2022 Muddfest. Photo: Dbpics.com
Hey Everybody, Let’s Test 20 Adventure Vehicles Over Two Days to See Who Wins!
What do you do with 20 adventure-ready vehicles in one place all at the same time? Well, you put them through their paces on pavement with brake tests, cornering and handling. Then you head off-pavement with some mud, obstacles, potholes and hills. This is exactly what we did at Mudfest recently, with the Northwest Automotive Press Association in Washington State. Here is the lineup of cars we tested:
Compact & Subcompact Family Car
2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness
2022 Toyota RAV4 TRD Off- Road (Defending Class champion)
2023 Mazda CS-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus
Mid and Full-Size Family SUV
2022 GMC Yukon AT4
2022 Honda Passport TrailSport
2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT 2.5L AWD
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe
2022 Kia Sorento PHEV SX-Prestige AWD
Compact and Midsize Luxury SUV
2021 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35
2022 Acura MDX Type S
2022 Genesis GV70 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige (Defending Overall champion)
2022 Volvo V90 B6 Cross Country
Full-Size Luxury SUV
2021 Genesis GV80 AWD 3.5T Prestige
2022 Wagoneer (Defending Class Champion
2022 Lexus LX 600 Ultra Lux
2022 Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Pickup Trucks
2021 Ford F-150 Raptor 4×4 SuperCrew
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited AWD (Defending Class Champion)
2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X
2022 Toyota Tundra Platinum CrewMax
Related: 2022 Ford Maverick Review: A Short Girl Friendly Truck to Soothe Your Budget DIY Soul
There was even a Rolls-Royce Cullinan in the mix! This color is called Saint Tropez! Photo: Connie Peters
Day One Was on a Track
On the first day, we took all 20 cars on a short circuit track at Ridge Motorsports Park for handling and cornering. Then we did a slalom and brake test on pavement. Each car was distinctive, handled differently, and we diligently took notes throughout the day. We even had the opportunity to try an electrified plug-in Grand Cherokee 4xe for the first time at this event, as well as a bright orange $400K+ Rolls Royce Cullinan.
Related: Tackling the Circuit of the Americas: Driving Performance Cars On This Track is the Chance of a Lifetime
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Day Two Took Us Through Mud, Rocks, and More
On the second day, the cars began the morning shiny and clean and ended the afternoon covered in mud, thanks to the off-road course prepared for us at the track. The rainy weather helped aid in the mud-making, helping us to feel like we were truly testing these cars’ adventurous abilities. The course included articulation with deep potholes, muddy hills, steep incline and declines, and water fording. I couldn’t believe I was about to take the Cullinan, which appears to be more suited to 5-star hotel valets than muddy fields, through an off-road course.
Related: Tackling the Rebelle Rally, the Female-Only Off-Road Rally, As A Newbie
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And the Winners are… *Drum Roll Please*
- Subcompact and Compact Family Car – 2023 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus
- Runner up – 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness
- Mid-and Full-Size Family SUV – 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe
- Runner up – 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV
- Compact and Midsize Luxury SUV – 2022 Genesis GV70 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige (repeat winner)
- Runner up – 2022 Acura MDX Type S
- Full-Size Luxury SUV – 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD 3.5T Prestige
- Runner up – 2022 Wagoneer Series III 4×4
- Pickup Trucks – 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited AWD (repeat winner)
- Runner up – 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X
- Extreme Capability – 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor
- Runner up (tie) – 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe
- Runner up (tie) – 2022 Wagoneer Series II 4×4
- Electrified Utility Vehicle – 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe
- Runner up – 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV
- Runner up – 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV
- NW Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year – 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe
- Runner up – 2022 Genesis GV70 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige
Related: The Jeep Wrangler 4xe Is an Incredible New Off-Roading Experience for Jeep Lovers and Converts Alike
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Wrapping up two days of epic driving in all of these fantastic cars had me craving adventure and fun. Bring on summer!
Disclosure: I attended the Mudfest event as a part of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. All opinions are my own.
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