19 Experts, 20 Off-Road Bruisers, One Muddy Verdict: The SUVs and Pickups That Rocked Mudfest 2025

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·June 12, 2025
2025 NWAPA Mudfest
2025 NWAPA MudfestCredit: (C) 2025 Doug Berger | DBPics

2025 NWAPA Mudfest

Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington is the dream destination for so many performance driving fans. A very technical racetrack, it’s tucked into a forest of tall Douglas Firs where Bald Eagles soar over the “Baby Corkscrew” turn and the wind whistles through the trees.

But the track was quiet the day we visited. Instead, 20 SUVs and pickup trucks were parked in the paddock, rumbling and champing at the bit to be driven through the mud of the park’s off-road course. 19 journalists from the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) had gathered to put these cars through their paces and decide which is the best off-roader in the (PNW) country at the 2025 Mudfest off-road competition.

This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.

What Is Mudfest? And Which SUVs and Trucks Compete?

The Mudfest crew: journalists and representatives from carmakers readying for the 2025 competition – Credit: (C) 2025 Doug Berger | DBPics

Mudfest is an annual two-day event that takes each car through an obstacle course and then on to the off-road course to truly test each car’s capability. It starts with the go-kart track, is a scale-model version of the full-size performance track, where each car is driven to 60 mph before slamming on the brakes to test the ABS for an idea of how they handle on the road. The second day is when things get dirty.

Carmakers bring their best off-road-ready models or trims of new SUVs and pickup trucks, which compete in eight categories: two-row family SUVs, three-row family SUVs, luxury SUVs, pickup trucks, electric SUVs, extreme capability vehicles, best value NW outdoor activity vehicle, and the most coveted, the NW Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year. 

READ MORE: 25 Journalists, 22 Pickup Trucks and SUVs and Acres (and Acres!) of Mud: Mudfest 2023 Determines The Best

These Are the Cars That Came to Prove Their Off-Road Chops

The cars ready to roll at the 2025 Mudfest – Credit: (C) 2025 Doug Berger | DBPics

Off-road-ready cars are all the rage these days, and that’s because of the “just in case” factor of all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. You may not have to go off-road every day, but if you had the option to hit the gravel, dirt, mud, snow, or rock-laden trail, you absolutely could. Out of the 20 cars that competed, some were shocking, while some inspired confidence that they’d come out on top, like the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO Crew Cab 4×4, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter, the 2025 Ineos Grenadier FWB Station Wagon Fieldmaster and the 2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail. 

Here are the remaining worthy cars that competed at NWAPA Mudfest:

Off-Road Fun Doesn’t Have to Cost Six-Figures

The Mazda CX-50 Premium Plus was great off-road, and is a great value! – Credit: Kristen Brown

There were some seriously expensive rigs at Mudfest 2025—but some of the most surprising rides were the economy cars. For instance, the Hyundai Tucson XRT is a barrel of fun and incredibly capable with all-wheel drive, a few terrain modes, and fun exterior styling for $32,975. Mazda’s CX-50 Premium Plus costs just $40,050. The Subaru Forester Hybrid was poised and collected on the off-road course thanks to a true, mechanical all-wheel drive system, for $43,295. 

In fact, there were two more cars that were under $45,000. These are those cars:

Even with all-wheel drive, more aggressive tires, and in the Outlander’s case, off-road-ready dealership accessories, those cars proved that you can be ready to hit the trail without committing to an incredibly expensive car. If you did want a more expensive off-road rig, however, there were plenty to choose from.

READ MORE: Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Vs. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: Same Engine, Same MPG. Which is Better?

If You Have Money to Burn, These Rigs Are Made for Extreme Terrain

Rocks, mud, and tight pathways were easily conquered by the Ineos Grenadier

Being able to go off-road without worrying about much can come at a cost, especially once you start slinging terms around like “long-travel suspension,” “solid-front axle,” or “ball-style steering.” There were a handful of cars, SUVs, and trucks that were more than qualified to dominate the course. For instance, our NW Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO Crew Cab 4×4, with the hood graphics, destination fee, and all the add-ons (which the one we tested had), costs around $95,015—and that’s not including the dealership markup. 

But the Baja-Blaster Ram wasn’t even the most expensive off-roader there. That crown belongs to the 2025 Lexus LX 700H Overtrail with a starting price of $115,350. Here were the other more expensive cars, with the rest ranging from $55,000 to $75,000:

READ MORE: The Ineos Grenadier is the Best New SUV You’ve Never Heard Of 

Now, Onto the Winners!

Me driving the NW Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year—an obvious choice – Credit: Doug Berger

I’m going to pull a line straight out of my Little League coach’s book and say that all of the cars that were tested during Mudfest were winners in my book. My personal favorite was the Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT, as it surprised me in every aspect of the course on both testing days. In Sport Mode, it handled beautifully on the go-kart track, it did just fine off-road, and it was a blast to get sideways on the gravel. It had the lowest ground clearance of any car in attendance, but it was not short of fun. 

The Nissan Armada was incredibly easy to drive, even through the go-kart track, despite its massive size. The Invisible Hood feature was a marvel, and I could only imagine how much of an asset it would be off-road. The Jeep Grand Wagoneer was also a shocker for me, having such an extravagant and large SUV bursting at the seams with clever off-road tech.

But the one that wowed us all, and took the top prize, the NW Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year? The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO Crew Cab 4×4. Under the land yacht of a hood is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 that has 540 horsepower at the ready, 11.8 inches of ground clearance thanks to a factory suspension lift, and oversized, aggressive tires. It was made to run alongside (or in front of, as Ram would have it) the Ford F-150 Baja-style in the desert, and it definitely proved that on the course. If anything, that course was probably too mild for this truck.

Here are the winners for each category:

It should’t be that much of a surprise that Ram took the top prize; its designed to conquer all the hills and still, pamper its passengers.

READ MORE: Driving the Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT: This EV Accommodates Nicely, But Is It Comfortable Off-Road?

By Kristen Brown
Brown is a car-loving mom in Oregon, with a deeply rooted passion in auto mechanics. She's been an automotive ... More about Kristen Brown
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