Is it a surprise to you that most buyers of the 5th gen aren't buying it for its offroad ability? Have you failed to notice that the 4Runner gets bigger, more luxurious, and less suited to real off-road every generation? Offroaders aren't the segment the 4Runner is being marketed to. Motor Trend knows this, and is writing articles that categorize the vehicles people are buying by the qualities they want in those vehicles.
You're right. And thankfully Toyota is smart enough to know if they only sold vehicles to "offroaders" they'd have lost the 4Runner a long time ago. You want a vehicle that's barely progressed over the last 30 years, a Jeep Wrangler is available.
Let's face it, 99.9% of 5th gen owners would happily sacrifice its offroad qualities for better handling and a softer ride, and the 6th gen truck will move even farther towards making those prospective buyers happy. We're just lucky that Toyota is even nodding in our direction by (so far) leaving things like body on frame, solid rear axles, and low range on the table.
I disagree. I think you'll find 99.9% of recent buyers bought the 5th gen because of its capabilities, not in spite of them. There are far better road biased choices out there, Toyota is doing something most others aren't - offering a choice ... Highlander, Hybrid Highlander, FJ, 4Runner... they're building to a wide variety of markets/buyers. And hopefully pleasing enough people to continue doing so.
Is every buyer going to go offroad to the extent they please you, thereby justifying their purchase (as you apparently see it needing to be done)? Doubtful. But does every hybrid owner drive in a way that maximizes gas mileage? Or does every Porsche owner take their car to the track enough to justify owning it? Or every WRX owner rally their car to justify its capabilities?
Toyota is marketing the 4Runner to exactly that segment, and Motor Trend is writing articles targeting that segment.
Actually, Motor Trend is typically marketing to "car guys," which is why they use a body on frame SUV to highlight the handling deficiencies of the Honda CR-Z. - Truck Trend, their sister publication markets to "truck and SUV guys."
And really, I don't see anything disparaging said about the 4Runner, other than it doesn't go fast around MT's figure 8 ... can file that under "duh."
Not to people who really need 4-low and body on frame, but to idiots who only think they do and posers that want to look like they do.
I've owned plenty of Porsche's and the best and worst part of it is the owners; most have a passion for their brand and heritage, while some are so pretentious it turns others away. Seems that pretentiousness can bleed into any brand and/or passion.
