Rain, shine, and plenty of car, truck, SUV fun at Mudfest 2017

Every year at about this time, the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) holds an event called Mudfest, one of my favorite things in the world. It’s the organization’s Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year competition, in which participating members evaluate and score SUVs, crossovers and pickups for their design, power, performance off-road and on pavement, fuel economy, passenger cabin comfort and function, application of technology, pricing, and overall personal appeal.

Mudfest 2017 took place recently at The Ridge Motorsports Park near the city of Shelton in Mason County on the Olympic Peninsula. The 170-acre venue includes a full-sized racetrack, a go-kart track that is a one-fifth scale version of the bigger track, a motocross track, and a lot of open space, a portion of which gets turned into an off-road area when Mudfest rolls around.

There are three short courses within the off-road area. One is designed for vehicles with average off-road ability, another for those with extreme off-road capability, and a third for those that fall somewhere in between the two. Many of the in-betweeners were driven successfully on the extreme capability course, though they were not entered in that category.

Twenty-six members of NWAPA, representing print, online, radio and television media, spent two full days testing 27 vehicles on the go-kart track and the off-road course. Heraldnet.com was represented enthusiastically by your dedicated Cars and Me correspondent.

Vehicles compete in six different categories: Compact Utility Vehicle, Premium Compact Utility Vehicle, Family Utility Vehicle, Premium Mid- or Full-Size Utility Vehicle, Extreme Capability Vehicle, and Pickups. From among the winners in each of these categories, one is selected as best overall, the NWAPA Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year.

Every SUV, crossover and pickup on the market is not included in the competition, obviously. NWAPA extends Mudfest invitations to automotive manufacturers every year in advance, with the number of slots available limited to a manageable amount. Manufacturers choose which of their vehicles to enter in the event, and vehicles are accepted by NWAPA on a first-come, first-served basis.

With all the rain this spring, we were hoping for a huge amount of mud in the off-road area. It rained nearly all day the day before the event, but not on Day One, when we drove on the kart track, and not on Day Two, the off-road day. So there was mud, just not the huge amount we like to have. Plenty enough to still have a lot of fun, however.

Here are the winners of Mudfest 2017:

Compact Utility Vehicle: 2017 Jeep Compass Trailhawk

Premium Compact Utility Vehicle: 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack S 4Motion

Family Utility Vehicle: 2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring

Premium Mid- or Full-size Utility Vehicle: 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk

Extreme Capability Utility Vehicle: 2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Luxury

Pickups: 2017 Ford Raptor Super Cab

Best Overall, NWAPA’s Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year: 2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Luxury

Mary Lowry is an independent automotive writer who lives in Snohomish County. She is a member of the Motor Press Guild, and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association.

The 2017 Ford Raptor Super Cab churns through the terrain at The Ridge Motorsports Park during Mudfest. Hosted by the Northwest Automotive Press Association, the truck was voted the best pickup at the event. (Josh Mackey / NWAPA)

The 2017 Ford Raptor Super Cab hits the turn on the track at Mudfest. The truck won the best pickup award, as voted by the Northwest Automotive Press Association. (Josh Mackey / NWAPA)

The 2017 Jeep Compass Trailhawk hits the turn on the track at The Ridge Motorsports Park as part of Mudfest. (Josh Mackey / NWAPA)

The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk heads down a section of the off-road area at The Ridge Motorsports Park during Mudfest. The vehicle was voted the Northwest Automotive Press Association’s top premium mid- or full-size utility vehicle. (Josh Mackey / NWAPA)

The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk rumbles along the track at The Ridge Motorsports Park during Mudfest. (Josh Mackey / NWAPA)

The 2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Luxury hits a sloped section of the off-road portion at The Ridge Motorsports Park during Mudfest. It was voted best overall as the Northwest Automotive Press Association’s outdoor activity vehicle of the year and the extreme capability utility vehicle by the NWAPA. (Josh Mackey / NWAPA)

The 2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Luxury takes on the curves at The Ridge Motorsports Park’s track during Mudfest, hosted by the Northwest Automotive Press Association. (Josh Mackey / NWAPA)

Taking on the curved, off-road turn at The Ridge Motorsports Park, the 2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring was voted the best family utility vehicle of Mudfest by the Northwest Automotive Press Association. (Josh Mackey / NWAPA)

The 2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring comes around the bend of The Ridge Motorsports Park’s track during Mudfest. (Josh Mackey / NWAPA)

The 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack S 4Motion rolls on the off-road portion of The Ridge Motorsports Park during Mudfest. It was voted the best premium compact utility vehicle by the Northwest Automotive Press Association. (Josh Mackey / NWAPA)

The 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack S 4Motion hits the curves at The Ridge Motorsports Park during Mudfest. (Josh Mackey / NWAPA)