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.
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.