"Four Wheeler" Pickup Truck of the Year: Not the Tacoma?

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So I open my Four Wheeler mag and there it is: Ram Rebel wins 2016 Pickup Truck of the Year. Tacoma had already won 4-Wheel & Off-Road’s 4x4 of the year award, and now it comes in 2nd with the Pickup Truck award (easily crushing the Colorado BTW). I understand how the Rebel can win, given their rating scheme... but it's just bad, bad, bad.

I am not here to bash the Ram Rebel and I'm sure it's a fine, capable truck. But there are three issues, from my perspective:

1) Pricing. The Rebel was $53k, while the Tacoma was $38k. Is that really fair? You're simply going to get more truck for $53k... but when you factor the cost/performance ratio of the Tacoma, it's a no-brainer. In my mind you're getting a $53k truck with the Rebel, but you're getting a $50k truck with the Tacoma... for $38k.

2) Off-Road. 4x4 is paramount for me (and this is a 4x4 publication). The Tacoma has smaller dimensions, higher clearance, better approach angle, better suspension, better ramp travel index, and a locker. No matter how you slice it, the Tacoma will beat the Rebel on the tough trails every time.

3) Missing factors. This competition does not take into account overall build quality/reliability/resale. This is something a lot of people care about and a Tacoma strength. And apparently (conveniently) MPG wasn't very important.

When you read the full article they mention things like interior, towing, and other factors, but it's immediately obvious that they are completely enamored with the strong V8, and they gush over its power repeatedly.

With their rating scheme the Rebel edged the Tacoma, but in my mind, it was a very flawed competition.

 

Well said. I hate when they compare trucks that they shouldn't really compare in the first place

 

I would be interested in seeing the point/grade scale of the trucks compared. How close was the Tacoma and in what categories did the Tacoma beat the Rebel if any.

 

Ram probably paid them as part of a marketing ploy lol

 

We won't mention the "Snidley Whiplash Memorial Mustache Grille", either.

 

Lmao.

Ram has power sears, auto dim mirror, a limited slip that's very st out nearly 400hp in a very similar weight. Wtg dodge.

 

A better link...

 

They must've paid more in ads in their magazine, or have a contract to do so, what joke!

 

Thanks OP. Looks like the biggest gap was the interior, which of course the Rebel will win that. It´s a full size truck and it´s over 50,000 dollars, it should be a nicer interior. Everything else was really close, Tacoma even won the Empirical category.

 

So using that logic Toyota paid for ads in Off Road magazine because they won midsized truck of the year in that publication.

Just saying

 

Just like how Toyota paid autoguide on youtube for advertising the Tacoma...with real Taco owners....haha

 

Tacoma TRD Offroad won their 4x4 of the year award. I guess they had to spread the love and give dodge the 4x4 pickup of the year.

 

Those Autoguide Tocoma ads were terrible. I mean really terrible.

And I'm not just saying that to troll Toyota, if any other manufacturer did the same thing I would be saying the same thing about them.

 

In reality, the power wagon should have won. Rebel is nonsense and the F150 Fx4s are way too low.

 

Rollie Fingers mustache grille

 

They should have added a Raptor in the mix, they're all on the same level

 

4 flat tires! I need to get better tires.

 

They could've been better but I didn't hate them. It was a cool idea to film enthusiasts' first experiences with the new model.

 

Lets take a Ram to Iraq or Afghanistan and put it to use for a few years. I cannot tell you how many Toyotas Ive used and they never quit... while our Fords or other makers shit the bed. No comparison.
I was the driver of a Hilux which had 18 bullet holes in it and it kept running. It literally saved our lives. Only one guy was shot.
There is a reason Toyotas are primarily used in war zones... theyre all business.

 

UNACCEPTABLE!

Seriously though I hope that guy pulled through okay. I didn't serve in Afghanistan but was in Yugoslavia and know what it's like to get shot at and have bullet holes puncture a vehicle only a few inches away from your head. You look at life differently after than.