I wrote this a while ago and listening to a recent Podcast I realized I never published it.
It’s no secret that sled prices have skyrocketed over the last decade, specifically in the last six years. Getting into the sport or upgrading your sled seems harder every year for many. Today, the "bare necessities" for a rider are an 850-class snowmobile with a fancy gauge and a premium suspension. I took one model from each manufacturer and built them the way I think most riders would, and this is what I found:
- 2026 Polaris XC 850: 137", 7S display, and electric start.
- 2026 Ski-Doo MXZ X 850: 137", 10.25" gauge, and electric start.
- 2026 Arctic Cat ZR 858: 137" Sno Pro, G8 gauge, and electric start.
The average price is $17,900, plus tax and prep.
How did we get here, you ask? We did it. Ski-Doo releases an 850, and Polaris riders want an 850. Polaris releases the 7S display, and Ski-Doo riders want something similar. To stay relevant in the powersports industry, you must stay competitive—and once a rider gets a taste, they need more!
There is no question that the cost of manufacturing has gone up, and stricter EPA standards make building engines more expensive, but the bells and whistles amplify the MSRP. Riders aren’t satisfied riding the same chassis for eight years anymore; they want fresh designs and new technology. That all comes at a cost, and we are the ones paying for it. COVID-19 certainly didn’t help, but even if you remove the pandemic—where parts were scarce and demand was high—the price increases were already happening because we demanded them.
Gone are the days of just having new shocks, heated hand/thumb warmers, a tachometer, and maybe two color options. Today’s rider wants color choices, GPS gauges, smart handwarmers, track options, remote reservoir shocks, and lightweight, high-horsepower machines.
I am guilty of it too, but complaining about something we created is a little unfair to the OEMs. I’m not justifying the prices we’re paying, but there is more to it than just corporate greed. Remember when oil injection was a game changer? Now we want electronic suspensions and GPS gauges, and that comes with a price tag. I already see a shift in OEMs trying to build more entry-level sleds, which is a great thing for those just getting started.
Bottomline, be happy we're not running pre-mix sleds that went through a dozen spark plugs every time you rode it.