In any conversation about cars and SUVs in my neck of the woods—the Rocky Mountains—there are always questions about 4-wheel drive, all wheel drive and how much capability people think they need versus how much they actually need. As a native Coloradan, I have enjoyed both AWD and 4WD SUVs that are the pinnacle of what many think they need: a tricked-out, hot-looking, hard-core off-roader, which usually translates to lower gas mileage and a loud or bumpy ride on the road, like the Toyota Tacoma, Land Cruiser, or Ford Bronco.
I’ve also tested SUVs that fit along the lines of what most people need, which might be a smaller, sturdier SUV with some ground clearance and snow or all-weather tires, like the Honda Passport, Subaru Forester, or even the Acura MDX. In the midst of all this, let me tell you that some of the most rugged, trenched, deep pothole-d road conditions you will find in the Rockies are in ski resort parking lots in early March.
It made for the perfect testing ground for me and the rest of the media members who showed up for testing. Luckily, a group of journalists came together at the Rocky Mountain Driving Experience to test a bunch of cars and SUVs at the base of the foothills just outside of Denver.
The job? Drive a group of brand new cars to see if they are solid options for the Rockies’ notoriously tough conditions. Of course there were SUVs with all-wheel drive, including some EVs. There were SUVs with part-time four-wheel drive. There was even a rear-wheel drive supercar. But which would perform the best in the rugged Rocky Mountains ?
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.
The Jeep Wagoneer S Gets a Rocky Mountain Thumbs Up
The Jeep Wagoneer S EV was a favorite for many of the Rocky Mountain journalists. The electric SUV had a ton of fun attributes, most notably its 600 horsepower and abundant, readily available speed. The interior was fun and came with a nice array of buttons for the climate control, and also the programmable LED ambient lighting. Jeep’s flagship SUV is also an all-wheel drive in the EV sense (dual motors acting similarly to a traditional AWD setup in terms of traction), and that comes standard.
It also brings up some things to consider. EVs are known to suffer battery charge depletion in cold weather, and cold weather can slow the pace of a battery’s charge. Yes, these concerns are valid, but no, we didn’t test these vehicles in frigid weather. The industry has addressed this and many EVs now come with systems that warm or “precondition” the battery to help mitigate loss of charge, and the Jeep Wagoneer S EV is one of them.
It starts at $65,200, which makes it a little pricey for most families, but if you want comfort, space, power, and a reasonable range, the Wagoneer S is hard to beat.
READ MORE: Jeep Wagoneer S First Drive: All the Jeep Love, Electrified
The Dodge Charger EV Isn’t Weatherproof, But it Sure is Fun
Another offering from car maker Stellantis was the Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack EV. It is a 2- or 4-door hatchback that looks like a sedan. It’s super long and cruised along comfortably and quickly. It reminded me of some of the larger sedans of my youth, and I wondered if this is where Dodge is going with this car. I liked that it had an actual gearshift in the center console and climate control buttons.
There is an engineered sound that comes out of the Charger upon startup and when hitting the throttle. If you don’t like it, you can turn it off. I liked the sound better from the inside as it hit that satisfying rumble noise we all love in our muscle cars. Outside, however, it didn’t hit quite the same feeling. It’s an interesting car and I’d love to have more time with it to figure out how it would fit in Colorado.
At $61,590, all that fun is actually for a reasonable price. It’s a car that will keep you smiling, as well as the ozone layer clean.
READ MORE: The Dodge Charger Daytona EV Delivers Muscle-Car Fun, Sound and Fury Included
All of Us Adored the Honda Passport Trailsport AWD for All Seasons
If you are wondering about a smaller SUV with good ground clearance, larger tires, and some rugged details, let me point you to the Honda Passport TrailSport. This little puppy had some solid get-up and go. The Passport TrailSport actually has a 285-horsepower V6 paired with a 10-speed transmission.
The Passport also comes with Sport, Snow, Tow, Trail, and Sand drive modes. The TrailSport Elite package included a trailer hitch and harness, visual details, and exposed recovery hooks. All this bundled together means you get a ton of functionality and capability just short of a body-on-frame SUV. It more than looks the part and will get you into and out of most situations, on the road or off.
A starting price of $49,900 is a bit steep for a Honda, especially when the roomier and 3-row Pilot starts at $41,650, but it’s a pretty competitive price when you consider the capabilities that are packed into the cost.
READ MORE: Falling for the 2026 Honda Passport’s Classic Looks? Go For TrailSport’s Muscle and Class
The Kia Sorento X-Pro AWD is One of the Most Overlooked Mountain-Ready SUVs
Another good option we were presented with is the Kia Sorento X-Pro. You may think you know the Sorento, but you may not know it in its X-Pro garb. What makes the X-Pro different? It’s got increased towing capacity, up to 4,500 pounds, and larger wheels paired with all-terrain tires. The Sorento brings an element of sophistication to your mountain-ready vehicle, which is why it ended up being in the top 5 of cars we’d recommend for mountain folk.
Do you remember that commercial with the Kia Telluride that showed it conquering Moab’s tougher trails in just all-terrain tires? The Sorento has the same AWD system, which makes it more than capable for the rough winter conditions of the Rocky Mountains. Plus, the third row is cozy, making it a solid choice for families.
My favorite part of the Kia Sorento, though, is the pricing. It starts at $31,990, and the X-Pro Prestige, which is the top-of-the-line AWD model, starts at $47,390. Which, if you didn’t notice, is less expensive than the Honda with almost twice the amount of space.
The Toyota 4Runner 4WD is a Rocky Mountain No-Brainer
On that note, it was fun to drive two traditional 4-wheel drives side-by-side, the Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road and the 4Runner Limited. It’s always cool to drive the same vehicle in different trims back-to-back to see how they compare. Of course, the Limited looks a bit more polished, with trim pieces on the fender that match the body, silver-toned wheels and skid plate, as well as retractable running boards.
On the inside, brown leather-trimmed seats added a bit of polish, as did the feature-rich environs like heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. Both the TRD Off-Road and the Limited I drove were equipped with the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, and not the hybrid powertrain. The engine was powerful and capable, and I kept wondering to myself which version of the 4Runner would fit me best. I love some pampering, but I also love rugged adventures.
Both versions of the 4Runner equipped with the 4-cylinder turbo engine will handle up to 5,000 pounds for towing (the hybrid will get you 6,000) so if you’re looking to head to the hills and bring your toys, consider the hybrid option before buying just to make sure you’ve got the power you need. It should be noted that when the 4Runner is in its most fuel-efficient, two-wheel drive mode, it’s in rear-wheel drive. Prices vary depending on whether or not it’s equipped with the hybrid setup, but it ranges from $42,500 to close to $70,000 for the Trailhunter or TRD Pro with the hybrid motor.
The Genesis GV70 AWD Tackles Mountainous Conditions in Style
But what if I’m looking for even more polish and power than the 4Runner Limited? I got to drive a favorite of mine, the Genesis GV70, and was reminded of all the creature comforts it had that were wrapped up in a wonderful balance of sport and fancy. Gorgeous blue leather seats with orange stitching and bright orange seat belts made me grin every time I looked inside the GV70.
The suede headliner made me feel like I was a special little gem in a cushioned box. Adding to that vibe was the crystal-detailed gear shifter and controller for the multimedia system. And the drive? It was a dynamo on the twisty roads and had a rumbling engine noise to match the speed and precision of the drive. And yet it also cruised like a dream, chilling out and enjoying the slower roads and traffic.
The twin-turbo V6 had my number for sure, and I didn’t want to give it back—but I didn’t have $63,415 on me. It looks so great inside and out, has a ton of power, and all-wheel drive for all-season confidence. I also like the head-up display that keeps your focus on the road. I think of blizzards when it feels scary to even look at the speedometer, a head-up display keeps vital information super close.
READ MORE: 2026 Genesis GV70: Subtle Design Changes and a Big Tech Upgrade Enhance This SUV’s Luxury
The Acura ADX Proves Dynamite Comes in Small Packages
And the Acura ADX was a joy just to look at, and even more fun to drive. It’s a compact SUV that starts at $35,000. Our test ADX was a hot number with a red interior and turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It, too, had all-wheel drive, and I was starting to wonder how many of these vehicles at our drive event I would want to take home. So far, I was up to TKTK.
Anyway, the ADX was a real joy to drive, and I loved how sporty it was. It did in fact remind me of the Integra, which is a recent test-drive favorite of mine. I loved the paddle shifters and the multiple drive modes. The ADX had the A-Spec package that included ventilated seats and sport pedals. So it was absolutely sporty and fun.
And it also had all-season tires, so it was helpful to drive the car with those and check out how much road noise or performance issues were present. Answer? None whatsoever. I loved how much Acura packed into the ADX for what wound up being a $45,960 price tag. Specifically for the Rockies, I love that the ADX has heated front seats, door mirrors, and with the Advance package, it has a heated steering wheel…perfect goodies for when the seasons turn brisk.
The Lexus LX, Like Toyota, is On Its Way to Be a Mountain Staple
Another dazzling red interior could be found on the Lexus LX 700h FSport. This SUV is large, with three rows. It’s been redesigned, has a boxier look like many of the Toyota and Lexus SUVs and trucks these days. TKTK. The LX 700h is the perfect SUV to get you from Denver to your cabin in the mountains in style.
It’s a pricey hybrid, as it starts at just over $107,000, but even with that, it gets slightly better gas mileage than its gas-powered counterpart. However, it does have more torque for towing and off-roading if that’s your jam. I loved the tall windows that afforded a lovely view outside the windows, perfect for taking in the gorgeous scenery of our area.
READ MORE: The 2025 Lexus LX 700h Has More Luxury and Hybrid Power, But is it Right For Your Family?
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a Fantastic EV SUV for All Seasons
Circling back around to the EVs for a moment, I have to shout out the Hyundai Ioniq9. It’s got spacious seating for six in three rows, a gorgeous, modern interior, and comfort features for days. I loved the ride and the drive. I loved how bright it was inside, and I loved that it had all-wheel drive.
It had a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front and second-row seats. The second row seats also reclined and had a footrest that folded out. This was really a very luxurious electric SUV, and while it had a starting price of $60,555, there was nothing I wanted that it didn’t have.
Supercars Won’t Bring You Home in a Blizzard, But You Could Have Fun in One
So what about the supercar I mentioned? McLaren invited us to drive the Artura Spider, their first convertible, and the carmaker’s first hybrid. It looked spectacular along the twisty roads and red sandstone rock outcroppings close to Red Rocks, the famous concert venue. This car is one for road trips throughout the state, for rides to mountain towns and back, Pikes Peak, and even High Plains Raceway.
I’d be delighted to explore the Rockies behind the wheel of this beautiful machine, though I’d prefer to do it in the summer since it’ll probably be a bit tougher to drive in colder months, even with winter tires.
So, there you have it—being in the mountains, AWD and 4WD are serious assets, but you don’t always need the most robust or expensive options.
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