Consumer Reports most reliable midsize

Maybe you could work for TV Guide

or US Weekly

 

I rest my case on their "expert"





Jill Ciminillo

Jill Ciminillo is the Managing Editor for Pickup Truck + SUV Talk as well as a Chicago-based automotive writer, influencer, TikTok Creator, YouTube personality and podcast host, with her articles and videos appearing in outlets throughout the U.S. Additionally, she co-hosts a weekly radio show on car stuff via Talk Zone.

 

Seems like a pretty normal automotive journalist resume. What’s the problem?

 

Toyota said they wanted to sell more trucks to women and that women are a growing demographic of the segment. Toyota has probably been successful at meeting that goal.

 

Consumer reports is a fucking joke. It is complete garbage. Why would anyone take anything they say as legit. They are just like the rest of the “get paid for ads and sponsor” bullshit.
As far as this post about it…we all know, click bait! lol. Nice job batacoma.

 

Relying on Consumer Reports for vehicle ratings is like relying on a hairdresser's recommendations for a good brain surgeon.

 

Ford and Jeep scoring higher than Toyota.

 

Which makes me wonder what value their information has in other industries…

 

She likely knows absolutely nothing about vehicles other then ''that's pretty?"

 

'Tis true...
One year (2021 I think) I recall they had the Gladiator as their top reliability pick for any car, truck, or SUV period (this based on data from the same year it was released). The following year it was back down near the Wrangler (bottom 3rd). Makes you wonder how they figure their ratings anymore...
They used to send out annual questionnaire surveys to their subscribers, but I guess they must use A.I.-generated data now.

They once were an excellent unbiased consumer product ratings magazine with lots of small details like type of batteries a camera used, what direction (left or right) a window air conditioner tended to blow, or what video inputs a TV set had (back in the days of audio cassettes I remember a finely-detailed report that only an audiophile could wrap their head around, fine-tuning the tape bias (something no consumer-grade tape deck ever had a control for beyond "Normal", "Chrome", etc.) and what brand tapes had the highest output in dB)...
Nowadays it's fear-mongering how the world's gonna end if we don't all buy EVs, how we're gonna die if our cars don't have the latest electronical safety systems (that drive up prices) to help protect us and others from our own driving mistakes, and that it's dangerous to clean out our house gutters, replace a light switch, or fix a leaky pipe (and that we need to hire a "professional" to come do these things). But then another time they rated chain saws... Go figure.

 

I bet they're paid to rank products.

 

They claim not to be... But who knows...
They screwed my dad out of his subscription renewal (and flat-out refused to fix the issue), so F' 'em.

 

Based on what?

 

I don't watch a lot of youtube I can recall a few Toyota topics that PT+SUV coverd wherecboth Jill and Tim weighed in on. Things I think I rember Jill saying during test drives.

1. The 22 4Runner 4.O was slow when merging compared to other options avaible in 22, I'd say that's a fair assessment and you wouldn't need to drive one to come to that conclusion.

2. The Tundra towed better than the Sequioa when tested on the same test that Toyota offered to the press. Or it was the other way around, I can't rember which truck they felt did better during test with a WDH. I'm not interested in either of those trucks sovthe results don't matter to me.

3. Jill said she preferred a midsize truck to a fullsize for the same reasons most folks would prefer a midsize. When making the comparison.

Those sounded like solid opions based on the info provided in the videos. I can't recall seeing a 4G test maybe I'd and forgot, or a 6G 4R test. Like I said I don't watch a lot of video press on vehicles.

 

Could be and Toyota has been the onbthe top of those lists. Resale value, but that's just data anyone could get anywhere doubt if anyone is paying to be on that list. Toyota has also ranked #1 most reliable on those lists. If those lists don't matter Toyota should stay neutral to CR rankings when advertising if they get a good consumer score don't mention in advertising, so when they aren't #1 that won't matter. Manufacturers make the ratings relevant.

 

Around here you'll see several of the newer Tacoma's every time you go out, but maybe only one new Ranger or Maverick per week. They are nice looking trucks. There are more Colorado's to be seen around, but not many. Have never seen the GMC Canyon clone. Second and third gen Tacoma's are everywhere.

 

It should be noted CR has been shitting on the Tacoma for almost 30 years. They were also shitting on the 1993+ Mk IV Supra:

 

The quality gap between Toyota and other (domestic) automakers is not what it was 15 years ago. Many Toyota cars/trucks are now made in North America and parts are sourced from all over the world. Problems happen. Yet, Toyota still makes a pretty darn good vehicle. Our '22 Rav4 hybrid (built in Japan, LOL) might be the best Toyota vehicle we have ever owned and our '18 Rav4 hybrid and '19 Tacoma have been spotless so far.
If I were buying a midsize truck tomorrow it would still be a Tacoma (but c'mon with the LB hybrid already).

 

Isn't that all true? Compact trucks are unimpressive by design. Resposive V6 and quite cabin. I don't know what slow steering is, but there was probably a good number of trucks with out power steering on the road in 97. Flimsy sheet metal on the bed, the metal was thin, add in the rusting frame recall and rusting beds I'd say that was a fair assessment.

But look at what a good 1G goes for and look how people line up to buy them. Consumer Reports and a JD Power aren't going to give the same report as Dave Ramsey's new car report. I don't see why the info they provide should be dismissed entirely. What's wrong with having more information when making a decision?

 

If I had to buy a new midsize truck tomorrow it would be a Frontier No size bloat over the previous gen and available in access cab (King Cab) configuration.