Consumer reports strikes again

Once again this magazine (2008 buyers guide pg 152) is not making much sense. All three made recommended status.

For the 2006 6 cyl

Overall road test score? In order of recommendation...

Ridgleline (Better known as a metrosexualmobile) 79
Frontier 67
Tacoma 63


BUUUUT, here's where the insanity begins and I have noticed a pattern with reviewers on this truck

Predicted reliability
Ridgeline- Average
Frontier-Very good
Tacoma-Very good

Owner satisfaction
Ridgeline- Excellent
Frontier- Average
Tacoma- Excellent

Accident avoidance (safety)
Ridgeline-Average
Frontier-Average
Tacoma-Very good

Miles per gallon overall
Ridgeline- 15
Frontier-15
Tacoma-17

The Dakota, Ford explorer sprt trac, Colorado and Canyon were all way below average and poor in all categories. MPG were 14's and 16's respectively.

They still say the Tacoma has a low seating position and the ride is stiff.

My comments: Just like that Edmunds video (also JD power and associates recommended the Tacoma #1 "compact" pickup) they are using some alien rating system to rate these trucks.

It is clear from the ratings that the Tacoma is better in every category or equal to their best. The MPG is better and the Tacoma is slightly more inexpensive (but not cheaper).

Safety, fit and finish beats them out hands down. Even in the detailed ratings the 05's did not get one black half mark at all. Only average body integrity. The others have 4 collected black marks, some are full...meaning worse.

All are in the Body integrity, paint, and trim. The Tacoma beats them out in every ratings category.

The Tacoma is the clear choice among pickups for anyone who is watching.

 

Yeah that doesn't make a bit of sense.

I would never buy a Ridgeline. They are very heavy and not as utilitarian as the Tacoma and Frontier. For some reason they aren't very efficient either. They do drive well, but not enough to make me want one.

I think the Tacoma and Frontier are comparable, but I couldn't get a 4 cylinder Frontier with a decent sized cab, towing capacity, or fuel economy. I love my Tacoma.

 

I think its safe to say just about all of us hate the ridgeline. In all honesty though i really like the frontier. I think its a great truck, and at the risk of sounding like a heretic i think they are everybit as reliable and tough as the tacoma. I just personally like the tacoma better for looks and resale value. it was just a personal preference. but the fact that they even compared those two trucks to the ridgeline is an insult

 

I hate the Ridgeline (mainly though just b/c of looks, I hear they are supposed to handle very well on and off road) just as much as the next guy but I don't like the frontier any more. Our roommate has a new Frontier and I can't stand his truck, it might have been better with the Nismo pkg but not sure, but driving it, it just feels cheap and sloppy to me.

 

Yeah the sentiment for the Ridgeline seems to be the same accross the board. Yet NY Metro area has so many of them. As far as the Frontier, I test drove it and enjoyed it, even enjoyed the price. But my last two vehicles had been Nissan, I wanted to really steer clear of them.

 

I think for the most part CR is great for appliances and such, but there ratings for autos at times make me want to laugh. They without a doubt have bias towards certain vehicles. It makes you wander if the same guys does each test year after year. They seemed to always been bias against US and German vehicles, but love the Japanese cars. Especially Hondas. (Exaggerating here a little bit) but they would give a Honda fantastic on everything a knock a Mustang for poor trunk space and towing capacity. Am I really gonna take a family of 4 on a weekend trip getaway in a mustang? Anyway they seem to always overlook any of the Honda's flaws and hammer the negatives of other vehicles. I look the other way when it comes CR options on anything auto.

 

the results of their tests and their recommendations dont make much sense when put together, and they seem to judge each truck in different ways and they dont look like they're testing each truck in the same ways, which is the most idiotic way to give a consumer report

 

it's rated lower because the editors are pissed that they spent their money on something else and they're trying to cover their mistakes so they don't look as stupid as they are....that's what the case is in my opinion

 

haha hey come on ndcouch is our "fearless" leader. i don't like the nissans at all, i think they're hideous

 

on that note, i'd drive a ford, dodge OR chevy well before a frontier

 

Ditto except for the dodge part, I couldn't sell my dodge fast enough to buy my Taco, I actually sold it 3 months before my Taco came in.

 

haha i actually traded my 95 dakota in for my taco, it was v8 4wd and i paid 2k for it with 150k miles. i only had it for four months but i never had to do a single thing to it but change the oil, and i beat the living hell out of that truck. i can think of at least 5 times i had it more than 3 feet off the ground lol

 

yeah I almost boughta nissan just because I can get nissan vehicles at 5% below invoice but I just like the way the toyota looks better and they have way better resale.

 

the frontiers just look too boxy to me

 

I was pulled between getting my Tacoma and the Frontier. My dad has a V6 Frontier and the insides seems really cheap. The entire truck seems to made more of plastic than metal. The dash seems cheaply made and put together. The body panels except from the chrome bumpers were also made of plastic. The Tacoma seemed to be put together much better. Which is why I choose the 4cyl Tacoma over the V6 Frontier.

 

I dont know what you're talking about, i ooze class out of every oriface of my body.... especially my butt

 

Living in Rochester I often deal with gridlock. One day on the way home, (and in gridlock) I noticed a Nissan Frontier 4 door, 4x4 in the next lane. The driver was "observing " my truck. I have to admit his was a nice looking rig, seemed to be identacle to mine except for the color and the badge. I feel he was thinking the same about mine by the nod of acceptance, it was cool. I went to test drive one but the dealer did not have one and the sales staff were jerks.