4runner gets poor reviews

As others have mentioned the low ratings are due to what they are measuring for. Most people, even 4runner owners, will never leave pavement. Of the tiny % that do only a fraction will come close to using the 4runner to its potential ( I do not fall into that fraction!).

I call the 4runner a truck because it shares a platform with a pick up truck and is still body on frame, low range etc. and it will drive/handle/perform as such. Most of the comparisons made are valid and I test drove a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the V8 and all the bells and whistles.....a slick machine, that I would not trust to do even the limited offloading that I have without body damage. However it did have plenty of power, creature comforts and handled much nicer then the 4runner.

I have zero issues or disagreements to those who buy 4runners and don't utilize them (not just off road, but for fishing gear blah blah blah). In fact I am thankful because without them there would be no positive economic model for Toyota to build a 4runner. However I would never buy a 4runner if I didn't plan to take it off road/beat on it/haul stuff in the back etc. If driving form point A to B in style and comfort was my goal I would driving something else.
 
Lots of reviewers - not all - only write in the here and now, and their week-long drive in the 4R may be the first time ever inside one of these "things." Thus, many are without context, background, and almost always without the long and rich historical insight many of us have come to know through boards like this, leaving only the obvious mushy brake pedal, lack of mid range grunt and spartan amenities to complain about. Of course, reliability and capability are a big reason many of us bought one, but few reviewers venture that far in their research. For most auto writers — there is no such thing as an auto journalist — the toughest challenge they will put the 4R through is a gravel road.
But, trust me, there are good ones out there, ones that have written fair and positive things about these trucks.
 
It seems like reviewers are harsher in their reviews of vehicles that are a few years into their body style/generation etc. When I was looking for a vehicle last January, i was also looking at light trucks. The Colorado was the darling of all the reviewers while the Tacoma was seen as this old outdated antique. Also, reviewers seem to weigh technology much heavier than I think the average car buyer would consider it in their decision. JMO.
 
Brand new models do tend to get looked on favourably, and the Colorado is a good example. I was completely out of sync with every other person who tested it.

I would even venture vehicles built by the Big Three sometimes get less criticism by USA writers, though don't ask me to back that up.
 
Jeep Wrangler owners have a saying "Its a Jeep thing". You either get it or you do not. The 4runner is the same way. Us loyalist love them. It is a vehicle that can be easily modified. When is the last time you saw a lifted Highlander with off road tires. Although most will never go off road I guess it makes people feel good knowing they could if they wanted to. In my opinion if you never need low range or do not even know what it is really for then a 4runner is the wrong choice for you. These dinosaurs will never be as smooth, quiet or get as good mpg as a crossover. I am surprised my wife let me get anther one since it is our only vehicle. When I had my 11 Avalon and my 03 4runner my wife always commented that the Avalon is easier and more realizing to drive. That said it did not get many miles because we always needed the 4runner. There are so many scenic trail and fire roads out west that a car is almost useless to me. I also need a vehicle to pull my atv's on the trailer.
 
Let me explain a bit about myself.
There are groups of people out there that I disagree with on different topics. If they dislike something, chances are I will like that something. Be it politics, products, religion or accountability if a specific group gives an opinion on something there's a good chance my opinion will be opposite of them lol. Most professional car reviewers have an opinion and 90% of the time I am opposite of them. The exception to everything is when a true expert gives an opinion. For example if Ivan Stewart gave a review on the 4Runner or Lewis Hamilton reviewed american musclecars I would pay attention!
 
4Runner's being compared to an Explorer, Grand Cherokee and even Pathfinder at this point is absurd. It's a TRUCK. SUV/Crossovers are big cars a 1/2 a step away from being a Minivan.

4Runner's do what they do and they do it well. I've owned three and I don't see myself ever not owning one during the rest of my life time.
 
1engineer said:
For example if Ivan Stewart gave a review on the 4Runner or Lewis Hamilton reviewed american musclecars I would pay attention!
Click to expand...

Ivan Stewart on a 4R maybe, but Hamilton on a muscle car? Uhm, no; maybe Floyd Garrett or Colin Comer or, heck, even Jay Leno. Hamilton on F1 - maybe.
 
Old school tried and true & not too fancy. That's why I bought one after seriously considering a Jeep GC. Don't ever do any off roading other than the occasional hunting trip and visiting construction jobsites for work.
 
When I was looking at FJ's in 2008-09, my Dad sent me a dismal consumer reports review that stated something like "a poor 23mpg hwy" in the same magazine the Highlander was praised as a "top pick with a respectable 24mpg hwy"
 
Well that's just awful. Some car magazine dips#$t gave the 4 Runner a bad review.

My wife named her 4 Runner - Kahleesi.

When she gets home tonight, I'm going to go outside and give Kahleesi a big hug and a kiss and tell her everything is going to be OK.
 
1000MPH said:
When I was looking at FJ's in 2008-09, my Dad sent me a dismal consumer reports review that stated something like "a poor 23mpg hwy" in the same magazine the Highlander was praised as a "top pick with a respectable 24mpg hwy"
Click to expand...

"A gun is like a woman, son, it's all how you hold her."
 
Engineer said:
If driving form point A to B in style and comfort was my goal I would driving something else.
Click to expand...

Maybe because I've never driven a Jaguar or Lamborghini, I don't get this comment. I have had NUMEROUS comments on how great my T4R looks AND how quiet and comfortable it rides. Really not sure how I'd beat it without spending another $20-$40k...and the last "truck" I owned/drove was a Nissan Frontier Crew Cab in 2002-3. Grand Prix, Mustang, Mustang, 370Z since...this T4R is quieter and more comfortable than all of them were!
 
A few car reviewers loved the 2013 Ford Edge, talked about how much power, great handling, all for a good price, blah blah.

I owned one and that thing was mediocre at best.

- It handled not noticeably better nor worse than my 4r;
- power only when it did not have the worse throttle delay of any car I ever drove, which made it outright dangerous in some situations, but the power difference is not noticeable, I still am up to interstate speed easily in the 4r;
- the headlights were poor to the point I was going to install some additional lighting until I wised up and got rid of it for the 4r;
- it was in the shop three times for two recalls and one very annoying heat shield rattle, all in a 10,000 mile two year period;
- the road noise was much louder in the edge than in the 4r, the 4r was a relief to the ears.
- back to handling, though jsut fine, it sometimes had this annoying "pull" feeling or something when hitting the gas, like it wanted to pull the steering wheel. Someone said all front wheel drives do this, but I have owned a few and none of them have ever done this.

Point is that this Ford Edge had all kinds of great reviews, even one magazine (not a car one, US News I think) even said it was their car of the year for its class. So I am failing to understand how the hell praise can be made for that thing, just so much criticism for an obviously better all around 4r.
 
New guy to this forum and the T4R. My wife needed a new vehicle after driving her 01 Yukon for almost 15 years. She liked the looks and the way it fit her. I loved the fact that it is a tried and tested engine/drivetrain, body on frame truck with the toyota badge on it. Sure, we drove many vehicles that have less road noise, more bells and whistles etc., but I keep my vehicles for the long haul.

To meet in the middle we bought a 15 limited loaded out. She likes the looks, feel and bells/whistles and I like the fact that it is one of the last remaining truck platform SUV's in this category. Yes I did my research, but I bought it for our needs, not some person who gets paid for an opinion/marketing.

Thanks to all for what I have learned on this board.
 
Lester Lugnut said:
Well that's just awful. Some car magazine dips#$t gave the 4 Runner a bad review.

My wife named her 4 Runner - Kahleesi.

When she gets home tonight, I'm going to go outside and give Kahleesi a big hug and a kiss and tell her everything is going to be OK.
Click to expand...

It's ok Kahleesi, WE still love you.
 
Growing up I subscribed to Car & Driver and Motor Trend and looked forward to receiving every issue in the mail.

Now, I can't remember the last time I looked at one of those magazines.

With the availability of a multitude of amateur and semi-pro review videos on YouTube (and I usually mute the awkward voice-over and focus on the video) and realizing that the only opinion that actually counts is mine, I don't have a need to read re-hashed press releases and manufacturers' photos.
 
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