4Runner Rated Last Place???

[peter78]

Well, I got my December Consumer Reports and saw that they rated the new 4Runner. Let me first say, I really like Consumer Reports, so I looked forward toward their review. They looked at two SUV's the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Toyota 4Runner.

I had read here that they liked the Jeep better, but I was shocked by the rating of the 4Runner. Out of 14 mid-sized SUV's, the 4Runner was rated last.

Here is the ratings of mid sized SUV's.:ak472:

1. Kia Sorento EX score 82
2. Toyota Highlander Limited score 81
3. Hyundia Santa Fe score 80
4. Chevroet Traverse score 80
5. Nissan Murano SL score 78
6. Ford Flex score 77
7. Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring score 76
8. Hyundai Veracruz SE score 75
9, Honda Pilot EX-L score 74
10. Subaru Tribeca score 70
11. Mitsubishi Endeavor sorce 66
12. Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo score 66
13. Nissan Pathfindr LE score 65
14. Toyota 4Runner score 55

Why some vehicles aren't recommended

We have insuffcient reliability data for the Mitsubishi Endeavor. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is too new for us to have data. The Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota 4Runner scored too low in our testing.


---------------------------------------------


Well, needless to I was quite shocked.

 

[doberman_baby]

what are CR comparing, apples vs oranges?

CR is comparing apples with oranges. Both the T4R and the Pathfinder on the list are body-on-frame trucks, while the rest are all unibody. That's a HUGE difference.:uzi:

 

[4RFan]

From the Rubicon to the Baja 1000 - and anywhere in between - 4Runner FTW!!!!

For the average family/soccer mom or dad looking for a 'cooler' looking minivan, some of those other choices might be better. But for those of us who want a truly capable, body-on-frame suv, that can go anywhere and provide true utility with bullet-proof reliability that will last for ever - then the choice is simple - the 4Runner wins.

Long live the true suv and my favorite ever - the Toyota 4Runner!

 

[nah2323]

Absolutely. If CR looked at long term reliability, rigidity, and resale, T4R would smoke all of those clowns. Very few SUVs are actually SUVs, Unibody = SAV.

And notice how the highlander was second. Since that's a unibody, it's more applicable to the rest of the test field.

BTW, 4Runner owners are their own breed. We want tough, slightly stiff ride.

 

[sandcrawler]

not shocking. the only three of those vehicles remotely suited to venturing off the pavement are rated dead last. of those, the IFS/IRS JGC and Pathfinder are of course rated higher.

CR just isn't sharp enough to understand that crossovers (whose car-like manners better satisfy the CR testing/rating metrics) have splintered the midsize category... they're testing decidedly dissimilar vehicles as if they were parity choices. for an organization that represents itself as experts, that's shocking.

 

[glocke12]

When I was car shopping a few months back I looked at the following:

Honda Pilot
Ford Escape
Nissan Mirano
Hyundai Sant Fe

Not a single one of them appealed to me, and they all felt like I was driving a car. I wanted an SUV that was more truck like and also wanted something that felt like it would do better offroad than any of those, thats why I went with the 4runner.

The others are basically soccer mom mobiles...

 

[SeattleMike]

Consumer Reports does well when testing things that have simple functions... hair dryers, blenders, etc. They fail at anything that requires a subjective standard because they don't account for their own bias. When the standards are objective (blows hot air, crushes ice) they are reliable and informative. But as this list shows, they are failing at the more subjective comparisons.

For example, the Ford Flex: it's a tall station wagon, not a Sport/Utility Vehicle, with roughly the same ground clearance as a PT Cruiser. Yet, it scores higher than the Laredo. Either CR thinks "Station Wagon = SUV" or they are purposefully trying to redefine what SUV means, pushing harder and harder to marginalize vehicles with a bias towards off-road capabilities.

Leaving the implications of their ideology aside for a moment, their ability to really sway public perception is limited in the age of the internet and instant access to data and comparisons. Few people under 40 bother reading their reviews because Google/Bing/Yahoo searches spit back far more hits from a forum like this than anything Consumer Reports publishes. People who are interested in going off-road are not going to be fooled into buying a Ford Flex, Mazda CX-9, or Honda Pilot.

 

[TTown]

Only 3 vehicles on e list I would consider: the 4Runner, highlander and Pilot.

Like glocke12 said I am not interested in the minivan/wagon concept and love my 4Runner even though I don't plan on using it for off roading.

 

[Uneek]

Most likely comfort and fuel economy was taken into consideration heavily. Body on frame SUVs almost have no place to stand when it comes to comparisons.

Off-road ability doesn't mean anything in the ratings and probably not even looked at.

For the same reason why the Ridgeline in some comparison was ranked #1. That thing isn't even a real truck.

I bet if you take a minivan, remove the sliding doors off and put swing doors, most of these magazines will put them in the SUV category for testing/evaluation purposes.

 

[TreeFarmer]

Consumer Reports is worthless. I vowed to never hear comments from Consumer reports after reading the chainsaw review.
Stihl was ranked near the bottom while hobby/toy saws ranked near the top.
If I remember correctly Poulan was rated above Husky and Stihl. Exactly the same thing as a Kia above the T4R.
Worthless

 

[Maritimer]

The Nissan Murano looks like a car FFS! :nono:

 

[03_4x4Runner]

The sad part is the 4th gen was consumers reports top rated midsize suv that is off road capable. Remember when the 5th gen came out Toyota said they were going back to there roots? I guess they took it to far. I hate to see how the 6th gen runs and looks. I really wanted to buy a 5th gen but after driving 2 of them I am looking elsewhere. I pretty much agree with what consumers report said. I am going to keep my 4th gen till it falls apart.

 

[westwind77]

The sad part is the 4th gen was consumers reports top rated midsize suv that is off road capable.

Obviously if you saw the other 'cars/crossovers' that it was compared to this was NOT about being 'off-road capable'.....if it was it would have been between the 4R and the JGC to be #1 as the rest would have gotten stuck soon after turning off the pavement. You (and they) are comparing apples and oranges, does not work very well. Even you have to admit if this was a off road capable test, as it was for the 4th that you pointed out, the results would be 100% different.

 

[peter78]

The woman who gave the video review of the 4Runner on CR is really annoying, maybe it's the [mono]tone of her voice or the fact that it seems like her voice is about to give out...

Consumer Reports Video Hub - Cars - SUVs & Minivans - Toyota 4Runner Review

 

[Quentin]

Sledgehammers aren't good for framing. When you are breaking rocks, you don't want the framing hammer, though. CR was testing framing hammers. We drive sledgehammers.

 

[digitaleyez]

Consumer Reports Video Hub - Cars - SUVs & Minivans - Toyota 4Runner Review

OMG... i watched this review last month and was going crazy... The reviewer nitpicks about every little thing. I agree with the rest, most of these reviewers will give car-based SUV's higher ratings due to its fuel efficiency and a more comfortable ride. All of which the 4runner isn't, which is why I bought it. If I wanted a fuel efficient and smooth ride, I would have bought another "car".

 

[KB084RUNNER]

CR= idiots. The fact that unibody SUV's are compared to body on frame means Bambi Jetson who majored in Communications/Public Relations at Babson College did the study. :girl:

 

[ct221933]

Any reviews out there that rated 5th gen T4R high?

 

[4runit]

I wouldn't even think twice about consumer reports review, look at their video review...this lady doesn't know anything. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj3jNdDIGeA]YouTube - Toyota 4Runner Review[/ame]

 

[MrGrimm]

Any reviews out there that rated 5th gen T4R high?

2010 4Wheeler of the Year