Ski-Doo has my heart. The brand's snowmobiles are some of the best around, giving me access to hyper-fast trail sleds with two-step turbochargers that sound like an R32 Skyline on full blast, and two-stroke turbocharged mountain sleds that just go wherever you point their skis. The latter are also excellent therapists.
But progress doesn't wait for no man.
Progress pushes forward, at least in the realm of machines, and leaves the rest in the dust. And though Ski-Doo only recently launched the 2025 snowmobiles the fall prior, the brand isn't waiting to have its crown besmirched by Polaris. And that's why for 2026, not only did Ski-Doo fully revamped the Expedition snowmobiles, but it also gave its backcountry Summit sleds some new hardware that'll make every carved corner that much better.
Who's ready to hit some powder? Let's kick it off by talking about the all-new Expedition sleds.
The new snowmobiles make use of Ski-Doo's REV Gen5 platform, which also underpins literally every other Ski-Doo snowmobile currently made. The Expedition, along with the Neo and Sport models, however, were the final pieces of the puzzle. As for its use, the Expedition is a crossover sled, meaning it's designed to handle trail and powder, though not in the same way as something like a Summit, Backcountry, or Freeride would, i.e. the hooligan models of the range.
And it uses the brand's new uMotion rear suspension to handle the rigors of both worlds. This is the sort of snowmobile you start with on trail, but quickly find your way into the deep woods on the hunt for backcountry adventures on. Or using to hunt muskox in the Arctic Circle with Remi Warren.
According to the brand, customers will be able to choose "From 85 to 180 proven ponies, [and] 6 available Rotax engines offer riders 2-stroke and 4-stroke options - including the 900 ACE Turbo R," allowing them to tailor the experience they wish to have, as well as the capability they need to get the job done.
And then there are the Upgraded backcountry sleds.
Ski-Doo looked at the Summit and Freeride, which were already hellaciously capable, and asked, "What if we made them lighter and better?" And so the company did. The brand's engineers were actually able to cut 14 pounds from the sleds, done through lighter aluminum parts in the suspension both front and rear, a lighter heat exchanger, track, and airbox. There's also a new 32-inch ski setup on the Summit X with Expert Package, which is an industry first.
Likewise, all models equipped with the 10.25-inch touchscreen display will enjoy the Group Ride function, which allows riders to use built-in GPS with topographic displays and marked snowmobile trails, as well as see other riders in your group "with or without a phone or network connection." Neat.
As for price, the Ski-Doo Expedition starts at $10,549 and can rise to $16,999 for the electric model, though accessories and options will see each rise, too. The Summit starts at $13,349 and will rise to $17,699 for the Summit X with Expert Package. All in all, however, Ski-Doo has an option for pretty much everyone and any sort of operation you want to enjoy.
Plus, speaking from experience, they're fun as hell.
