So, back to the article... there are 2 parts to it: the text, and the charts. I think the testing they did to build the charts is probably close to accurate. But the text is typical of writers who are on a message directed to them from above by their bosses for whatever reason. I saw this same thing when we went shopping for a new car for my wife. We liked the Honda Crosstour, but man, were the reviews horrible. Funny thing, if we read the articles of long-term testing, the testers loved the car. But the original articles trashed it. Anyway, we got one and after 3 years couldn't be happier with it. A great vehicle, but the bad publicity (mostly about the rear end) killed it. But in this article, the testing doesn't match the text. As has been said here already, the 4Runner is high in most of the categories tested, so it comes out very well overall. I think there's some political shading going on here, honestly. The 4Runner goes against the current glitzy trends, and we can't have that, now can we?
I just traded in my 2004 4Runner Limited. I was sorry to see it go, but with about 150K miles on it, it was at the point where I could see some investments coming up to keep it going - new battery (still had the original), leaky radiator, brakes, tires, not big things, really. But in total, they added up.
But there were 2 main reasons why I got my 2017 4Runner Limited - cargo carrying capacity, including a roof rack that could hold more than crossovers can, and reliability. My 2004 didn't owe me a penny. What a great truck. So I expect to see the same thing with my new one.
Our Crosstour has most of the new tech on it, like lane departure warning. And honestly, we turn things like that off as much as we can. I don't need the car beeping at me to stay in my lane. As for the 4Runner, it doesn't have a blind spot monitoring camera. So, learn how to adjust your mirrors correctly, and you have that. It doesn't have LED headlights. We have a 2017 RDX in the family, and it does, and I don't see any advantage with them. The 4Runner doesn't have adaptive cruise control. So learn to stay awake and aware when you're driving and you won't need it. And the list goes on with new tech items. How many of those things do you really need?
I've had my new Limited for a whole week now, and I still love it...

ound: I make up reasons to go drive it. It is more than I expected. I don't really intend to take it offroad much, and then only light duty stuff, trails and beaches and so on. So reading articles like this one pains me because the "dinosaur" perspective they take misses the point entirely. I really believe that there is no other truck at this or any close price point which does everything as well as the 4Runner does. That doesn't mean it's for everyone. But it's not the antiquated, undesirable failure that this article, and many other ones, makes it out to be.