Consumer Reports

I have no qualms with the Ridgeline or the Frontier, although I think the Taco is just a notch better in most categories than the Nissan, and truthfully while I like the RL, it shouldn't really be in the same category. It's kinda a car with a bed, or a truck that's more of a car, or a minivan with an exposed bed or some other hybrid. I wouldn't mind driving one for sure, but it just doesn't seem like a truck to me even though I think it's a fine vehicle. Personally I wanted something specifically that had off-road capability, 4 real doors, reliable and a truck bed.

CR is hit and miss in my opinion. They don't get the alternate market at all and assume every vehicle is a daily driver regardless of category. For example, sports cars get bagged on for ground clearance and cup holders, storage capacity and gas mileage etc that makes -NO- sense. What kills me is that they recommended the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee once and I bought it. Needless to say now, it didn't turn out to be the reliable vehicle they predicted. LOL. PIECE-O-CRAPOLA.

 

... ^^^ ... Ditto ... my painter hates H/D's Behr paint ... we buy S/W Duration & Emerald ... but only when 40% off.
.

 

i just don't see how behr was rated higher than SW and BM. Duration is a really nice paint. Expensive tho

 

Agreed with what you said. What sad though is, people don't buy trucks to be trucks anymore. They buy them as status symbols, and cause of little man syndrome, and they want a car like drive, just a truck look.

I remember when my dad got his Chevy Colorado, and I drove it, it really does feel like driving a car. He uses it as a truck, but the damn thing still rides pretty smooth.

 

I disagre 100%

And I have used every brand.

Behr paint is excelent, both interior & exterior. I used it on my last new home...and currently using it on my new build.

My painter...who has 4 decades of experience...and who was a die-hard Sherwin Williams man was so impressed with the Behr (I supplied the paint), he's going to use it whenever he can.

I used to think Benjamin Moore was the top dog in paints...but I can not say this today.

 

I was 50/50 on trading my Pathfinder in for my old Civic and they gave me $1,500 more than I was expecting with a manual, high mileage example... I definitely wish they would have low balled me...

 

Yeah.......sport truck.

I realize I am on here with a bunch of fanboys, which is fine. I don't find the Tacoma the ultimate vehicle. It is fairly practical and get crappy gas mileage for what it is and what it does. I do prefer the towing ability of the Tacoma as the RL is wimpy in that regard. However, if I was towing often, I would not get a Taco either. The RL has a better bed compared to the Taco.

My first Gen was OK, but the RL was better in comparison. I considered a used RL over the new TACO, but decided to go with the warranty and two years of free service. Expect good resale.

Hopefully both the RL and Taco will be upgraded in 3 years time. If not, I would say I will probably be going to something else. Both platforms are aging. Ford milked the Ranger until it died and used some BS reasoning for its death other than what it was.....SEVERELY OUTDATED. The TACO is a money machine for Toyota, they need to show it some love. These minor tweaks and updates are not going to cut it any longer IMO. I am not a die hard TOYO lover, but have owned many over the years.

The RL is fine for 95% of its users, just like a TACO is. If you want a serious offroader, go JEEP IMO. If you need to haul offroad.....well, that is a SMALL SLIVER of the population at VERY best. I got 4X4 for winter use and my truck will never see dirt except kids sports fields so the SPORT is a nice option for me. If I could have gotten a RL SPORT for the same money, I would have gone that route. It is a better vehicle for my needs BUT regardless is very UGLY albeit, VERY PRACTICAL. The AWD system is not very good and I got stuck in deep snow with the RL.

I really wish SUBIE would come out with a better BAJA.

 

Once again, you said truck. It's an SUV with a "bed" at best. And the BAJA?! WTF?! Turn in your man card!

You should just get your self an SUV, then hitch up a utility trailer for your bed needs.

The only car like vehicle with a truck like bed that can be driven by a man, and still consider yourself a man is an El Camino.

 

I would piss on CR.. they are too bais on the reports and does they know about trucks? but the track record for saftey and other factor reports are dead on. this base on record show which car or truck show up offen for repair etc. Far making statement which is raking frist place.. is full of bullshit..my 2 cent

 

LMFAO. Yeah, trailer on the wifes Outback would work. I considered the XV Crosstrek for the MPG but decided I don't want a trailer sitting around.

Plenty of MANLY vehicles in my stable. So not concerned about that.

Sold my 350hp modded EVO X to get the TACO.

One 72 Skylark running the 462 big block.
One 72 Skylark running mild 350 buick.
One 72 Corvette running the 383 full roller motor.

I will go on a limb and reinstate my man card. Not to mention the '13 TRD SPORT Taco.

Not everyone needs to drive a HARD CORE 4x4 for their needs. I need to haul car parts and tow an occasional car. If the TACO could get about 5 more MPG is would be perfect. For the 99% of the time I don't haul anything except my ass so perceive it as mostly wasted gas.

As far as the RL, yeah, not everyone needs some hardcore vehicle. It can't tow much but the payload was fine. Not sure why you know SUV's either. HUMMER made some pretty bad ass SUV's as do RANGE ROVER.

Plenty would say a TACOMA is not a REAL truck either.

 

Very true..I just haul my ass and the occasional load of 500 pounds or less so I don't even need a V6. My 4 banger is just fine and it does what I most need, save me a little at the pump every week.

My old truck (Chevy Colorado) had 4wd. I barely used it. The Tacoma is 2 wheel and it's good enough for the snow here.

 

Not so sure about the manly thing, but my criteria for a "real truck" is 4WD rather than AWD, a real frame versus a one piece unibody, and enough torque to carry or pull a heavy load. The RL just doesn't qualify on any of those counts.

 

Sir, if you drive a BAJA, than I'm sorry, but it cancels out all of those vehicles you listed. Although they are some badass vehicles, but that's how unmanly the BAJA is.

I'm not a fan of HUMMER, except for the original, when they where something. The recent ones are garbage, and is a standard DB vehicle. I do like the looks of Range Rovers. Shit, if I had the money, I'd be driving a Porsche Cayenne for a second vehicle. I like those.

And point me to these people who would say the Tacoma is not a real truck. It's just as real as a truck as any. I find the only people who would argue against is some full size DB, rolling coal, and is severely making up for some personal "short comings".

 

the 2013 pathfinder will own off road

 

Yeah, all full size owners feel the TACO is not a real truck. I have never owned nor driven a BAJA. Just saying, a SUBARU truck would interest me. Not a CRUCK like the BAJA.

 

One small correction. The 99.5 and 2000 models continued with the VG33E (but with a facelift). Starting in 2001 the VQ35 was put in the Pathfinders. I had a 96 and a 2001 and both were excellent vehicles. The '01 was significantly more powerful with the VQ35. I never understood why the 2001 and newer Frontiers were not re-engined with the VQ35. That would have been a sweet truck as my 2002 Frontier SC was a solid truck.

That being said, I still love my Tacoma and would not go back to a Frontier. The aftermarket support for the Tacoma is so much stronger than the Frontiers and besides, I have never heard of "Frontierworld.com".

 

You know, I have met a lot of people that LOVE Behr paint. mY uncle is a painter and he uses it all the time. I myself have seen that its harder to use and doesn't last nearly as long.



On another note, I agree with a comment here. If the taco got mid-20 MPG, it'd really be the perfect truck.

 

I gave up on Consumer Reports decades ago (yes, I'm that old). Despite their claims, the company is way too beholden to popular opinion (wouldn't sell their publications otherwise) and/or the almighty advertising dollar (gotta make money). You can see that consistently present in their reviews. Even if they occasionally rightfully trash a product, you're see them quickly praise another product by that same company just to get back in the company's good graces. Trying to figure out the real motive behind a review (is it truly good or are they just being nice) is just too much effort (and risky for my pocketbook).

 

The Ridgeline like the Avalanche are not trucks! They are open trunk SUV's. To classify it as a truck is wrong. Cr sucks, just like J.D Power and Associates.

 

Consumer Reports magazine does not contain advertising. Never did. Read the reliability ratings from their subscribers. While their reviews may be biased, the reliability ratings are not and I have found them to be on target.