The 2023 Arctic Cat Wildcat XX Is a Well-Rounded Sport Rig

Slick styling, an entertaining engine, and excellent suspension make it sing.

We got our hands on a 2023 Arctic Cat Wildcat XX near the company’s Minnesota headquarters and were blown away at how solid the machine is.Arctic Cat

When Textron bought Arctic Cat several years ago it acquired a well-rounded off-road lineup that we really dug. But rather than further develop the existing lineup’s standouts such as the Wildcat Trail, a sporty handling machine with a reliable engine, somebody at Textron decided it was better to axe all of them except the then-new Wildcat XX. That model survived mostly due to the direct input Textron had on its final design, and because it was at the time the newest model in the lineup. Unfortunately, it still is. The good news is that is likely to change.

We recently had the chance to meet Arctic Cat’s new management team at the company’s factory in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. It was more like talking with your riding buddies, with open conversation about where Arctic Cat’s off-road lineup currently is, some of the decisions made after the takeover, and new model development. They were honest and enthusiastic about Arctic Cat’s future, but perhaps most importantly, this management and development team is headed by lifelong off-road riders.

With 130 hp, the Wildcat XX isn’t the gnarliest sport rig available, but its super-sorted chassis and excellent suspension more than make up for it.Arctic Cat

Our time with them also didn’t end at the front door. We were headed out to experience the Wildcat XX on the trails of northern Minnesota.

Only 20 miles as the crow flies from the Canadian border, Bemis Hill Campground is part of the Beltrami Island State Forest and features primitive campsites that cater to both off-road riders and horseback riders. There is plenty of riding for both, and the trails were a good mix of open two-track and twisting routes that wound through the pines, mud, and sand.

There are heim joints everywhere under the Wildcat XX, but the ribs stamped into the control arms are a stiffening technique that is unique and most people will miss.Arctic Cat

We’ve always thought the Arctic Cat Wildcat XX was an outstanding model that doesn’t get the respect it deserved. A big part of that was the poor takeover timing that limited its exposure, but one trip through deep whoops revealed outstanding suspension and handling few other high-performance UTVs can match. It’s excellent in deep whoops thanks to a well-designed chassis with some clever features built in.

The 2023 Arctic Cat Wildcat XX is built very much like a desert racer, and that means a high-strength tube chassis. Everything was built for durability. The engine hangs from rails rather than resting on mounts, which saves the engine from hard bottom-out impacts. Where most OEMs use a single bracket to mount components, Arctic Cat uses a double shear bracket, thereby doubling the strength and load carrying capability. At the front is another unique feature only seen on desert racers. Rather than a traditional steering knuckle and ball-joint upright, Arctic Cat gave the Wildcat XX a forged aluminum upright that uses heim joints for both steering and unlimited suspension travel, with the steering tie-rod mounted in front of the knuckle and A-arm.

Fit and finish isn’t quite up to scratch with offerings from bigger brands, but you still get a generous digital dash display and optional navigation from Garmin.Arctic Cat

This design offers unlimited, bind-free suspension travel, with the only drawback being the remote possibility of bending a tie-rod should you hit anything. At the rear is a trailing-arm design, which also has built-in features for durability. Rather than forming the trailing arms from smooth sheet steel, Arctic Cat presses in stiffening ribs. Again, it’s a clever feature that works. The chassis is a modular design and the three main sections can be unbolted if needed. Finally, the entire chassis is protected by a heavy-duty skid plate.

There are four versions of the Wildcat XX and they’re all powered by a 998cc three-cylinder EFI engine with a claimed 130 hp. There is no turbocharged version, but we didn’t miss it. The Wildcat XX features Arctic Cat’s Adapt CVT clutch for better performance from the CVT transmission. The new clutches are lighter and provide constant belt tension across the rpm range for less wear, instant throttle response, and longer belt life. Unlike most high-performance UTV engines, the Wildcat XX features both a stator and a small alternator to power up to eight prewired accessories. From our recent test ride the engine and new Adapt clutch provide good throttle response from immediately off idle to approximately 7,600 rpm. Top speed is around 75 mph.

You can change the suspension stiffness on the fly with the touch of a button—an awesome feature to have on a rig this inexpensive.Arctic Cat

Arctic Cat engineers gave all Wildcat XX models a sporty, robust look both inside and out. There’s nothing you don’t need. Seats are located down in the chassis to help keep the overall center of gravity low, but careful hood design gives you very good sight lines. One very cool feature is the flat-bottom steering wheel. It definitely adds to the desert car feel.

All the switches and controls are exactly where they need to be, and we like the digital display ahead of the wheel. Down below, the pedals are at a comfortable angle with good room for your legs and feet. When climbing into the Wildcat XX you’ll need to pick your feet up a little higher than usual to cross over a frame triangulation tube that provides additional chassis strength, but it’s part of the desert racer lineage.

The bed on our tester was entirely taken up by a full-sized spare tire and its mount.Arctic Cat

Any riding day is a good one, and with a dusting of snow on the ground we climbed into the Wildcat XX. It was good to be back in a ‘Cat. Everything felt familiar and the engine fired up quickly, seemingly as eager to get moving as we were. The gear-shift lever snicked precisely into High and with a little throttle input we were off. We were immediately fond of the Wildcat XX’s highly adjustable electronic suspension. With a flip of the dash-mounted switch you can change how the entire vehicle feels. As any desert racer will tell you, horsepower is important, but it’s suspension that will get you to the finish line first. We started our ride with the shocks set in the Medium setting.

We can’t say enough about the Wildcat XX suspension. It’s outstanding—extremely stable without a twitch or hint of swapping ends and it holds its line very well. A tight steering ratio and electric power steering make it easy to drive, and it’s surprisingly nimble in tight trails. The Wildcat XX may not have the most horsepower in the class but it loves to run, and it can pass anybody in the whoops. For deep whoops we usually switched the suspension up to the Firm setting, and for ordinary trails the softest setting provided a smooth ride.

The 32-inch Kenda Klever tires that come standard on the Black Hills Edition do a good job of finding traction in loose terrain (even a little snow) and didn’t provide any trail chatter. We also managed to find a local rock quarry and the Klevers worked very well for prowling around the boulders, as did the new lower-gear-ratio transaxle.

The Wildcat XX features a full underbody skid plate, which wears battle scars as a point of pride.Arctic Cat

At all rpm ranges the Wildcat XX engine is easy to control. It responds quickly to throttle input and there is plenty of power for running down open trail. It’s well matched to the chassis. One welcome new feature on the Wildcat XX is a new CVT cover for better cooling, but on our chilly test ride it wouldn’t have been a problem anyway. Southwest desert riders will be happy to have it on every ride.

We love the way the Wildcat XX looks. While it isn’t the first thing we care about, it’s nice to have something you enjoy looking at.Arctic Cat

Arctic Cat created the complete package with the Wildcat XX. It’s quick, precise, stable, and easy to drive at any speed but it’s born to run and be driven aggressively. True to its desert racer DNA, with a long, rough trail ahead the suspension will soak up the bumps like a magic carpet as the chassis stays on its line. The Wildcat XX is a great example of all parts working together to create a total package.

The Wildcat XX starts at $23,199, and runs all the way up to $27,999 for the top-of-the-line Black Hills Edition.

While the Wildcat XX is the lone performance model in the ‘Cat UTV lineup, there is finally hope for new models to come. We can’t wait to see what Arctic Cat comes up with.

2023 Arctic Cat Wildcat XX Specs

MSRP: Starting at $21,299
Engine: Liquid-cooled three-cylinder
Displacement: 998cc
Bore x Stroke: N/A
Compression Ratio: N/A
Transmission: Team CVT (base) / Adapt CVT (LTD, SE) w/ high and low range, reverse
Claimed Horsepower: 130 hp
Claimed Torque: N/A
Fuel System: EFI
Steering: Electric power steering
Drivetrain: 2WD/4WD w/ selectable front diff-lock; electric actuation
Front Suspension: Double A-arms, Fox 2.5 Podium QS3, compression adjustable; 18.0 in. travel
Rear Suspension: Trailing arm, Fox 2.5 Podium QS3, compression adjustable, bottom-out control; 18.0 in. travel
Front Brakes: 2-piston caliper, 4-wheel hydraulic disc
Rear Brakes: 1-piston caliper, 4-wheel hydraulic disc
Wheels, Front/Rear: Aluminum KMC; 15 in.
Tires, Front/Rear: CST Behemoth; 30x10-15
Length: 136.0 in.
Width: 64.0 in.
Height: 67.5 in.
Wheelbase: 95.0 in.
Bed Capacity: 300 lb.
Towing Capacity: N/A
Seating Capacity: 2
Ground Clearance: 15.0 in.
Turning Radius: N/A
Claimed Dry Weight: 1,816 lb. (base) / 1,845 lb. (LTD) / 1,877 lb. (SE)
Fuel Capacity: 10.0 gal.
Warranty: 6-month
Availability: Now
Contact: arcticcat.txtsv.com

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