Snowmobiles have 4-210+HP depending on the model. The kid-sized 120cc and 200cc sleds offer only 4-9 HP, the average snowmobile offers 120 HP, while high-performance models typically produce 160-210+HP.
If you want to learn more about snowmobile horsepower ratings, this post is for you.
You can discover the average horsepower numbers in each category, as we’ve compiled the stats on the most popular models into one chart.
Additionally, you can learn which stock snowmobile has the most horsepower!
How Much Horsepower Does a Snowmobile Have?
The performance of snowmobiles varies widely depending on their engines. As a rule of thumb, the more displacement an engine has, the more HP it delivers.
When it comes to snowmobile power sources, there are many engine options like the 120cc, 200cc, 400cc, 600cc, 800cc, 1000cc and more. Let’s take a closer look at these power sources and their respective horsepower ratings!
120cc snowmobiles produce only 4-7 HP. These small sleds are suitable for smaller children. They are powered with 1-cylinder, 120cc, air-cooled engines.
200cc snowmobiles offer slightly more, around 9 HP. These models are known as “youth snowmobiles” as they typically meant for 8-14-year-old riders.
400cc snowmobiles have around 65 HP. These are considered to be “entry-level” full-sized sleds, which have lower running costs.
600cc snowmobiles are significantly more powerful, as they are powered with 120-130 HP engines.
800-900cc snowmobiles come with 160-170 HP engines depending on the model. For example, both of Polaris’ 850 Patriot and Ski-Doo 850 E-TEC engines offer 165 HP.
1000-1200cc snowmobiles are arguably the most powerful sleds on the market. They are powered with 4-stroke turbocharged engines and produce an amazing 200-210+HP!
Snowmobile Horsepower Chart
For your convenience, we’ve gathered some popular models into this snowmobile horsepower chart.
| Model | Horsepower |
| Polaris 120 XCR | 4 |
| Artic Cat ZR 200 | 9 |
| 2018 Yamaha SnoScoot | 9 |
| Arctic Cat Blast ZR 4000 | 65 |
| Yamaha SX Venom | 65 |
| Ski-Doo MXZ X 600 H.O. E-TEC | 120 |
| Ski-Doo MXZ 600R E-TEC | 125 |
| Ski-Doo MX Z TNT 1200 4 -TEC E.S. | 130 |
| Ski-Doo X RS Renegade 900 Ace Turbo | 150 |
| Polaris 800 Rush Pro-S | 155 |
| Ski-Doo MXZ X 850 | 165 |
| Polaris 850 Rush Pro-S | 165 |
| Yamaha Sidewinder L-TX LE | 204 |
| Arctic Cat ZR 9000 Thundercat ES | 211 |
Which Snowmobile has the Most Horsepower?
Which snowmobile has the most horsepower? Currently, the most powerful snowmobile is the Arctic Cat ZR 9000 Thundercat ES as it produces an amazing 211 HP. This sled is powered with the C-TEC4 998cc, 4-stroke, 3-cylinder, turbocharged engine.
Snowmobile Horsepower by Brand
Ski-Doo Horsepower
How much horsepower does a 600 E-TEC have?
The Rotax 600 E-TEC produces 125 HP. This engine is 5cc bigger and offers 5 HP more compared to its predecessor. Speaking of its specifications, the E-TEC 600 is a 599.4cc, 2-cylinder, 2-stroke engine that features the E-TEC ® direct fuel injection system.
How much horsepower does a Ski-Doo 800 have?
The Ski-Doo 800 engine offers no less than 155 HP. When the manufacturer released this power plant, it rated it as 155+HP. The Ski-Doo 800 engine is a 799.2cc, 2-stroke, 2-cylinder carbureted engine.
When did the Ski-Doo 800 E-TEC come out?
The Ski-Doo 800 E-TEC engine was introduced in 2011. Instead of carburetors, these engines feature a unique fuel-injection system and deliver around 160 HP. The main advantages of these engines are better fuel and oil consumption, and a cleaner operation.
How much horsepower does a Ski-Doo 850 have?
Ski-Doo 850 snowmobiles offer around 165HP. The Rotax E-TEC 850 is a powerful 849cc, 2-stroke, 2-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine, which features the E-TEC fuel injection system.
How much horsepower does a 900 Ace Turbo have?
The Ski-Doo 900 Ace Turbo has no less than 150 HP. This 4-stroke Ski-Doo engine is an 899cc, 3-cylinder, power source, which is boosted with a turbocharger for a higher top speed and better acceleration.
How much horsepower does a 900 Ace have?
As this engine doesn’t feature a turbocharger, the Ski-Doo ACE 900 offers 95 HP in stock condition.
How much horsepower does a Ski-Doo 1200 have?
The Ski-Doo 1200 has a 4-stroke, 3-cylinder, fuel-injected engine. Nowadays this is the biggest snowmobile engine on the market, however it’s not the most powerful. According to the manufacturer, the Ski-Doo 1200 has 135 HP, but based on this dyno test, it can even produce 136 HP at 8,400 RPMs.
Polaris Snowmobile Horsepower
How much horsepower does a Polaris 550 have?
Surprisingly, Polaris 550 snowmobiles produce only 60HP. Many experts say that these sleds are underpowered, especially for experienced riders.
How much horsepower does a Polaris 600 have?
Polaris 600 snowmobiles offer 125 HP as these models are powered with Cleanfire 600 H.O. engines.
How much horsepower does a Polaris 800 have?
Polaris 800 engines are 154 HP, 795cc, 2-stroke, 2-cylinder, fuel-injected power sources, labeled as “Liberty 800 Cleanfire H.O.”
How much horsepower does a Polaris 850 have?
The Polaris 850 Patriot engine has an amazing 165HP. This power source is a 2-stroke, 2-cylinder, 840cc, liquid-cooled power plant.
Yamaha Snowmobile Horsepower
How much horsepower does a Yamaha Apex have?
The Yamaha Apex produces no less than 150 HP. This sled has the naturally aspirated (non-turbocharged) version of Yamaha’s 4-stroke, 998cc, 4-cylinder engine.
How much horsepower does a Yamaha Sidewinder have?
The Yamaha Sidewinder is the most powerful Yamaha snowmobile, as it produces more than 200 HP. To achieve this performance, the Sidewinder has a turbocharged, 998cc, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder engine.
Conclusion
How much horsepower does a snowmobile have? – We get asked this question all the time.
When it comes to purchasing a snowmobile, many performance-minded buyers are looking at the top speed and the horsepower numbers.
In a nutshell, snowmobile horsepower ratings start from as low as 4 HP and go all the way up to 200+HP.
The top speed and performance on kid and youth snowmobiles are usually limited, which means these machines usually offer less than 10 HP.
400-500cc snowmobiles are still powered with lower-performance, 60-70 HP engines.
You can expect around 120-130 HP on the 600cc sleds, while the more powerful 800-850cc models can reach the whopping 160-170 HP range.
The most powerful snowmobiles are arguably the biggest 4-stroke models. They are manufactured with 1000cc, turbocharged power plants, and can produce up to 200-210 HP!
This is our short compilation of the average snowmobile horsepower ratings. We hope you find it useful.
If you are also curious about the top speeds, check our snowmobile top speed chart!
References
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a25437115/fastest-snowmobiles-yamaha-polaris-ski-doo-tested/
http://www.arcticinsider.com/Article/211-Horsepower-The-Thundercat-Reigns-Supreme
http://www.supertraxmag.com/features/rotax-900-ace-non-turbo/n3612
https://amsnow.com/news/dyno-tests/2008/09/dyno-test-ski-doo-mxz-4-tec
