2025 Rocky Mountain Driving Experience

I am part of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP), which consists of a group of journalists in the Rocky Mountain region who like to get together on occasion for group gatherings, but also more important events like the Denver Auto Show and the Rocky Mountain Driving Experience (RMDE) on an annual basis. During these events, we usually network and keep up relations with the manufacturers in order to get the latest and greatest news on upcoming models and get our questions answered about existing ones. As for the driving experience, that’s the crème del la crème of the year’s events as that is when we get to drive some of the models that aren’t in the press fleet yet.

This year, the driving experience was set up near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Littleton, Colorado. The lineup was setup at a hotel parking lot and our whole group of journalists got behind the wheel of 12 different cars over the course of the day in order to test them out and take pictures and videos of them for a grand total of around 30 minutes per car. Since there were more journalists than car, I was only able to get into 10 of them, but I had a blast nonetheless. 

Here is a brief rundown of the cars that I drove.

2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid

One of the representatives from Subaru gave us an informative presentation of the forthcoming 2025 Forester Hybrid, which takes the existing platform and adds an electric motor into the mix. The result is a 40 percent increase in city MPG, reduced emissions, and up to 581 miles of range on a single tank. The hybrid model will start at around $36,000 when it comes out and will top out at around $43,000. It sounds like a steep increase over the non-hybrid Forester, but I found out that the electric assist is worth the extra cash.

On the road, the Forester Hybrid had a quiet and comfortable ride and felt just as spacious as the regular one. The hybrid battery packs don’t impede on the car’s cargo space, so you can expect it to be just as practical. As for the car’s power, the electric motor gave the car a little extra gusto when accelerating, which was much needed considering the gas-only version is rather slow. I would definitely recommend this configuration to anyone in the market for a Subaru Forester.

2025 Acura ADX

The Acura ADX is the brand’s latest entry-level SUV that sits below the RDX. Body wise, it’s essentially the same thing as the Honda HR-V, but is instead powered by a 190-horspeower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s mated to a CVT. All-wheel-drive is available, which makes this little compact SUV very capable. However, when it came to the driving experience, I was a little let down.

I am a huge Honda/Acura fan and love all their products, so I was looking forward to this budget-friendly offering. However, I couldn’t get past the copious amount of road noise and bumpy ride quality that the car exuded over road imperfections. It felt OK on the highway, where things quieted down, but it was still louder than I thought it would be for a luxury crossover. Otherwise, the ADX drove well and had the type of sporty feel you would expect from the brand. Its interior is also very comfortable and well-equipped.

2025 Subaru WRX tS 

Subaru also brought out the WRX tS, which is essentially a WRX that’s been tuned by STI. That includes larger brakes with cross-drilled rotors, 19-inch wheels, and different drive modes to cater the car to your driving needs. As such, the car felt very smooth in comfort mode, much smoother than the ADX (sorry, Acura), but everything tightened up in Sport + mode, making it feel more like a rally car.

Suspension tuning aside, the WRX was one of the most fun cars of the day with its smooth shifting manual transmission and potent turbocharged engine. The car bombed down the curvy roads I drove it on and the Recaro seats held me in tight through every corner. If you live in a snow state like me and are looking for a one-car solution that will make you smile every time you drive it, the Subaru WRX should be a top contender.

2025 Jeep Wagoneer S BEV

The Jeep Wagoneer S may have the same name as its larger counterparts, but that’s where the similarities end. This all-electric Wagoneer has a compact, five-seater configuration with a futuristic style and hints of Jeep’s iconic design. As the brand’s first battery-electric vehicle, the Wagoneer BEV sports a dual-motor setup that sends a whopping 600 horsepower to all four wheels.

And yes, the car’s cabin is well-appointed and comfortable, but the highlight is that powertrain. I couldn’t believe how much power the little SUV put out and I was even able to spin the tires upon heavy acceleration. Sure, that’s what every electric car does, but considering how unassuming the Wagoneer looks, the additional power makes it a true sleeper. If I could afford its $70,000 price tag, I would probably buy one.

2026 Honda Passport Trailsport

Honda updated the two-row Passport for the 2026 model year with a new look, more ground clearance, and an off-road tuned suspension with the Trailsport model. This rugged trim level also comes with a recovery points and steel skid plates for more off-road cred. But of course, I didn’t get to test out any of that during the drive.

Instead, I noticed that the Passport’s 285-horsepower V6 had plenty of power when driving it through the turns and when getting to highway speeds. The car’s ride was comfortable and its cabin was quiet at every speed. Honda also did a great job redesigning the interior as it now looks more fitting for the car and is comfortable to boot.

2026 Genesis GV70

I have driven a couple Genesis GV70 models in the past, so I was already familiar with the car’s twin-turbocharged V6. Genesis does a great job of injecting the type of sportiness that driving enthusiasts crave in the form of a strong engine and responsive, adaptive suspension. For 2026, the GV70 was given a new 27-inch widescreen that stretches across the dashboard, new climate controls, and a few exterior tweaks.

That said, my impressions of the revised GV70 were more about its cosmetics, and I much enjoyed the car’s upscale blue interior with orange accents. Special shout out to Genesis for the orange seatbelts, which added to the sporty theme.

2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

The Volkswagen Tiguan is all-new for the 2025 model year. It rides on a new platform, has a more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, and underwent a few interior and exterior changes. All these updates were apparent when I drove the new Tiguan as it looked sharper, rode quieter than before, felt more powerful, and seemed even a little more spacious than past iterations.

There was plenty of low-end torque from the engine and I will say that it did feel refreshed all around. So much so, that I had to look at the rear badge to make sure that it was a Tiguan and not some new model I didn’t know about. Good job, Volkswagen.

2025 McLaren Artura

I mean, what I can I really say about the McLaren that you likely wouldn’t assume? It’s sexy, it’s fast, and it costs more than I will ever feel comfortable spending on a car, unless I was a multi-millionaire. Even then, the car costs $360,000, but I’m sure the maintenance costs are just as lofty. Anyway, the Artura was everyone’s favorite car of the day and I’m happy I got to spend about 20 minutes in it.

There’s a ton of power in the low end and it felt like a race car even just sitting in the thing. The dihedral doors looked like something out of a sci-fi movie and they made it a little cumbersome getting in and out of the thing. Regardless, driving the McLaren was a dream come true. Also, it was surprisingly quieter going over the same bumpy roads as the ADX (Sorry, Acura).

Dodge Charger EV

I mostly sat in the back of the Dodge Charger EV while other journalists drove and I’m happy to report that it’s very spacious back there. I think there were a couple charge ports and vents, so I would recommend it for a long trip. Otherwise, driving the Charger EV was interesting experience.

Since it’s all-electric, it’s super quick, but the fake V8 start-up sounds and rumbling just don’t sound right, in my opinion. I ended up enjoying the car more without the engine sounds because it felt more fitting with its EV nature.

2025 Kia Sorento

Kia brought out the 2025 Sorento, which hasn’t undergone too many changes for the new model year. It was still a smooth drive, nonetheless and its 281-horsepower, turbocharged engine made it feel peppy off the line.

I would highly recommend it for anyone with a family in search of a capable and comfortable SUV.