Consumer Reports LOL

[Dilly’S Willy]

Toyota is actually #5.
1. Subaru
2. BMW
3. Porsche
4. Honda
5. Toyota
Member surveys are used for ratings and CR members are frequently disappointed with their Wrangler/Gladiator purchases.

I've noticed the people who go out saying "I WANT A WRANGLER" usually: live in the city, rarely (if ever) see a dirt/gravel road, and end up saying they handle like shit and buy a Compass or Cherokee in the end. Don't go looking at a solid axle TRUCK if you want to drive it like a CAR.

Don't undersell the Gladiator, it's objectively the highest rated mid size truck for "truck stuff" stats aside from maybe bed dimensions. If you compared it to "compact" trucks such as Ford Maverick, older S10's, you'll find the Gladiator is (literally) in a completely different class.

Honda needs to stop trying, their "truck" has always been more comparable to the Baja, which was better off-road, better MPG, and lower cost. AND they held their value better.

Today's midsize trucks have similar towing and payload capacities as the half ton trucks of the 1990s and early 2000s.

People seem to forget: the current "mid-sized" trucks ARE the size of the 90s-2000s FULL-sized trucks and have damn near the payload/towing capacities too.

What Consumer Reports can never quantify is all of the intangible benefits that come with owning a Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator. We own both and after having owned a ton of other brands, nothing has come close to the fun and attention received from these Jeeps.

One small example: my 10 year old son had a friend coming over after school. The friend asked if the kids could be picked up in our cool orange Jeep. I opened the Sky top and the kids stood up through the roof and they thought they were the kings of OC

Try that in a boring ass beige Camry.

I used to do this in my 2008 Outback with that big ass moonroof, back in college I'd open it all the way and the girls in the backseat would stand up waving their arms/hands on the way to the party with music blasting.

But you're right, they don't factor in the things your jeep can do that NO OTHER comparable vehicle can.

Here in Cali I think I’m registered as a Commercial vehicle. I’m just wondering what commerce I’m in. Oh well, once I figure out the mountain of paperwork I’ll get some DV plates and not have to worry about it.

NY used to do this with ALL pickup trucks, they basically assume if you have a pickup, you own a business or registered if for commercial purposes. There was no way around it, and the taxes to register them were higher too. Guess they thought it would deter people from buying big V8s for around town...look how well THAT has worked over the last 30 years (pavement princesses EVERYWHERE).

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[SummertimeCarl]

Honda needs to stop trying, their "truck" has always been more comparable to the Baja, which was better off-road, better MPG, and lower cost. AND they held their value better.

I honestly LOVED the Subaru Baja's, no clue how they got approved to make it into production but I loved how out-of-this-world they were.

The Ridgelines are honestly probably the most practical selection for what MOST people need when they buy a mid sized truck. Smooth, quiet, efficient, safe, can haul a couple bags of mulch once a year. Makes good use of space. The only thing is, they're so un-cool my own mom told me I shouldn't buy one. If a senior citizen dismisses a truck because it has no cool factor, that says something.

If Honda ever makes a body-on-frame truck I'm first in line though.

 

[biodiesel]

They've also always been very anti-Mopar.

That's an interesting observation. I did a little bit of research in regard to Consumer Reports and what they place their emphasis on when it comes to evaluating vehicles. It is true that many critics say that CR is biased towards American brands in general mostly because American brands focus on characteristics that are not valued by CR. In essence, their method for data collection is biased, so we shouldn't be a surprise that their results are also biased. Garbage in, garbage out, so to speak.

 

[NC_Overland]

I honestly LOVED the Subaru Baja's, no clue how they got approved to make it into production but I loved how out-of-this-world they were.

The Ridgelines are honestly probably the most practical selection for what MOST people need when they buy a mid sized truck. Smooth, quiet, efficient, safe, can haul a couple bags of mulch once a year. Makes good use of space. The only thing is, they're so un-cool my own mom told me I shouldn't buy one. If a senior citizen dismisses a truck because it has no cool factor, that says something.

If Honda ever makes a body-on-frame truck I'm first in line though.

Shit. They tow and haul more than that most people ever do with their F-150s.

 

[AstroZombie]

My Gladiator has more rear room than my Tacoma LOL

 

[antihero23]

I pray to God everyday Consumer Reports did not choose my wife. I would have Blue hair who drives a silver Prius instead of the Silver fox driving a Cadillac.

That's not the flex you think it is.

 

[AstroZombie]

That's not the flex you think it is.

OOOOPS

 

[DirkG]

The Ridgelines are honestly probably the most practical selection for what MOST people need when they buy a mid sized truck. Smooth, quiet, efficient, safe, can haul a couple bags of mulch once a year. Makes good use of space. The only thing is, they're so un-cool my own mom told me I shouldn't buy one. If a senior citizen dismisses a truck because it has no cool factor, that says something.

If Honda ever makes a body-on-frame truck I'm first in line though.

That's the rub. Even Honda people think the Ridgeline is a [w]ussy truck.

We owned a Honda Passport (which is basically a Ridgeline without the bed) for around the town driving and when I was in the showroom, standing next to a shiny Ridgeline, I asked the salesman why people don't like the Ridgeline. He said they're a hard sell because the target demographic is extremely small. It's basically current Honda-owning older men who make weekend Home Depot runs. They don't appeal at all to the younger or macho crowds.

 

[biodiesel]

That's the rub. Even Honda people think the Ridgeline is a [w]ussy truck.

I wouldn't even classify the Ridgeline as a truck. It's more like an El Camino, or what I would call a hybrid SUV. Body on frame construction is designed for towing, payload, and better off road performance. A unibody is designed for comfort, handling, and fuel efficiency.

If you're going with a unibody, then maybe Honda should have taken the same approach that Ford took with the Maverick. Despite the Maverick being a unibody compact truck, Ford did a much better job making the Maverick look more trucklike. The Maverick is selling like hotcakes, but the Ranger is the true midsize truck.

 

[NC_Overland]

I wouldn't even classify the Ridgeline as a truck. It's more like an El Camino, or what I would call a hybrid SUV. Body on frame construction is designed for towing, payload, and better off road performance. A unibody is designed for comfort, handling, and fuel efficiency.

If you're going with a unibody, then maybe Honda should have taken the same approach that Ford took with the Maverick. Despite the Maverick being a unibody compact truck, Ford did a much better job making the Maverick look more trucklike. The Maverick is selling like hotcakes, but the Ranger is the true midsize truck.

The maverick is hideous. I don’t understand how so many people get past that. I’d drive a 2nd gen Ridgeline way before one of those.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

The maverick is hideous. I don’t understand how so many people get past that. I’d drive a 2nd gen Ridgeline way before one of those.

You’re in the minority picking a Ridgeline over a Maverick. But maybe you’re not factoring in cost or some other reason that makes people buy the Maverick.

I’d drive a Maverick over a Ridgeline. I think it pulls off the hideous look a little better.

 

[biodiesel]

The maverick is hideous. I don’t understand how so many people get past that.

Here are some of the reasons:

$28,145 - Ford Maverick (starting MSRP)
$40,795 - Honda Ridgeline (starting MSRP)

1,500 lbs - Ford Maverick (Maximum Payload)
1,583 lbs - Honda Ridgeline (Maximum Payload)

4,000 lbs - Ford Maverick (Maximum Towing)
5,000 lbs - Honda Ridgeline (Maximum Towing)

42 MPG City - Ford Maverick (EPA-estimated)
35 MPG Highway - Ford Maverick (EPA-estimated)
38 MPG Combined - Ford Maverick (EPA-estimated)

22 MPG City - Honda Ridgeline (EPA-estimated)
30 MPG Highway - Honda Ridgeline (EPA-estimated)
25 MPG Combined - Honda Ridgeline (EPA-estimated)

 

[biodiesel]

I’d drive a Maverick over a Ridgeline. I think it pulls off the hideous look a little better.

100%. Ford did a fantastic job with the Maverick and the sales show it.

 

[NC_Overland]

You’re in the minority picking a Ridgeline over a Maverick. But maybe you’re not factoring in cost or some other reason that makes people buy the Maverick.

I’d drive a Maverick over a Ridgeline. I think it pulls off the hideous look a little better.

To be clear, I don’t want either one, but they look so bad. I hate anything that doesn’t have a separate bed and their car like ride height and tiny wheels make them look so bad. The absolute ugliest new vehicle on the market has got to be a base model maverick on steel wheels.

At least the ridgeline has a separate bed now, sits higher and has better looking wheels. Or at least the appearance of a separate bed. I know it’s unibody.

 

[Badunit]

I pray to God everyday Consumer Reports did not choose my wife. I would have Blue hair who drives a silver Prius instead of the Silver fox driving a Cadillac.

That's not the flex you think it is.

Sure it is. I'm with him on this. I might have test driven a blue haired Prius driver but I certainly wouldn't have ended up with one. (Note that at the time there were few to no blue hairs, they added that characteristic later, and no Priuses either)

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