Spot on frame
The TRV 550 Cruiser is built on Arctic Cat’s versatile, long-wheelbase frame. Thanks to the extra 200 mm, redesigned seat, wide footrests and hand grips, trail riding is more comfortable and, especially, safer for both rider and passenger. Even if the frame of Arctic Cat’s utility models dates back several years, it’s still one of the best on the market today. Despite tipping the scales at above the industry average, it’s surprisingly stable and efficient over bumps. Extremely well-designed to begin with, the frame is still spot on today.

On one of XTown’s snow-covered tracks, the TRV handled remarkably well for a utility model with a high centre of gravity. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)

The TRV 550 Cruiser features electronic power steering that measures steering assistance according to speed and tire resistance. The mechanism is entirely protected from the elements, as is de rigueur on any ATV. I particularly appreciated the system on bumpy trails, where it absorbs a good deal of the kickbacks and requires much less effort on the rider’s part.

On the trail
On one of XTown’s snow-covered tracks, the TRV handled remarkably well for a utility model with a high centre of gravity. It proved unexpectedly stable in corners and impressively neutral over jumps. It flies over obstacles and is easy to manoeuvre, and you can control rear drifting to within a millimetre, both during acceleration and braking. This baby is tons of fun!

The body and wind guard protect the rider and passenger well, keeping them mud-free, so I treated myself to some extreme riding, throwing all my weight around in every corner, where the TRV reveals an unsuspected sporty side. The front and rear independent suspensions are stiff enough to keep the TRV from pitching too much when braking and attacking corners, contrary to some of its rival models that bank mainly on comfort. The TRV strikes a nice balance between comfort and stability.

The body and wind guard protect the rider and passenger well, keeping them mud-free. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)