After my first 100 klicks I came away flat-out impressed with its handling prowess from the new Pilot RX skis and RAS RX front end. The 2025 MXZ X-RS can go toe-to-toe with a Polaris in the twisties. Frankly, the response to steering inputs in tight trails when you’re sawing on the bars and aggressively squeezing the loud handle are way, way familiar. 

What we mean is the MXZ in its many variants, going back more than 10 years, can’t hold a candle to the new G5 with RAS RX and Pilot RX skis. This move – above all other tweaks Ski-Doo has brought to the table year after year – is pure steak. No sizzle here; just genuine, game changing filet mignon.

You also can’t help but be impressed by Smart-Shox when you run into choppy trail surfaces. You’ll get to the point where you won’t even back off the throttle in the presence of sucker bumps or square edgers. The front shocks read the terrain and then warn the rear arm shock what’s coming, and it works as fast as greased lightning. 

KYB Pro Series dampers, ECU and associated chassis sensors have been available for two model years. However, due to a supply chain glitch with the original Smart-Shox in previous model years, followed by a disastrous winter last year, I hadn’t had a genuinely good opportunity to rip on them. I can now say with conviction that I am totally impressed with how this setup rides.

Usually, I’ll brace myself or pull myself up off the seat when encountering trail craters, but not here; just stay on the throttle and steer. You so rarely ever feel any harshness that you quickly become comfortable enough to dial up the wick in gnar. 

Here’s the verdict: Semi-active suspension is the future of snowmobiling. Keep in mind our 2025 Polaris Indy VR1 features the all-new DYNAMIX semi-active suspension and our initial exposure to it in West Yellowstone earlier this year produced overwhelming approval. For sure we’ll have these two state-of-the-art trail sleds running head-to-head in the next few days so stay tuned for more insightful impressions.  

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