The headline on the 2027 Polaris Sportsman 500 is not its 33 horsepower. It is the amount of useful hardware Polaris has squeezed into a $6,999 base ATV: automatic four-wheel traction, independent rear suspension, aluminum wheels, LED lights and a 2,500 lb winch already bolted to the front.
That price also tells you where compromises were made. The base model has no power steering, no engine-braking system and no Active Descent Control. It is heavier and less powerful than several mid-size rivals. The Sportsman 500 makes the most sense for a landowner or casual trail rider who values clearance, towing and included work equipment more than speed.
What’s new for 2027
The Sportsman 500 is a new model, not a model-year sticker on the old Sportsman 570. Polaris built it around a 499cc single-cylinder engine and introduced a new AWD system with an auto-locking front drive. When the rear tires slip, the front drive engages without the rider stopping to lock a differential.
The rest of the standard-equipment list is unusually practical for an entry model. The base 500 gets a factory-installed 2,500 lb winch, LED bumper headlights, 26-inch Duro tires on 14-inch aluminum wheels, a sealed five-gallon front storage compartment and 270 lb of combined rack capacity. Polaris says shipments begin in September 2026. At the time of this review, that makes it an announced model rather than a machine with a long trail or ownership record.
The liquid-cooled 499cc ProStar single makes 33 hp and feeds an automatic PVT transmission with high and low range. Those numbers point to steady work and moderate trail riding. There is enough power to pull a small trailer, climb at a sensible pace and carry hunting or property gear, but a buyer expecting the shove of a Sportsman 570 will notice the difference.
Polaris also leaves engine braking and Active Descent Control off both Sportsman 500 trims. On long or steep descents, the rider cannot rely on those systems to help hold speed. That omission is worth more attention than another few horsepower, especially for anyone who rides regularly in hilly country.
Ride, steering and trail size
The chassis is a familiar kind of Polaris recipe: 8.2 inches of front travel, 9.5 inches at the independent rear suspension and 11.5 inches of ground clearance. The 48-inch width fits common 50-inch trail systems with a little room to spare. A 50.5-inch wheelbase and 33.25-inch seat height keep it in the normal single-seat utility-ATV envelope.
Weight is the number that tempers the picture. Polaris lists 773 lb dry and 813 lb with fluids and a full tank. That is substantial for a 33 hp machine, and it will be felt when the bars load up in rocks, roots or sticky mud. The base model has no EPS. If the ATV will spend its life in technical terrain, carry a front implement or be ridden by someone who tires easily at the bars, the $7,999 Sportsman 500 EPS is the more sensible trim.
Work capacity is the real selling point
The Sportsman 500 tows 1,350 lb through a standard 1.25-inch receiver. Its racks carry 90 lb up front and 180 lb at the rear, while total payload is rated at 485 lb. Those are useful numbers for firewood, fencing supplies, feed or a small utility trailer.
The included winch matters because it is not merely a checkbox. A 2,500 lb unit is appropriately sized for self-recovery, moving a log or raising a compatible plow. Buyers comparing showroom prices should account for the cost and installation of a winch on a rival that does not include one.
The five-gallon sealed compartment is another feature that will earn its keep. It gives gloves, a tow strap and small tools somewhere dry to live without consuming rack space. These details explain the 500 better than the badge on its side: it is designed to be useful every day, not impressive for ten seconds on a spec sheet.
2027 Polaris Sportsman 500 specifications
| Specification |
2027 Sportsman 500 base |
| Engine |
499cc liquid-cooled ProStar SOHC single-cylinder four-stroke |
| Output |
33 hp |
| Fuel system |
Electronic fuel injection |
| Transmission |
Automatic PVT; park, reverse, neutral, low and high |
| Drive system |
AWD with auto-locking front drive |
| Engine braking / ADC |
Not equipped |
| Front suspension |
Sealed MacPherson strut; 8.2 in travel |
| Rear suspension |
Sealed dual A-arm IRS; 9.5 in travel |
| Tires |
26 x 8-14 front; 26 x 10-14 rear |
| Wheels |
14-inch aluminum |
| Brakes |
Single-lever three-wheel hydraulic disc; hydraulic rear foot brake |
| Length x width x height |
83 x 48 x 47 in |
| Wheelbase |
50.5 in |
| Seat height |
33.25 in |
| Ground clearance |
11.5 in |
| Dry / curb weight |
773 / 813 lb |
| Fuel capacity |
4.5 gal |
| Towing capacity |
1,350 lb |
| Payload capacity |
485 lb |
| Rack capacity |
90 lb front / 180 lb rear |
| Storage |
5-gallon sealed front compartment |
| Winch |
Factory-installed 2,500 lb winch with steel cable |
| Lighting |
LED bumper lights; LED brake light and taillight |
| Base MSRP |
$6,999 plus $700 destination |
Sportsman 500 versus the closest alternatives
The Can-Am Outlander 500 costs $7,199 and makes about 40 hp. It is much lighter in ATVPedia’s data and includes power steering, so it has the stronger recreational case. The Polaris is $200 cheaper, clears another inch, tows 50 lb more and includes the winch. Compare the Sportsman 500 and Outlander 500.
The Kawasaki Brute Force 450 4x4 also lists for $6,999. It makes about 38 hp, is 4.3 inches narrower and weighs 90 lb less on the figures in our database. The Sportsman answers with 2.8 inches more clearance, 300 lb more towing capacity, independent rear suspension and the standard winch. See the full Kawasaki versus Polaris comparison.
Polaris’s own 2025 Sportsman 570 is the awkward rival. At $7,499 it costs only $500 more in our database and makes about 44 hp. The new 500 tows 125 lb more and brings the winch, LED lighting and new auto-locking front drive, but the 570 offers far more power. Availability and dealer pricing may decide that choice while old 570 inventory remains. Compare both Sportsman models.
Price and which trim to buy
The base model’s $6,999 MSRP is the point of the Sportsman 500. Add Polaris’s listed $700 destination charge and the pre-tax total starts at $7,699 before dealer setup. The EPS trim is $1,000 more and otherwise keeps the same engine, towing rating, clearance and standard winch.
Choose the base model for open property, forest roads and moderate trails where steering effort stays reasonable. Choose EPS for rocky terrain, repeated low-speed maneuvering or plow duty. Paying the extra money solely for the badge makes no sense; paying it because the machine will be easier to control after three hours of work does.
Who should buy it
Buy the 2027 Sportsman 500 if you want a new, warrantied utility ATV near $7,000 and would otherwise add a winch immediately. Its combination of towing, storage, clearance and trail-friendly width is well judged for property maintenance, hunting access and relaxed weekend rides.
Skip it if power-to-weight ratio is the priority, if engine braking is essential, or if you expect power steering at the base price. The Outlander 500 is a more energetic alternative with steering assist; leftover Sportsman 570 stock offers much more power for a modest jump in sticker price.
Verdict
The 2027 Polaris Sportsman 500 is an honest value ATV. It is not fast for its weight and the missing engine braking deserves a line on every buyer’s checklist. In return, Polaris gives the base customer the hardware that usually gets added after purchase: a winch, useful storage, aluminum wheels and good lighting.
For work-first buyers on mostly moderate ground, that trade is convincing. For technical trails, buy the EPS trim. For riders chasing speed, look elsewhere. You can browse more Polaris ATVs and UTVs, see every 2027 model, explore utility ATVs, or add the Sportsman 500 to the comparison tool.
