2 star rating from Car and Driver???

[medicdrew]

Bottom line...You love your truck? I love mine. If C&D don't like it oh freakin well.

 

[scanny]

Since 2010 when 5th generation came out - there were numerous reviews which didn't give well deserved highest possible rating to 4Runners. To me it indicates quality of review and reviewers, we know that 4Runner is overall the best vehicle in its class. There's very few vehicles can compete with 4Runner for people who sometimes are going off the pavement and in places where tow trucks refuse to go.

 

[Brickwall's T4R]

This guy is a pretty good reviewer up here in Canuckistan, don't think he's as swayed as the so called auto journalists the two big US magazines employ.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHJkBZcUsD4



He makes good points, I came from a Jeep into the 4runner for a considerably more refined driving experience and I certainly don't think I'll ever explore the limits of the off road technology built into our TRD OR model.



From a personal perspective, I have colleagues with late model wranglers and cherokees with folders full of warranty repairs already, transmission, major electrical, no thanks. I considered the dodge rebel too because it apparently gets similar fuel mileage but again, 8spd transmission issues or complaints are rampant (cruised many of those forums). And I'd be hauling air like most.



No - there's something to Toyota's madness I think with these things, if it ain't broke...( except for the gas mileage these things get ) $1.32 per Litre in Toronto is like $4.32 per gallon figuring in the current exchange... our gas pricing here typically doubles whatever the ratio increase is across the US, all part of living in Canada. Anyway - not ranting, hopefully all the Texas folks come out of that nightmare for the better :thumb3:

He does a pretty legit review, not everyone wants or needs all those fancy options. My Mazda has one of those proximity fobs and I absolutely hate it.


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[randomguy]

I wouldn't touch an FCA product with a 10 foot pole right now due to all the warranty issues they are having.

On the flip side I think the Ford Bronco is going to give the T4R a run for it's money. Ford may not have the off road trimmings available on the T4R, but they'll at least have the quality and updated design. If nothing else a mid sized 4x4 SUV with a 310+ hp Ecoboost 4 banger would be awesome.

 

[slippers]

Well it's like that time a Jeep Cherokee was placed superior to a 4runner in off road capability, despite the fact the Jeep broke and they had to have Jeep engineers come out to retreive it. I have absolutely zero faith in these kinds of written "reviews" which function more like subversive paid advertisements than anything else.

2015 Four Wheeler of The Year - Super Showdown

I take photos for magazines.


Isn't it funny how an issue that highlights a certain make/model will be loaded w ads for said vehicle…


Just how it works.

 

[Quentin]

I can't say I'm too surprised. Think about what truly makes the 4Runner special and what reviewers look for--I don't think there's a lot of overlap beyond "reliable."

As a road-going vehicle, the 4Runner has a host of issues:

• Terrible entertainment/navigation system
• Terrible fuel economy
• Underpowered
• Undesirable driving dynamics (body roll, nose dive, squirrely steering, etc.)
• Not a lot of technology (e.g. blind spot monitoring, active cruise control, etc.)
• Cheap interior for a $40k+ vehicle

As an off-road vehicle, the 4Runner is objectively awesome:

• Very capable off-road
• Great ground clearance
• Rear-differential locker
• Borderline magical MTS/Crawl/A-TRAC system
• Great aftermarket part availability
• Body on frame design

Most publications are going to look at the on-road stuff vs. off-road stuff unfortunately. They're reviewing vehicles for the average consumer and the average consumer does not modify their vehicles, take them off-road, etc..

It doesn't make our 4Runners any less awesome though.

The article showed that the 4Runner performed well (0-60, 1/4 mile), infotainment performance, cargo space, braking, etc though. Read the article and go through each data page. If anything, the old girl punched well above its weight versus vehicles with more gears, more power, and more recent redesigns. Their overall rating doesn't support the metrics in their own test other than maybe interior materials. It basically scored all Bs and Cs but was given a D overall.


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[RUNTHAT]

They clearly didn't test the TRD Pro! #printisdead

 

[johnbt]

"Undesirable driving dynamics (body roll, nose dive, squirrely steering, etc.)"

They must have made some mistakes when they built mine. I don't have any of those problems.

And anyone who complains about the mpg isn't worth listening to because they obviously bought a truck without bothering to read the BIG NUMBERS on the window sticker.

John

 

[mbumpus11]

Since this thread got revived, I re-read the "showdown" article.

I audibly laughed when they said the "faux hood scoop complicated forward visibility." Seriously? I seem to be able to see completely fine with mine...

Anyway, yeah, like everyone else has said that review is a paid review from someone who is not an enthusiast.

 

[aroslv]

Since this thread got revived, I re-read the "showdown" article.

I audibly laughed when they said the "faux hood scoop complicated forward visibility." Seriously? I seem to be able to see completely fine with mine...

Anyway, yeah, like everyone else has said that review is a paid review from someone who is not an enthusiast.

Maybe they meant with the glare? I would tend to agree with that assessment.

 

[Brandon_Reed]

Since this thread got revived, I re-read the "showdown" article.

I audibly laughed when they said the "faux hood scoop complicated forward visibility." Seriously? I seem to be able to see completely fine with mine...

Anyway, yeah, like everyone else has said that review is a paid review from someone who is not an enthusiast.

They might as well say the steering wheel complicated visibility since if you can see over the steering wheel the scoop isn't a problem.