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T660 Turbo Touring LEDecked out in a silver and blue paint scheme with black trim, Arctic Cat's new Turbo Touring LE is downright flashy compared to the FST.
Does that make it faster or better than the Polaris? No way, just more attractive. But then that's always in the eye of the beholder. I mean is Julia Roberts more attractive than Meg Ryan?
Still, there's no denying the Cat has more goodies onboard, starting with the saddle. The LE comes with heated driver and passenger seats, complete with three settings and separate controls so no one needs to argue about how hot the buns should be.Cat engineers say these seats will deliver heat quickly, right up to -20 degrees.
Add to that Cat's new easy-to-use communications system. This thing could be a blast when riding with the family, or any crowd. Plus it could be a great safety aid for keeping track of a group that gets spread out. There's entertainment value too because the system includes a satellite radio so you can tune in no matter what boondocks you're exploring.
Arctic Cat also redesigned the T660's handlebars and instrumentation, adding backlighting to help at night. There's a nice, big digital speedometer (or push a button and its analog) that's easy to read, plus an odometer and fuel gauge in a box below the speedometer.
Like its counterpart, the T660 Turbo Touring provides good creature comforts for the passenger. The rear seat comes with a backrest along with rubber handgrips and wind protection. Three-speed heated handlebars also make the second seat more accommodating and there's a big storage rack behind the rear seat too.
Up front is a nice soft seat that'll be a hit on long rides. These are a vast improvement from the much harder Panther seats we tested. The seat is so tough on Panther it'll likely make folks upgrade to the T660, unless you already have all the kids you need. In any case, the Turbo Touring's seat allows you to sit back a bit for a more comfortable long-haul ride, plus the huge foot wells provide plenty of space for your boots.
There's a tall, wide windshield too, as on the Polaris. But Cat's done a better job of holding its large rearview mirrors steady.
On the performance end, Cat delivers with the T660 too. For us easy riders there's a lever to pull for reverse and an easy electric start system.
There's plenty of power too from the Suzuki 660cc 4-stroke to move this 640-lb. 2-up.
Cat says this turbo model cranks out 110 hp (25 less than the FST), and more than double the 53 horses from the non-turbo unit on the standard Touring. Acceleration is on par with the FST, but there's a fair amount of turbo lag here, something FST avoids.
Yet the Cat turbo runs much quieter than the Polaris and gives you a more secure feeling about its longevity under the hood. Cat's gas mileage also is a plus. While the Polaris model is new and no mileage figures are available, Cat says to expect 25 mpg with the T660 turbo. Plus it comes with a 13-gallon tank, nearly four more than the FST.
Ride is similar, but I felt I could maneuver the Polaris a bit better, despite Cat upgrading to new saddleless skis. Still I enjoyed the cushy ride on the Cat thanks to its FasTrack Long Travel slide-rail system in the rear. It smoothed out trail bumps well.
All things considered, I come down on the T660's side for styling, engine smoothness and sound quality, plus a bevy of ergo extras. But then again, beauty is in the eye ...