5th gen, Consumers Report

[03_4x4Runner]

I know a lot of people do not put much faith in Consumers Reports but they gave the 5th gen a not recommended rating. The 4th gen was always rated best in midsize suvs. I have to agree with them, they took out to many features of the 5th gen to keep cost down and handling, niose etc are not competitive. They tested it with the new Jeep Grand Cherokee but it is not recommended either.

 

[philsey]

That group of Sissy Marys like cars such as the Prius and the Leaf.

 

[sandcrawler]

yeah, CR won't recommend the iPhone 4 either because hoo-boy that thing is a piece of crap.

 

[Titanpat57]

yeah, CR won't recommend the iPhone 4 either because hoo-boy that thing is a piece of crap.

My brother in law thinks the sun rises and sets over that POS magizine.....I never saw a bunch of slanted, numb skulled idiots assembled in one publication in my life.

I wouldn't believe anything it says:gun5:

 

[Riser]

I know a lot of people do not put much faith in Consumers Reports but they gave the 5th gen a not recommended rating. The 4th gen was always rated best in midsize suvs. I have to agree with them, they took out to many features of the 5th gen to keep cost down and handling, niose etc are not competitive. They tested it with the new Jeep Grand Cherokee but it is not recommended either.

Yea but the 4 th gen doesn't look nearly as good. I will keep my noisy, CR hated 5th gen

 

[TOYSTRY]

I personally don't care what these companies have to say........if you like it, that's all that should matter.

There is always something that each one of us doesn't like, we don't need a magazine to tell us it however. :uzi::banana:

 

[Glenn_Law]

The CR report compared it to crossover utility vehicles ("station wagons") and concluded that soccer moms would get a smoother ride in a station wagon.

 

[luv2eat]

Every generation of the T4R never caught my eye, up until the 5th gen showed up. I thoroughly researched it, test drove it, and fell for it. I've owned a fair share of cars in my life, both luxurious types and sporty little things. IMHO, it is the best SUV in it's class if anyone is looking for a very capable UTILITY sUv; nuff said!

 

[glocke12]

They are partly right (dont hate on me until you read my post!)

I have a black 5th gen TE and love it. I love the 5th gen looks, and also think it rides fairly well on pavement, but after coming over from a 4th gen (2003 sport), I do have to sort agree with CR. FWIW I sort of think the 5th gen has taken 3 steps forward and 2 steps back.

I think that in terms of overall cosmetic design, suspension system, and off road capabilities its a real improvement over the 4th gen, but there are just too many things that were taken away (presumably as a cost saving measure) that leave me scratching my head.

For starters:

1) No roof dome light in cargo area. I knew there are lights in the hatch door, but these are pretty useless if you have a kayak on your roof and a bunch of gear in the cargo area. You cant open the door due to the kayak, and you cant reach the hatch door lights with gear in the cargo area.

2) They took away the hatch covers for the wheel well storage. Without covers the wheel well storage areas are pretty useless. Ive tried keeping a few things in this area and they just end up all over the place.

3) Seems like overall the metal is alot thinner in some areas.

4) Noisier ride. It is noticeably noisier. Not so much that it is bothersome, but enough that Im thinking of ways to soundproof it.

5) Taking away the ability to roll down the rear hatch window by remote. Seems like you can control ALL other windows by remote (even the sunroof), but not the rear hatch window. This was probably one of the most useful features on the 4th gen, and I dont understand why they took it away and I also dont understand why one would want to control the sunroof and drivers/passenger windows by remote.

These changes (especially 1, 2 and 5) really make no sense to me...


There are a few more things, but the rest is just nitpicking and are things that I miss from the 4th gen (ok, lighted cupholders!!).

Overall, I really dig the 5th gen, but it seems like the design team was smoking something to have left out all these useful features.

 

[Quentin]

With the influx of car based SUVs, any SUV biased toward off-road won't get a recommended stamp from CR. The things they slight the 4Runner for are all things that CUVs excel.

It is like asking my wife which mountain bike I should buy. Her Trek recreational bike rides smoother and I do a heck of a lot less maintenance on it. It is clearly the best, right? That doesn't mean she has a frame of reference for what makes a good mountain bike.

Should I start the timer for the next crying 4th gen owner to come make a thread about how much the 5th gen sucks? Figure around Thanksgiving we'll see another one?

 

[scanny]

Well, all depend on what reviewer is looking for in a vehicle. In day-to-day city driving car based SUV is better for average person. Ride is smoother, fuel economy is better, they often has more space inside and they easier to climb in. I think next year Ford Explorer will be on the first place in ratings of all midsize SUVs - it doesn't have frame now and full of gadgets.
But I'm just hope Toyota still produces 4Runner in 6-8 years from now and it'll be still capable truck based 4x4.

 

[Mtn.Rush]

I think CR should stick to reviewing toasters, microwaves, T.V.'s and refrigerators. And I agree, I have had the I-phone since it first came out...what a piece of crap.:nono:

 

[prestone818]

funny, the sales manager was using the consumer report for toyota to sell the 5th gen to me. i should go back and mess with him

all in all i dont care. they have some good points and i am not 100% satisfied with the 4r, but I am 98% and thats close enough for me. i bought this vehicle for driving into the mountains on and off road and icy/snowy conditions. thus far it has been everything i wanted it to be.