Previous generation 4Runner was better

[dpr422]

I do think it is interesting that CR slammed the 5th. I would take this car over their recommendations any day, even if someone offered me a fully loaded 2011 Explorer or Grand C - I would not trade... I have no intention of going to the dealer every month for repairs and this was my experience with Ford several years ago. Yes, it might have been a 'lemon' car, but I have heard too many stories to believe I was the exception to the rule.

If a buyer knows what they are looking for and what to expect from a 4R, they will like it. It they think they are buying a car, like a MDX, they likely will not it as much. Apples and Oranges...

CR probably has the same people reviewing washing machines, lawn mowers and cars....

 

[Koz]

Average reliability my A$$! As I have been saying, CR has a hidden agenda to undermind Toyota. Giving the 4Runner a AVERAGE reliability rating (given the reliability history of this vehicle and the current model data) clearly shows this!

Koz

 

[Quentin]

I am not sure why either. My guess is they just don't like the car. For 2010 they didn't like the hardware or the stereo. Other than that, all good marks.

Yeah, the fact that the actual results are that good makes their "average" rating even more confusing. If my GTI, which also had "average" reliability per CR, were near as reliable as the T4R has been, I'd not have sold it.

 

[chetJ]

Forget the CR crap and check this out

Forget all the CR crap and check this out by JD Power and Associates- the T4R was ranked one of the most reliable vehicles out there

U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study | J.D. Power and Associates

I would actually recommend reading the attached PDF which has a number of additional tables. The T4R was ranked the most dependable SUV in its class.

 

[bigbwb]

Not sure what you are referring to. I own a 2011 Limited (XREAS) and have absolutely no complaints about its handling what so ever!

Typo, my bad. Meant SR5 models.

 

[bigbwb]

My 5th gen limited does not handle as well as the 4th gen V8 sport especially on grooved hightways. For me, there is a big difference in the V8 4th gen from its v6 counterpard and the v6 5th gen, that is more than raw power for towing. The V8 simply has a more stable solid ride. High winds have greater impact on my 5th gen than my v8 4th gen. One persons observation/opinion. The interior cabin is far superior in the 5th gen. For me, Toyota could have made the 5th gen so much better with technology they already have, but took some shortcuts. Still not a bad rig, but not spectacular.

I agree. coming from a 2003 & 2006 V8 Sport, I feel the same way. even though I have a non KDSS TE, I did drive with with KDSS for a week and my previous 4th gen rode/handled better. Maybe the mid model refresh will address some of the concerns.

 

[mike530]

I am not sure why either. My guess is they just don't like the car. For 2010 they didn't like the hardware or the stereo. Other than that, all good marks.

Maybe the reliability did not go down but the competition improved making the the 4 runner closer to average??

 

[DaveS]

Forget all the CR crap and check this out by JD Power and Associates- the T4R was ranked one of the most reliable vehicles out there

U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study | J.D. Power and Associates

I would actually recommend reading the attached PDF which has a number of additional tables. The T4R was ranked the most dependable SUV in its class.

That survey is the 2011 dependability survey which looks at peformance over 3 years - ie it refers to the 2008 4th Gen. The 5th Gen won't get a score for another 2 years.

 

[LD ZPPLN]

Boy I can't wait for the 6th generations to come out so I can post how the 5th's were better!

 

[DaveS]

Boy I can't wait for the 6th generations to come out so I can post how the 5th's were better!

yeah but imagine the mileage you'll get out of that 1.6 4 Cyl hybrid with plastic body panels !

 

[Quentin]

Maybe the reliability did not go down but the competition improved making the the 4 runner closer to average??

A quick browse through truedelta shows that shouldn't be the case. The 5th gen is right on par with the 4th gen as far as trips to the dealer (normalized for mileage).

I suppose it could have something to do with Toyota's issues over the past year. CR was hit pretty hard with their automatic recommendation of Toyota a few years back.

 

[Moti]

Just wanted to follow up on this thread after getting back from a test drive of the Limited. Everything seemed pretty damn smooth to me. The 4Runner is more firmly than ever at the top of my list. The XREAS certainly handles whatever body roll the consumer reports article was complaining about on the SR5.

Now to find a way to make the next 6-12 months pass by quicker as I sit in my Corolla saving up to make the leap.

 

[Curt Sauve]

Just wanted to follow up on this thread after getting back from a test drive of the Limited. Everything seemed pretty damn smooth to me. The 4Runner is more firmly than ever at the top of my list. The XREAS certainly handles whatever body roll the consumer reports article was complaining about on the SR5.

Now to find a way to make the next 6-12 months pass by quicker as I sit in my Corolla saving up to make the leap.

As I have said before, the Limited with XREAS and Torsen is worth the extra cost, as long as you aren't planning any suspension mods. I didn't think the 4R could get any better than my 08 Sport, but my 5th Gen. Limited just blows it away.

 

[pawzitiv]

Looking back, CR didn't have much good to say about either my 1978 Volkswagen Westfalia or my 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport and yet they both served me well for over 13 years of ownership. Good thing I don't base my car-buying decisions on Consumer Reports.:boxer:

I bought my 2010 4Runner Trail Edition NOT with the expectation that it would handle like a minivan or car. There are no soccer fields or piano lessons where I like to drive my 4Runner. It's a very off-road capable, body-on-frame TRUCK. So far, my 4Runner meets all expectations .. and then some.:zoom:

 

[skiwindjunkie]

I tested the 5th and it handles spectacular. Personally I just can not get over the boxy look. I think it looks like an extended FJ cruiser or downsized hummer. Yet to each their own as long as your happy. I just keep my 4th maintained perfectly and hope I will someday like the looks of a new 4 runner again.

 

[Thai]

They're trying to steer people away from true SUV's and toward CUV's. Instead of pointing out the inherent weaknesses in a true off-road capable SUV vs. a car-based CUV, they should judge a car with it's intended purpose/ capabilities in mind....I don't here them bashing a Prius for being slow. They need to drop the agenda and give more honest reviews; then let people make their own decisions.

I doubt this very much! Note that CR also demerited minivans, Jettas, Mercedes E-class, etc. all on the same table!

The CR blog above does have a point though...the newer generations of many car companies have not been a major step forward. Technology may have improve some, but the basic quality of a car has not...and in some cases, the basic quality of a car has gone downhill. In the past, each generation was clearly better than the previous...not so these days.

 

[Curt Sauve]

I doubt this very much! Note that CR also demerited minivans, Jettas, Mercedes E-class, etc. all on the same table!

The CR blog above does have a point though...the newer generations of many car companies have not been a major step forward. Technology may have improve some, but the basic quality of a car has not...and in some cases, the basic quality of a car has gone downhill. In the past, each generation was clearly better than the previous...not so these days.

I don't see that much difference in quality from my 4th to my 5th gen. Decontenting is not the same as reduced quality, it's reduced value, getting less content for the same amount of money. Companies do that to pay for retooling and redesign costs without increasing prices. When those costs are met, then they will add content and do minor facelifts to make the product a better value and keep it competitive. If there was a better value AND better quality vehicle than my 5th gen. Ltd. out there for the same money,...... I'd own it.

 

[Thai]

I don't see that much difference in quality from my 4th to my 5th gen. Decontenting is not the same as reduced quality, it's reduced value, getting less content for the same amount of money. Companies do that to pay for retooling and redesign costs without increasing prices. When those costs are met, then they will add content and do minor facelifts to make the product a better value and keep it competitive. If there was a better value AND better quality vehicle than my 5th gen. Ltd. out there for the same money,...... I'd own it.

You may have missed the point about the blog (and my post). In the past, despite the "cost of retooling," the next generation of vehicles is usually significantly better than the previous. No one is saying how the 5th gen compares to the other SUVs...it is about the evolution from generation to generation (or lack of).

 

[-JD-]

Thai, you could argue that this has been going on for years. I noticed a few decreases in features going form my 2nd gen to 3rd gen runner. I'm sure it is true of a lot of other vehicles out there as well. I really dont see how the 5th gen runner is worse than the 4th?

Though I never owned a 4th and still have yet to pull the trigger on the 5th. From test drives I find the quality to be at least as good, and a lot of nice improvements have been made for the 5th gen.

 

[fraggy]

5th gen worse?

I owned many new 4-Runners including a 1rst, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th gen. The 5th gen is the first gen that is not as good as the previous gen in my opinion. This issue is not necessarily overall quality, but features to drive. My 5th gen is not as quite, powerful, or smooth as my 4th gen sport V8. The handling in wind is not as good, nor is the gas milage substantially better. Many previous posts cite the features toyota deleted which I really miss. The major improvement is interior seating confort. Toyota already has all the technology to make a spectacular 4-runner. They just elected no to do so, probably to keep the very high profit margins.