Mudfest History

The heavy hitting 4×4 SUV market isn’t as significant as it was during the early years of the Mudfest event. However, the sport utility vehicle and crossover market is nonetheless a weighty portion of American automotive sales.

Around late March each year, NWAPA members gather for two days in a remote and muddy location to test—both on and off road—the driving prowess of the industry’s latest SUV and CUV creations.

At the end of the event, members tally up their scorecards and, based upon any number of criteria, crown one vehicle Sport Utility Vehicle of the year.
To see this and previous years winners, look to the links below.

• Mudfest 2011: To be held March 30-31 in Snoqualmie, Washington
• View the Mudfest 2010 Press Release (Must have Adobe Reader to view)
• View the Mudfest 2008 Press Release (Must have Adobe Reader to view)
• View the Mudfest 2007 Press Release (Must have Adobe Reader to view)
• View the Mudfest 2006 Press Release (Must have Adobe Reader to view)
• View the Mudfest 2005 Press Release (Must have Adobe Reader to view)
• View the Mudfest 2003 Movie Here! (WARNING: 10MB FILE — Must have QuickTime to view)

• 2010 Mudfest Winners
• 2008 Mudfest Winners
• 2007 Mudfest Winners
• 2006 Mudfest Winners
• 2005 Mudfest Winners
• 2004 Mudfest Winners
• 2003 Mudfest Winners
• 2002 Mudfest Winners
• 2001 Mudfest Winners
• 2000 Mudfest Winners
• 1999 Mudfest Winners
• 1998 Mudfest Winners
• 1997 Mudfest Winners

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Mudfest 2010 Winners

• SUV of the Year
  • 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged
• Best Affordable SUV
  • 2011 Subaru Outback
• Best Family SUV
  • 2010 Acura MDX
• Best Luxury SUV
  • 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged
• Best Off-Road SUV
  • 2011 Land Rover LR4

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Mudfest 2008 Winners

• Best Value SUV
  • Subaru Forester
• Best Family SUV
  • Dodge Durango
• Best Luxury SUV
  • Mercedes Benz ML320 BlueTEC
• Best Green SUV
  • Ford Escape Hybrid
• Best Off-Road SUV
  • Land Rover Range Rover Sport
• SUV of the Year
  • Land Rover Range Rover Sport

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Mudfest 2007 Winners

• Under $25,000
  • Jeep Liberty
• $25,000 – $34,999
  • Nissan Xterra
• $35,000 – $45,000
  • Volvo XC70
• Over $45,000
  • Volvo XC90
• Best Value
  • Hyundai Veracruz
• Best Off-Road
  • Land Rover Range Rover Sport
• SUV of the Year
  • Volvo XC70

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Mudfest 2006 Winners

• Under $25,000
  • Honda CR-V
• $25,000 – $34,999
  • FJ Cruiser
• $35,000 – $45,000
  • Volvo XC70
• Over $45,000
  • Volvo XC90
• Best Value
  • Nissan Xterra
• Best Off-Road
  • Land Rover LR3
• SUV of the Year
  • Toyota FJ Cruiser

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Mudfest 2005 Winners

• Best Of Class
  • Kia Sportage
• Best Of Class
  • Nissan Xterra
• Best Of Class
  • Volvo XC70
• Best Of Class
  • Land Rover Range Rover
• Best Value
  • Nissan Xterra
• Best Off-Road
  • Land Rover Range Rover
• SUV of the Year
  • Nissan Xterra

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Mudfest 2004 Winners

• Best Of Class
  • Subaru Outback
• Best Of Class
  • Hyundai Tucson
• Best Of Class
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Best Value
  • Kia Sorento
• Best Of Class
  • Volvo XC90
• SUV of the Year
  • Volvo XC90

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Mudfest 2003 Winners

• Under $30,000
  • Subaru Forester
• $30,001 to $40,000
  • Toyota 4Runner
• $40,001 to $45,000
  • Volvo XC90
• $45,001 and above
  • Porsche Cayenne
• Best SUV Value
  • Hyundai Santa Fe
• SUV of the Year
  • Volvo XC90

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Mudfest 2002 Winners

• Under $25,000
  • Kia Sorento
• $25,000-34,999
  • Toyota 4Runner
• $35,000-49,999
  • Volvo XC90
• $45,000 and Over
  • Range Rover HSE
• Best Overall SUV Value
  • Kia Sorento
• SUV Of The Year
  • Volvo XC90

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Mudfest 2001 Winners

• Economy
  • Jeep Liberty
• Mid-size
  • GMC Envoy
• Full-size
  • Chevrolet Avalanche
• Luxury
  • BMW X5
• SUV of the Year
  • BMW X5

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Mudfest 2000 Winners

• Compact
  • Ford Escape
• Mid-size
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee (Defending champion in this category)
• Full-size
  • Chevy Tahoe
• Luxury
  • BMW – X5
• SUV of the Year
  • BMW X5

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Mudfest 1999 Winners

• Under $25,000
  • Nissan Xterra
• $25,000-32,999
  • Subaru Outback Wagon
• $33,000-39,999
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee
• $40,000 and Over
  • Mercedes-Benz ML55
• Overall Winner
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee

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Mudfest 1998 Winners

• SUV of the Year
  • Lexus RX 300
• Best in Class 4 cylinder
  • Subaru Legacy Outback Limited
• Best in Class 6 cylinder
  • Lexus RX 300
• Best in Class 8 cylinder
  • Mercedes-Benz ML430

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Mudfest 1997 Winners

• SUV of the Year
  • Mercedes-Benz ML320
• Best in Class 4 cylinder
  • Subaru Legacy Outback Limited
• Best in Class 6 cylinder
  • Mercedes-Benz ML320
• Best in Class 8 cylinder
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited
  • Lincoln Navigator (tie)