The 2023 Rocky Mountain Driving Experience took our breath away

Every year the region’s automotive journalists meet up with representatives from several manufacturers for an event called the “Rocky Mountain Driving Experience” in Colorado. Put on by the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, of which I am a board member (and very happy to represent KSL), the event is always a highlight for journalists and manufacturers, especially as relationships are created and strengthened. 

After six months of planning, logistical challenges and endless phone calls and emails to manufacturers, the event finally took place June 14-15 with more than 20 cars and 40 journalists in attendance.

The two-day event started early in the morning in Golden, Colorado, right at the base of the imposing Rocky Mountains. From there we made multiple stops along the Peak to Peak Highway where we would swap cars with the other journalists. We eventually found our way over to Lyons for lunch, where we were treated to presentations from Honda and Acura, including the much-hyped Integra Type-S. 

From there it was onward to and through Rocky Mountain National Park, following the Trail Ridge Road, which was absolutely worth the $30 admission cost. If you haven’t driven through this park, put it on your to-do list ASAP. This was my first time driving through, and I’m not kidding when I say my jaw was on my lap the entire time. Our Utah mountains are definitely impressive, but these views were truly spectacular. 

After completing that portion of the drive, we headed to Winter Park Resort for the night. While there, we were treated by Stellantis and Alfa Romeo to a wonderful dinner at Doc’s Roadhouse and a presentation on the new Alfa Romeo Tonale crossover. Day two had us up early for breakfast and presentations from Toyota and Genesis. Then it was on through Guanella Pass and eventually back to our base camp in Golden. 

During those two days, we drove some truly impressive vehicles. My wife (also an automotive journalist) and I remarked several times just how good cars are these days, as there weren’t any that left us totally disappointed. Some of our favorites were the Genesis G90, Toyota GR Corolla, Acura Integra Type-S, Land Rover Range Rover Sport and the Subaru Impreza RS. 

Acura Integra Type-S

This stepbrother to the Honda Civic Type-R has had an incredible amount of buzz surrounding it, and after seeing and driving it, we can see why. This car is astoundingly good. From just a few minutes behind the wheel, we could tell it’s not about a spec sheet, but about fun. From the excellent styling inside and out, to the wonderful shifter and overall daily drivability, we were impressed. See listings

Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce

Alfa’s new crossover, the Tonale, is dead set on increasing sales for the brand. Under the Stellantis umbrella, there is some design and parts sharing, but overall, it’s a riot to drive. This little turbocharged plug-in hybrid really scoots when you get after it, and its refreshingly subcompact size keeps it plenty nimble in the twisties. We’re excited to see what this little green machine does for the brand. See listings

Genesis G90

We’ve already spent a week with the G90, so we won’t say too much here (keep an eye on KSL Cars for the full review), but holy cow. Genesis is on a roll. The G90 shoots for the moon and very nearly gets there. It’s a truly exceptional luxury flagship sedan and was probably the most popular vehicle to drive and ride in over the two days. See listings

GMC Canyon AT4

The new Canyon is just that: all new! Gone is the V6 of the last generation, replaced by a turbocharged 4-cylinder. We expected a bit more oomph out of the engine (and a better engine note would be nice), but overall this is a huge upgrade over the old Canyon in terms of styling and interior trappings. It’s super nice and you can tell GMC really went for it in making the best compact truck they could. See listings

GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition

While we enjoyed the Canyon, the new Sierra AT4X, with all its American Expedition Vehicle upgrades, was more our style. With ample room, a massive V8 and handsome styling — especially with the beefy tires — this is one seriously cool off-road truck. If GMC would only throw a better exhaust on here, it would be near perfect. Seriously, just let that V8 roar! See listings

Hyundai Sante Fe

We’re big fans of what Hyundai’s been doing lately, and you know what? The Sante Fe continues that. Sure, its styling might be a little anonymous, but it’s super comfortable, has a punchy turbocharged engine and is a really nice place to spend time. We can see why these are such hot sellers. See listings

Lexus IS 500

This IS 500 was a huge surprise for us and ended up being one of our favorites. The V8 under the hood — a rarity these days — is downright magical and makes glorious sounds up front and out the rear. The front seats are legitimately some of the best we’ve ever sat in. The dash and infotainment systems are definitely dated, as noted by the still standard CD player and infuriating touchpad, but regardless, this is an excellent sedan to drive. It’s so fun, so comfortable and so sexy, we want one. If only the 500 came in all-wheel drive. See listings

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Stepping into the new Range Rover Sport was truly impressive. You’re immersed in elegant, luxurious, yet understated design. We were blown away by the design and could have spent a half hour just looking over the surfaces and materials used. Then there’s the engine. The turbocharged and supercharged V6 is gloriously quick and produces one of the best sounds we’ve heard in a while. See listings

Subaru Impreza RS

We’ve owned five Subarus and really enjoyed them all. Subaru still retains an element of simplicity in its cars, which we now appreciate more than ever in this age of high-tech vehicles. We didn’t know what to expect from this little Impreza RS, but after just a few minutes behind the wheel, it was clear this is one of the most comfortable, easy-riding and practical cars on the market today. It’s affordable, too, which should only add to its appeal. See listings

Toyota GR Corolla

And lastly, we finally got some time behind the wheel of Toyota’s new hot hatch, the GR Corolla. There has been so much hype surrounding this car, we tried approaching it with an open and clear mind. And you know what? It’s really good! It’s a much more stripped down and raw experience than we were expecting and felt more akin to a WRX hatchback from 12 years ago — which we found very endearing. It’s small and basic, but it’s plenty to have a great time with. As with a few other cars from our two days of driving, we want one. See listings

Thanks to all the manufacturers who helped make this event possible. We wish we were able to get into them all. Some of the others that were in attendance were the Honda Accord Sport Hybrid, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Kia EV6, Kia Telluride SX X-Pro, Land Rover Defender 130, Mazda CX-50, Mercedes-Benz GLE 63 AMG S, Mercedes-Benz EQS 580, Nissan Ariya, Toyota Crown and the Toyota Prius Prime. Looking forward to next year!

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.

About the author: Having owned everything from a DeLorean to an E46 BMW M3 and a Toyota Land Cruiser, Jason Bell is a lifelong car enthusiast who loves sharing his passions as a teacher, automotive journalist and social media manager. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press where he serves on the Board of Directors. Contact him at jasonbellcars@gmail.com