Up next Multipurpose Knives Published on July 20, 2020 Author Mercedes Lilienthal Tags 2019 Honda Passport Elite SUV, 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV, 2020 Kia Telluride SX SUV, all wheel drive, AWD, Cullinan, Mercedes Lilienthal, Passport Elite, SUV, technology, Telluride SX, Share article Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Mail 0 3 AWD SUVs Delivering Technology Getting Behind the Wheels of 3 AWDs That Deliver New Technology to the SUV Segment The Texas Motor Press Association held its first Texas Off-Road Invitational event at General Sam’s Offroad Park in Huntsville, Texas. Several auto manufacturers brought their newest all-wheel-drive (AWD) and four-wheel-drive vehicles for nearly three dozen automotive journalists to test off-road in order to receive the newly coveted “Off-Road Truck of the Year” or “Off-Road SUV of the Year” awards, which are presented by the press association. Numerous AWDs were featured. From five- to eight-passenger SUVs, entry-level runabouts to extraordinary top-of-the-line luxury models, a plethora of adventuremobiles were driven. Three off-tarmac AWDs in particular caught our eye when testing capability, technology, and off-pavement prowess. 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Fuel economy: 12 city, 20 highway, and 14 combined MSRP: $406,225. Thoughts: Now this isn’t something you see (or drive) every day. The new Cullinan is Rolls-Royce’s first SUV. This fullsize luxury vehicle undoubtedly turned heads. Most will never drive a Rolls-Royce, let alone, drive it off-road. Driving Impressions: This 563hp 6.75L V-12, twin-turbo equipped SUV was dreamy. Akin to driving around a lavish living room, but one that could tackle hard-packed dirt, muddy lakes, and ruts. Tech Highlights: Its self-leveling air suspension and electronically controlled front and rear dampers gave me a cushy, relaxed, and smooth ride and provided quite the juxtaposition: having the utmost refinement and extravagance while putting it through its off-road paces during a raging thunderstorm. 2019 Honda Passport Elite SUV Fuel economy: 19 city, 24 highway, and 21 combined MSRP: $44,725 Thoughts: The Honda Passport is back in an impressive way, but different than earlier iterations. This midsize five-passenger SUV is quite capable of handling dirt, sand, and mud-filled waters. “The Honda Passport is [a] great all-around town car with the capabilities to get off the beaten path … it’d be a great tool for the urban dweller to get outside,” states Jeremy Birenbaum, another attending automotive journalist. Driving Impressions: The 280hp 3.5L VTEC V-6 engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission, and it seamlessly shifted during changes in terrain and angle. The Passport’s suspension easily ate up bumps and divots: it was a comfortable ride, even when on three wheels. Tech Highlights: The Passport Elite offered up a spacious interior and safety features like collision mitigation braking, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, and road departure mitigation. Additionally, interior technology niceties make this a comfortable cruiser for light-duty off-tarmac adventures. 2020 Kia Telluride SX SUV Fuel economy: 19 city, 24 highway, and 21 combined MSRP: $46,860 Thoughts: “The Kia Telluride is every bit as capable as the commercials portray. It conquered the trails with ease and provided a comfortable and stylish ride for drivers and occupants,” says Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, vice president of the Texas Motor Press Association. Add this to other accolades it’s received; potential customers need to take note. Its features, agility, and driving characteristics—on and off road—continue to impress. It’ll never be a Jeep Wrangler or a Toyota 4Runner, but it’s not meant to be. However, it’s a great platform for owners to build on or leave stock as a great adventure rig to get to trailheads or remote areas. Driving Impressions: The 291hp 3.8L V-6 powered SUV has 8 inches of ground clearance, multiple driving modes, and a center lock mode for off-pavement playfulness (keeping AWD distribution at 50/50). It easily chomps up dirt, sand, and mud. The only Texas upgrade was 18-inch stock Kia Sorento wheels, with Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires (versus stock 20-inch rims and touring rubber). Tech Highlights: The Telluride SX has safety features normally found in more expensive rigs, and great technology—it’s the best bang for the buck. Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the September/October 2019 print issue of Tread Magazine.
Buyer's Guide Camp Gear Natasha Adams: Pioneering Female Off-Road Racer's Unique Lexus LS400 Build Pioneering Female Off-Road Racing If you go searching on off-road forums for articles about how to build a lifted Lexus sedan, you likely won’t find […] Anya Murphy October 17, 2023
Features Outdoor Land Rover Discovery Vertical Impression An Overland Discovery Comparison The Land Rover Discovery is an iconic vehicle in its own right, but it has always been overshadowed by its fancy […] Bryon Dorr May 15, 2020
Camping Features Overland Eats Gathers the Overland Community With Grub Hunting for a Tasty Meal After a long day on the road traveling, nothing is better than a good meal. And what makes that good […] Tread Staff November 27, 2020
Features Off-Road A 2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 Built for Every Adventure! A 2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 built to rock crawl, overland, speed through the desert, and commute to work. It’s a crawler, it’s a prerunner, it’s…an […] Mark Porudominsky November 05, 2024