The Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) held its annual test drive event with a focus on mud at the Ridge Motorsports Park, located southwest of Seattle from April 22-24, 2024. Eighteen car reviewers from the Pacific Northwest region participated in testing and rating various vehicles, ultimately selecting the best cars in each category and the NW Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year. I was also invited to attend on behalf of The Epoch Times.
Starting this week, I drove my car onto a ferry from Pier 50 in downtown Seattle, crossed to Bremerton on the west side after a 50-minute journey, then drove along Highway 3 for over an hour alongside Hood Canal to reach the hotel and prepare for the 2024 MudFest event the following day.
The event spanned over two days, with the first day focusing on driving on the track to test the performance of the vehicles on roads. The second day was dedicated to off-road testing, where vehicles were rated based on their performance in mud and gravel.
A total of 20 vehicles were tested, categorized into “Two-Row Family SUVs,” “Three-Row Family SUVs,” “Luxury SUVs,” and “Pickup Trucks.” Apart from winners in these four categories, awards were also given for “Extreme Capability Vehicles,” “Best Value SUV or Pickup,” and an “Electrified Utility Vehicle” designed for electric cars.
In the “Two-Row Family SUV” category, the tested vehicles included Hyundai Kona Limited AWD, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X 4×4, Kia Sorento X-Pro SX-Prestige 2.5T AWD, Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus AWD, Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness, and Subaru Solterra.
The “Three-Row Family SUV” category featured Hyundai Santa Fe XRT, Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD, Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid, and Volkswagen Atlas Peak Edition.
Within the “Luxury SUV” category were Genesis GV70 3.5T AWD Sport Prestige, INEOS Grenadier Trialmaster, Lexus GX 550 Overtrail, and Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 4MATIC.
The “Pickup Truck” category included Chevy Colorado 4WD ZR2 Bison, Ford Ranger Supercrew 4X4 Raptor, Honda Ridgeline TrailSport, Nissan Frontier PRo-4X Crew Cab 4X4, Ram 1500 Rebel, and Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road.
The first day of testing took place on asphalt roads and the track, where there were acceleration and braking zones to test the cars’ performance in these aspects, as well as driving through barriers to evaluate cornering performance. Then, the vehicles took to the track for a lap to assess their actual driving performance.
There were more curves this year, providing more opportunities to test the vehicles’ cornering abilities. The sunny weather allowed for thorough testing of the vehicles’ limits, showcasing the excellent craftsmanship of modern car manufacturers. Each vehicle performed admirably, making it a tough task to determine the best performers. Fortunately, this year’s testing process was smooth, allowing for repeat drives to identify the true champions.
The next day’s off-road section featured gravel roads, water crossings, uneven terrain, and slopes of varying inclines to test the vehicles’ off-road and water fording capabilities.
As the weather transitioned from sunny to rainy, the muddy terrain was kept wet, enhancing the off-road experience. Some sections featured extreme conditions that only a few enhanced vehicles were tested on. Manufacturers’ representatives accompanied some vehicles to explain their special features.
The Jeep Wrangler was equipped with a Sway Bar disconnect feature and fitted with 35-inch off-road tires, with the front and rear axles capable of independent locking.
The Chevy Colorado ZR2 had two cameras underneath for observation and could spray water for cleaning while rock crawling to monitor the underside condition.
INEOS is a new car brand, and its Grenadier features a traditional square-shaped off-road design with the exhaust pipe attached to the left A-pillar of the car body. The sturdy body ensures strong off-road capabilities, and the interior resembles an aircraft cockpit with a variety of buttons.
The next-generation Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road and Lexus GX 550 Overtrail were equipped with off-road gear, including a Crawl function used for climbing and descending slopes. The system can limit the driving speed, allowing the driver to focus on steering without needing to use the accelerator or brake.
Throughout the day, reviewers tested the vehicles in rain and mud, gaining a deeper understanding of the varying driving performances despite all being SUVs.
After two days of track and off-road testing, winners were selected in each category through voting by the reviewers, as well as the NW Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year:
– Best Two-Row Family SUV – Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X 4×4
– Best Three-Row Family SUV – Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD
– Best Luxury SUV – Lexus GX 550 Overtrail
– Best Pickup Truck – Chevy Colorado 4WD ZR2 Bison
– Best Extreme Capability Vehicle – Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X 4×4
– Best Electrified Utility Vehicle – Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD
– Best Value SUV – Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness
Lexus GX 550 Overtrail was also voted as the 2024 “Best Outdoor Activity Vehicle,” recognized by reviewers for its performance on roads, appearance, features, and off-road capabilities.