Why did Toyota decline to play?

I just saw the weekly installment of the TV show Motor Week. In the episode they compared 4 midsize pickups: Ranger, Canyon, Ridgeline and Comanche. They did not review the Frontier as the model is too old (no updates) to be included. In addition, they stated that Toyota declined to participate in the review which included input from Cars.com. The Canyon was lowest rated and bested by the Comanche, Ranger, and Ridgeline in that order.

Why then do you suppose (or know?) that Toyota declined to participate?

 

Because 3rd gens suck lol

 

Could be a number of reasons.
But NOT needing help selling them may be one reason.
According to the site below, Tacoma is still selling better than the others.
https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2019/04/2019-q1-sales-results-full-size-and-mid-size-pickups/

 

Comanche????

 

A lot of the people testing vehicles are "car guys", not " truck guys". The things important to them are not important to truck guys. If they picked the Ridgeline as the best truck tested they know nothing about how trucks are intended to be used. Most of us would have ranked the 4 tested in reverse order to what they did. I'd not be surprised that Toyota saw that coming and rather than get a bad review from people who don't know what they are doing declined to participate.

 

Man, I used to own a Comanche. It was one of the coolest trucks, yet also a colossal piece of shit at the same time.

 

I'm guessing they are trying to avoid any inevitable comparison with their own Gen 2 Tacoma. There are very few substantive improvements in the Gen 3. Overall, it represents a downgrade. Even the casual mention of that would be a problem.

 

It was the Gladiator that was compared not the Comanche. LOL.
I havent seen a Comanche since the 70s.

 

As the bias was expected, they rated the car "truck" as best truck.

 

When they rate the Ridgeline number one , it's not a truck comparison. Toyota should have offered a Corolla without a trunk lid, might have won.

 

They put the trucks to the test on the paved hwys of MD.

 

I have a confession to make. I like the Ridgeline. If Honda’s were not so damm plain Jane looking i would consider them. Honda’s quality is top notch just like Toyota.

 

The 70s J series ones were so much better than these little ones based off the XJ chassis. I like how jeep keep trying to bring back the Iconic truck names with not trucks. I would love to have one of the old J series military trucks they were badass. But any of the older J series and wagoneer styles of the 70s were so much better than today. Plus those AMC engines.

 

It's an Odyssey with a truck bed. It's not very truckish. An old Ranchero or El Camino is more of a truck than they are. I will give them the cool tailgate opening award but that's about it.

 

I like the bed trunk and the full independent suspension. No 4x4 capability but AWD if needed. Most trucks spend almost all of their life on the street. Towing isn’t really the point of a mid-sized truck either.

 

So what is the point of a midsized truck? Enlighten me of my ignorance of what a mid sized truck is for because I must be using it wrong then. I don't understand the highlighted part either because that is kinda the point of all automobiles.

 

Because they are kicking everyone's ass sideways, so why waste any time, money or effort? Toyota knows what their customers want. It's not like they are commissioning Motor Week to tell them what or how many to build. They are the largest car maker in the world for a reason.

 

Well that was passive aggressive! I will argue with you later. Work calls.

 

How is there a down grade?