2025 Ram 1500 RHO Dominates NWAPA’s Mudfest: Off-Road Royalty with a Daily-Driver Disguise
By Nik Miles Test Miles
In a world where luxury SUVs wear couture and crossovers pretend to be rugged, one truck has kicked down the catwalk doors and stomped through the mud with its boots on. The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO Crew Cab 4×4 has just been crowned Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year by the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA). And it didn’t just win—it conquered.
Wait—Why Does This Matter Right Now?
Because while the rest of the automotive world is obsessed with range anxiety, digital dashboards, and interior mood lighting, the RHO dares to remind us that capability isn’t dead. It’s just been turbocharged.
Under the hood, the RHO boasts a twin-turbo inline-six that delivers more than enough grunt to launch you and your camping gear up a mountain—or at least over the nearest Trader Joe’s parking island. At a time when every vehicle tries to be everything to everyone, the RHO unapologetically excels where it counts: towing, trail crawling, and still managing the school run without bruising your kidneys.
How Did It Win?
Two days. Twenty-one vehicles. One mud-splattered proving ground at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Washington. NWAPA’s annual Mudfest is less of a competition and more of a wilderness rite of passage, where the Pacific Northwest’s top automotive journalists flog SUVs, pickups, and crossovers across tarmac and trail to separate the real-deal rigs from the pretenders.
The RHO didn’t just win the top award—it swept its categories, including:
• Best Pickup Truck
• Extreme Capability Vehicle
• Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year
In the words of NWAPA President Tom Voelk: “It confidently walked through the off-road course, and yet jurors found it remains comfortable and useful as a daily driver while on pavement.” Translation: it plays dirty, but it cleans up well.
And What About the Others?
Ram may have stolen the spotlight, but the supporting cast was no less impressive—and wildly diverse.
• 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT pulled double duty, winning Best Two-Row SUV and Best Electrified Activity Vehicle. With rugged styling and enough torque to make a mountain flinch, the IONIQ 5 XRT is Hyundai’s flex that electrification doesn’t mean sacrificing adventure.
• 2025 Jeep Wagoneer Series II Overland took home the Three-Row SUV crown. Yes, it’s big. Yes, it’s posh. But in Overland trim, it’s also shockingly trail-capable. Think luxury condo that occasionally enjoys base jumping.
• 2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige won Luxury SUV. Genesis continues to act like the quiet kid in class who suddenly turns in a dissertation on torque vectoring. It’s stylish, fast, and—for now—still underappreciated.
• 2025 Subaru Forester Touring Hybrid snatched the Best Value title, reminding us that not every adventure vehicle needs a six-figure price tag. Sometimes, you just want something that can carry dogs, groceries, and dignity.
Who Should Be Paying Attention?
If you’re an enthusiast who secretly wants a truck that can summit Everest before brunch—but won’t destroy your spine in traffic—the RHO is your spiritual chariot. It’s for weekend warriors, towing traditionalists, and anyone whose definition of “terrain” includes more than mall parking lots.
And yet, thanks to its cushy suspension and upscale cabin, the RHO is equally appealing to suburbanites who’d rather not admit their vehicle has locking differentials. Which is precisely the point: it bridges the gap between off-road brute and daily driver with less compromise than you’d expect.
What’s the Bigger Picture Here?
NWAPA’s Mudfest isn’t just a playground for gearheads. It’s a barometer for where the outdoor-capable vehicle market is heading. And this year’s results show that versatility is still king—but now, it has to come in plug-in form, or with posh trim.
Hyundai’s wins prove that EVs can play in the dirt. Subaru’s Forester win signals the market still wants value, especially in hybrid form. Jeep’s overlanding ambitions haven’t waned. And Genesis? It’s officially no longer a curiosity—it’s a contender.
But make no mistake: 2025 belongs to Ram. The RHO didn’t just show up. It dominated. And it did so at a time when automakers are scrambling to figure out what adventure looks like in the electric age. Ram’s answer? Sometimes it still looks like a proper truck.
Final Results: Mudfest 2025 Winners
• Two-Row SUV: 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT
• Three-Row SUV: 2025 Jeep Wagoneer Series II Overland
• Luxury SUV: 2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige
• Pickup Truck: 2025 Ram 1500 RHO Crew Cab 4×4
• Electrified Activity Vehicle: 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT
• Extreme Capability Vehicle: 2025 Ram 1500 RHO Crew Cab 4×4
• Best Value: 2025 Subaru Forester Touring Hybrid
• Overall Winner: 2025 Ram 1500 RHO Crew Cab 4×4
Like what you’ve read? Stay in the driver’s seat with more insider automotive insights. Follow @NikJMiles and @TestMiles for stories that go beyond the press release.
