Polaris launched its three-wheel vehicle, the Slingshot, in 2014 as a 2015 model. Weighing just a shade over 1,600 pounds, the Slingshot is lightweight yet still strong-boned, built on a high-strength steel frame.
Convertibles and motorcycles have earned a reputation for fun, and with good reason. The wind whips your hair around your face, the sun touches your skin, and the ride feels like freedom. The Polaris Slingshot is a melding of the two: the experience of driving a motorcycle on three wheels, but with the layout of a drop-top car.
Driving down the street in one of these quirky vehicles will attract stares and curious looks, and kids might even tell you that they like your “cool car” when you stop (ask me how I know). If you want to blend into the landscape, this is not the vehicle for you.
Before taking the plunge and buying one of these motorized trikes, here’s what you should know.
The Slingshot Is Available In Five Trims
Starting at $21,999 plus destination and setup charges, the Slingshot S is the brand’s base model. Equipped with a Prostar 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 178 horsepower and 120 pound-feet of torque, the Slingshot S is available with manual or automatic transmission. Cruise control is standard.
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At the top of the lineup is the Polaris Slingshot Roush Edition, the high-performance choice. Topping out at 203 horsepower, the Roush Edition is noticeably more powerful—and more fun—than the base model. It also comes standard with premium seats, Brembo brakes, Roush branding and a canvas top to shade passengers. It’s going to cost you, though: The Slingshot Roush Edition is priced at $38,149 plus fees. Between the two bookends, the S and the Roush Edition, Polaris also sells SL, SLR and R trims with increasing price points and features.
You Don’t Need A Motorcycle License To Drive One
When the Slingshot was first introduced, drivers were required to have earned their motorcycle license. Currently, the classification of the Slingshot is state-dependent, Polaris says. Out of the 50 U.S. states, 49 of them classify the vehicle as an autocycle, which calls for a state driver’s license. The lone holdout is Massachusetts, which considers it a motorcycle.
In Texas, for example, an autocycle constitutes “a motor vehicle, other than a tractor, that is designed to have when propelled not more than three wheels on the ground, is equipped with a steering wheel and is equipped with seating that does not require the operator to straddle or sit astride the seat; and is manufactured and certified to comply with federal safety requirements for a motorcycle.”
Wearing A Helmet Is Recommended
Certainly, check your state laws to determine if you’re required to wear a helmet while driving a Slingshot. However, Polaris recommends a full-face, DOT-approved helmet and it has good reasons to do so. When you’re flying down the road in an open-air vehicle, debris is likely to fly straight at you. That means you should protect your eyes, at the very least. And no one likes swallowing a bug, so if you’re not wearing a helmet, be sure to keep your mouth closed.
The Slingshot Is Best At Moderate Speeds
While the Slingshot is capable of speeds up to 125 miles per hour, it’s not the best application for this vehicle. There’s a line between letting the wind ruffle your hair and having it whip your entire body, and the aforementioned debris risk climbs exponentially on the highway with other vehicles rushing by at 65 mph or more. Max out the Slingshot at 60 mph for the most enjoyment and take the surface roads instead of high-speed throughways.
The Slingshot In The Real World
There are other three-wheeled vehicles on the market, but they’re significantly different from the Slingshot in several ways. The Campagna T-Rex, for instance, is powered by an in-line 6-cylinder BMW engine and costs about twice as much as the Polaris. Morgan’s Super 3 is a three-wheeler with throwback elegance and is prettier than the Slingshot, but it also costs significantly more and offers less power.
The Slingshot is an unusual vehicle that is a blast to drive. It’s a motorcycle alternative for the motorcycle-averse, a convertible, a dune buggy for the asphalt. In the Roush version, even light rain isn’t a deterrent, and the shade protects passengers from the sun. However, open-air variants of the Slingshot are still entertaining and fun, especially in temperate-weather climates. Strap on a helmet and hit the road.
