The great thing about the Rocky Mountain Driving Experience is that it gives automotive journalists the chance to drive some of the latest vehicles and compare them all on the same routes. You have a great opportunity to get impressions from other writers and catch up with friends. The 2026 Jeep Gladiator Sport Willys 1941 was a fan favorite, with its open-air roof and retro styling. The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker shows how Subaru will handle EVs, just don’t call it an eOutback. The 2026 Honda Prelude is back to show why some people miss having a multitude of cars to choose from. Members of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press had a full day to test out the cars and SUVs.
The list of vehicles was extensive and included very different experiences. I spent most of my time with the Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge vehicles because those are the ones that I review most frequently. However, there was plenty of time to drive the two 2026 Genesis GV80s, three different 2026 Subarus, 2026 Acura Integra and ADX A-Spec, 2026 Honda Prelude and Honda Pilot Elite, 2027 Kia Telluride and 2026 Lexus ES500e. Due to a last minute snafu with the Lexus, Toyota of Colorado Springs was kind enough to make one available.
Great Occasion to Drive the Latest Vehicles
In my humble opinion, I believe two of the most important vehicles on the drive were the 2026 Jeep Cherokee and the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Both are incredibly integral to the future of Jeep and Stellantis, Jeep’s parent company. Traditionally, the Grand Cherokee is Jeep’s biggest seller and the Grand Cherokee we drove was the decked out, premium Summit L 3-Row. The luxurious cabin made the drive incredibly enjoyable. It is easy to see why families often choose the Grand Cherokee as the family hauler that they keep nearly forever.
Similarly, the new 2026 Jeep Cherokee was fun to drive. The Cherokee name has been huge in the Jeep lineup over the years. This new version is only available with a 1.6L turbo hybrid. It gets a combined 37 mpg and can hold 68 cu.-ft. of cargo. The Cherokee will soon be built in North America to help Jeep avoid tariffs. The Cherokee gives Jeep an affordable entry level SUV to draw buyers into the Jeep family. Designers told me earlier this year that the Cherokee was specifically designed so that there is no learning curve between it and the larger Grand Cherokee. All of the controls are in the same place in each cabin so that the Cherokee driver will always feel comfortable in the larger SUV and vice versa. Drivers won’t have to figure out where the windshield wipers or HVAC controls are in the other vehicle, the SUVs have a similar layout.
The refreshed 2027 Chrysler Pacifica has a more aggressive stance and grille compared to previous models. Chrysler created the minivan market and continues to lead the way with innovation. Chrysler has decided to phase out the Voyager minivan and make it one of the Pacifica trim levels. It is all part of Stellantis’ plan to streamline its offerings and build more value into different vehicles. Chrysler has struggled with only having one vehicle to sell. However, CEO Antonio Filosa is promising to add three new vehicles to the Chrysler lineup.
The 2026 Dodge Charger R/T four-door brings the muscle to the car party. We were driving the 420-horsepower standard output version of the multi-energy vehicle. There is also a more powerful version of the inline-6 . The 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack, powered by the twin-turbocharged SIXPACK high-output (H.O.) engine has 550-horsepower. It does 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. The electric 2026 Charger Daytona Scat Pack model delivers 670 horsepower, reaching 0-60 mph in just 3.3 seconds. Both the EV and the V-6 powered Chargers exist on the same platform. The cars carry a heritage-inspired Dodge muscle exterior, with the widest body of any car in the industry.
RMDE Reactions Were as Varied as the Vehicles
It is funny when you get so many writers and reporters together to hear the different perspectives. Two friends absolutely raved about the six-speed Acura Integra A-Spec. I agree that the transmission was smooth as silk. It would be great fun heading up to the mountains! The Honda Prelude seemed to bring out the nostalgia in everyone. It has a great new design. The Genesis GV80s were popular all day long. The coupe with its 409-horsepower twin turbo V-6 screams luxury. Both handled extremely well. The 2027 Kia Telluride is destined to be another hit. Priced around $40,000, it has a luxurious interior and ten year/100,000 mile warranty that will be hard for the American automakers to compete with.
Come back tomorrow, or check our Torque News Home Page for more interesting automotive news articles.
Images by Rocky Mountain Automotive Press
About the Author
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary at @MaryConwayMedia on X and on Facebook, and send her car news tips for future stories. Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Mary is a member of the Automotive Press Association, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and NATAS.
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