4runner tops CR reliability survey

Old reliable tech that works 99.9 % of the time is one of the reasons I love these things.
https://www.kbb.com/car-news/consumer-reports-lists-ten-most-reliable-cars/

 

I don't know how reliable CR data is. Its odd to see BMW X5 over something like Rav4 & Highlander Hybrid based on second hand experience I have. One friend's relatively old X5 caught on fire and recently another friend's (senior citizen) new car had few trips to dealership with headunit problems. Last I heard some specialist remotely connected to the car and authorized to change the headunit.

 

Yeah, that X5 seems out of place on the list. No surprise that the 4R is at the top. We all knew that already.

 

One of the best books I read decades ago was How to Tell the Liars from the Statisticians (Popular …
WebMar 9, 1983 · How to Tell the Liars from the Statisticians (Popular Statistics) 1st Edition. by Robert Hooke (Author) 4.6 7 ratings. Part of: Popular Statistics (4 books) See all formats and editions. This book shows how statistical reasoning affects all aspects of our lives.

 

The ad placement is bang-on:

 

Their data comes mostly from subscriber surveys. I subscribed to Consumer Reports for years; twice a year they'd send me a survey form which I filled out detailing any problems with my rigs.

 

Yep, it's also subject to whatever their subscriber base buys!

I'd guess the X5 had a reasonably good showing in their survey results and of course it can change over time. When I bought my 5-year-old Sorento it was ranked Average overall but by just a couple years later it and surrounding years have sunk into CR's Worse territory and I'm not surprised.

 

Here's another one

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51291.How_to_Lie_with_Statistics

This was required reading in the statistics course I took at university in the '70's. The book has been around forever and is still valid as ever..

 

4runner has topped reliability charts for midsized SUVs for like 15 years. One of the reasons I bought one in 2019 and little has changed

 

The (current) RAV4 has two major issues, roof leaks and the cable for the rear motor on the hybrid. Both have received an extended warranty from Toyota, but both are major concerns ($$) outside of warranty. I assume the Highlander Hybrid also has the cable issue for a few years.

I wouldn't read too much into an anecdote of an old X5 catching fire vs. anything else on the list. You just never know. Google RAV4 fire and you'll find plenty of hits for those as well....even a recall of the prior gen for fire risk.

With that said, the list above is the Top 10........meaning that these are the most reliable vehicles. Positition on the list is probably inconsequential vs. those not on the list at all.

I don't think CR is using statistics to manufacture anything here, but they are using customer responses, which can be tainted by impressions, emotions, and memory.