Why Consumer Reports Hates 5th Gen T4R?

I think cross shopping is more important metric than pigeon-holing cars into certain segments. I considered Mazda 3, Golf GTI, Tacoma, and Wrangler before settling for 4Runner, maybe there’s a category for “cool good looking cars”!

 

Yeah, I mostly ended up settling on the 4Runner for the ultimate reliability of it all and if I was going to get an SUV then gosh darn it I was going to get a real SUV and not some sissy crossover crap. I happened to be car shopping shortly before my Jeep's transmission spectacularly failed, and I was considering all sorts of things. Dodge Challenger and Charger, Kia Stinger, Toyota 86, Nissan 370Z, a hypothetical small truck like the old Ford Ranger that stopped existing by early 2020 when I was shopping which I'm actually really upset about and would have actually liked to have been able to get a new one in early 2020, etc. If I wasn't already car shopping, I might not have ever known about the 4Runner. It was one of my fringe options, and then it suddenly became THE option.

 

I'm not sure what anyone could learn from comparing a 4Runner to a Golf or Mazda 3 that isn't completely obvious.

 

So, they buy a 4Runner that doesn't have AWD (aka Limited), then bitch about their 4Runner not having AWD....yeah, I have a problem with that. It makes me wonder how stupid they are on their other "real world tests" they do.

 

I don't know man, impulses don't make sense. I mean I can't even articulate or make sense of my own shopping journey. Someone would certainly make a bank if they could figure out what a makes hot hatch shopper settle for a 4Runner.

 

Mechanical cooling fan fails less then electric fans in my eyes that’s a win

 

I have been averaging 17 mpg in my 4 runner, I consider that good compared to all the previous vehicles I have owned. The Jeep’s and tahoes both v8s 12 to 13 was the best you were getting.

 

Anytime you can remove any electrical anything it's a win for me. Nothing is less fun than working on electronics

 

I wonder if the 6th gen will switch to an electric fan in the name of saving fuel. I'm a little surprised they haven't already. Or, maybe they figured the fuel savings wouldn't be significant.

I kind of enjoy the roar as well. All of the ticking I could live without.

 

The new tundra got a computer/solenoid controlled mechanical fan so they may do something like that

 

That's interesting. I'm guessing they'll do something similar, unless it proves to be problematic.

I saw a video or article where some guy had squeezed ~25 mpg out of a new Tundra. As much as I love the ancient simplicity of the 4Runner, I certainly wouldn't mind better fuel economy.

 

Not to mention, the approach and departure angles rival those of any Jeep.

 

Ah, the first Gen 3Runner. RWD model. Quite rare, actually.

 

Maybe by barely touching the gas and driving on a flat or downhill highway lol...only reason for me achieving 17 I believe is it mainly just goes to and from work that is a 50/50 drive. I pamper it to the highway and cruise at 60 while on it. I notice that when I do drive it pretty heavy or floor it a few times that needle drops...

 

CR are corrupted by political agenda and one of the major domestic automaker. Why do you think non for profit organization is trying to sell you life insurance and offers lottery raffles with aim that you'll buy services and products while assuming it'll help your chances of winning?

 

CR is for those who can only buy shit if others approve it.. Not really people of their own mind or decisions. I couldn't give a EFF what Consumer Reports thinks.

 

I am thinking that and no longer using hydraulic steering are almost a given. Certainly the steering as that way they can offer lane centering and so on.

 

Lane keep assist...

 

It was a highway test, and I assume probably 65 MPH tops.

As far as the 4Runner, I actually find that I get worse gas mileage when I baby the throttle.

 

I've been getting 23mpg by driving 60mph

 

Witchcraft! I don’t think I have ever hit 23 and I occasionally, if really bored, pseudo hypermile it.
I absolutely need to take off the Yakima Megawhatthehellever that came on my Venture.
Had it off, but moved to SoCal and sans garage temporarily.

 

Really i drive under 60 as well.... Best average has been 22.9mpg

 

Bwahahaha

You took the words right out of my mouth. If these claims get out of hand, we’ll have to throw these 4runners into lakes to see if they float. If they sink to the bottom, then we’ll know they weren't lying.

 

Back from Cleveland OH to Buffalo NY using ac and driving 80 mph most of the way. Hand calculated did check out as always. I find that good since it achieves more than the highway figure on the window sticker for the vehicle I purchased (16 city 19 highway). Left with a full tank and that reset the #’s for the ride home.

 

But that's after refuel and it looks like you *just* refueled

 

Not a fair test. A friend of mine in high school had a TR6. There was quite a lot of structural wood in the bodywork, much more than mere decorative accents. It would be a better candidate for Sir Bedevere’s veracity test.

 

Had many cars over the years and been on many many forums from different manufacturers: Toyota, Ram, Chevy, Buick, Volvo, VW, Tesla, Nissan, Ford…
They all have one thing in common: nobody gives a flying f#ck about CR.
If you are into cars, even a tiny little bit, you know to never listen to what they have to say. It’s like buying a car because JD Power gave them an award back in 2015…

 

Wait.. JD Power ? I think they sent me a dollar cash a few times.CR can go ahead and get F’d

 

Many years ago I participated in a JD Power focus group. For Land Rover. It was all about the purchase experience. They didn’t ask any questions about the car and steered the conversation away from the car when I tried to introduce the topic. Then we talked about model names. How did they go from “Defender” to “Evoque”?

 

They wanted people to have emotional reactions to the vehicle.