmony.
Dare to be Stupid or White & Nerdy?
Both if possible.
I’m thinking that stereo blasting + helmet = an annoyingly loud vehicle. That said, I’d rent one but not own one…
Add a rear axle conversion kit and I’ll drive one!
https://www.ddmworks.com/polaris-slingshot-4-wheel-conversion-kit-by-ddmworks_p_940.html
Why not?! Let’s push this thing into the $40s!
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They’re perfect for hourly rentals to tourists cruising up and down The Strip, which is where I see 99% of them in Las Vegas. I’m sure it’s the same in other tourist locations.
Seems like a good thing to buy used. I see late models with ~20k miles on FBM for $15k.
I still want one, as a commuter vehicle/weekend toy, and i still want no one to look at me.
This is thoroughly ridiculous and I am here for it.
Expensive is relative. The one other vehicle in its niche starts at $100k+ (KTM X-Bow R).
Compared to that, it’s a bargain.
The Morgan Super 3 also starts at like $42k, if we even got it.
Vanderhall sort of fits in this category as well. Though they are FWD and auto only and honestly terrible to drive.
I suppose. If you need to buy new. I think an Exocet’d Miata would be better than this in every way and you can find those used for under 15k.
The top shot is right, they look ridiculous.
I’ll take six.
Do you have to wear the seatbelt? If it’s a motorcycle then you shouldn’t have to, right?
Wait, what do the lock and unlock buttons actually lock/unlock if there are no doors?
I had the same question! It activates the alarm system. You can still sit in it and open the storage compartments, but it’ll get mad if you try to drive it without “unlocking” it.
So state DOTs say these are fine, but Kei cars are bad? I know these are technically motorcycles, but that still doesn’t make any sense.
So if we import the older 3 wheel Kei cars, does that make those motorcycles too? Then problem solved?
I like the concept and I’m sure they’re fun, but I can’t enjoy anything that looks like that. It’s not just that it’s ugly, but it attracts all the attention to it, but not only ugly and attracts all the attention, but is the visual form of Axe cologne, so it’s a specific, gross kind of ugly. I also can’t think of anything I could do to fix it (entire rebody, though the proportions seem unpromising even for that) that wouldn’t put me past the actually appealing Morgan. I’d even rather a Vanderhall in spite it being auto-only.
I do like both vanderhalls and morgans. Crosseyed Morgans are great.
The Slingshot is cyberpunk to the Morgan 3-wheeler’s steampunk.
I’ll have one of each, please, to suit my mood when I wake up.
I loved Vanderhall until I drove one. It was absolutely awful! The transmission truly ruins anything that is fun about it. No exaggeration, it was taking at least 1.5-2 seconds to shift, and attempting to use it in manual mode somehow seemed to make it worse. I was seriously ready to buy one just because it was dumb and I wanted something fun and dumb, but I could not believe how terrible it was to actually drive.
That’s a shame, especially on such an elemental vehicle. Thanks for the heads-up! I don’t generally like automatics as it is and the delays are a major reason why. While more efficient, modern automatics somehow are even worse to drive than ones of old with too many gears and too much programming between my input and the shift commands that default to economy, even if it might mean lugging the engine. I’m sure people laugh when I say I prefer old 3 speeds with their far greater defined speed range per gear and simple kickdown relay like I’m some kind of luddite or old tech fetishist, but I have been largely pro technology most of my life where it contributed to increased enjoyment, greater item lifespan and service intervals, increased efficiency, and labor savings. What changed is that the tech stopped making things better and mostly made things worse to use and less serviceable, resulting in more finite lifespans. Anyway, I did not actually like old 3 speed autos, I just hate the modern ones that much more.
you should talk Galpin into a shoot out. Slingshot VS Vanderhall. I would even go so far as to drag DT into this and have him test out the Vanderhall Brawley https://vanderhallusa.com/models-brawley-off-road-utv/
I actually like the Brawley. It’s a shame you can’t drive it on-road.
Needs an LS swap.
Every time I see one of these it makes me want a Vanderhall even more.
indeed
Have you driven one? That cured me of all desire for a Vanderhall. Amazing looking vehicle, and man I wanted to love it, but I hated driving it.
I regret to say that I have not –
What makes it not a good thing?
It looks great, and is a package with great potential, but there is no reason it should have power steering, but it does, and it’s the most numb I have ever driven, and then the transmission was the slowest and roughest shifting auto I have ever seen. Putting in in manual mode made it even slower and it properly BANGs through the shift. I had to ask if there was something wrong with it because I was sure it had to be malfunctioning but I was assured it was normal.
The open cockpit is neat, until you see my sweaty self in a t-shirt slumped in a hot seat in the summer without the ability to move around.
I’d like to think a door panel of some kind might make me a bit less, personally, conspicuous.
Unlike a motorcycle where I feel as though being perched above tends not to accentuate any gut I might have by wearing a jacket and stretching out a bit over the controls – and freedome to stretch a bit.
If you’re sweating in a convertible – You’re not driving fast enough.
Even at 100mph, if it’s 105 outside, you’re going to be sweating. 105 degree wind is still 105 degrees.
It’s not the heat – it’s the humidity.
At first glance the green one with the roof could be 60s show car. Still not something I would want to buy
It’s like a Tap Out t shirt wronged a powerful wizard and was cursed to become a car.
Someone cast a Level 7 Eduardius Hardius on this thing.
Whatever it was that I was going to comment isn’t half as good as this. well done
I mean literally I only see them with underglow or a dad in a batman suit draging a kid around on Halloween looking for Candy.
Wait, did they always come with a roof? If not, that should be the lead. LOL
The roof has been an accessory for a long time. 🙂
it would be nice to have a powered roof that acted like a spoiler, or folded down into the body work when not covering your head I suppose. Same with the windshield. I have seem retracting windshields on touring bikes for decades now.
I’d much rather have a Morgan Super 3, but those are also about triple the price.
I’d rather the Campagna T-Rex.
Or, in a crazy alternate universe, a Corbin Merlin.
T-Rex was the first, and certainly seemed like a more useful thing, but they were stupid expensive by comparison and I think they are gone at this point. last I saw, they were using the V-Rod motor.
Horrendously expensive.
Campagna seems alive, if their website is to be believed. It references a 1441cc Kawasaki engine, I presume it’s the ZX14R engine.
that seems about right. I think they originally ran a suzuki Crotch rocket motor. I would take one with any of these engines though. they look great.
Yes, but can you afford the annual termite bond on a Morgan?!
Old joke is old.
I love these. And I think I love them for one simple reason: Since 2015, now every time I mention to my wife “I think it would be cool to have a ____” she can no longer audibly roll her eyes because she has seen a couple of Slingshots and knows how much worse an automotive midlife crisis can be.
Also, I hate that term. I prefer “Naive optimism that the kids will get college scholarships and the financial situation will be just fine!”