It was a very competitive lineup, but there can only be one overall winner for the NWAPA Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year. The members voted and gave Jeep the honors with the Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary Edition and I agree.
I've always been a fan of the Grand Cherokee since its inception and its capability is unmatched. The latest generation adds greater refinement without sacrificing the Jeep off-road prowess. It's an attractive looking vehicle too. It also won the best family category, too.
The Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring won the best compact category with its nimble, go-kart like driving dynamics on and off-road. It's a joy to take on windy roads leading up to your outdoor activity, yet still able to hold its own off when the road gets rough.
Volvo swept the premium compact and premium categories with the V60 Cross Country and XC60. The cars were fantastic to drive around the go-kart course and held their own on the off-road course, but I was rooting for the LX570, personally.
Jeep took a third win with the Wrangler 75th Anniversary Edition for best extreme capability. There's no surprise there. As much as I love the Range Rover Sport, the Wrangler is just as capable off-road for less than half the price.
Finally, there's the best pickup, which goes to the RAM 1500 Rebel. I absolutely love the RAM Rebel and its sinister blacked-out looks. I almost feel bad for how dirty the RAM 1500 Rebel got, it was covered in mud by the end of the second day, but plenty of smiles were had in it.
