Winner: Arctic Cat TZ1
As snowmobile prices creep higher, versatility is becoming more and more important to consumers.
The new-this-year Arctic Cat TZ1 offers owners the choice of riding one-up, 2-up or using the sled as a cargo hauler.
The trick is in the seating arrangements. You can remove the passenger seat to reveal a pickup-like stowage area at the rear and Cat has thoughtfully made available a special touring bag designed specifically for this area.
The focus is on extreme rider comfort and this one offers rider forward seating, a premium rear suspension and the upscale LXR version has great features like Cat-Com Communicators, remote start and custom luggage.
In this application, the big EFI 1056cc parallel twin pirated from the Jaguar Z1 provides smooth and ample power for touring and is our favorite engine choice.
Runner-Up: Polaris IQ Touring
Used purely as a twofer, the 2-up IQ chassis is near-perfect whether you choose the vicious 600 Liberty 2-stroke or the FST turbocharged 4-stroke for motivation.
This sled delivers ride and handling on par with what you’d expect from an IQ and has enough comfort amenities to tempt even a novice to ride trails from morning until after dark.
A combination of Rider Select, rider-forward seating on a plush, contoured saddle and an exceptional skidframe ride pamper both the rider and passenger to new levels.
