Consumer Reports LOL

[Cwelroy]

My daily driver is a 2025 Land Cruiser 250 premium. Before this vehicle, I owned a ‘13 JKU Sahara, ‘15 JKU Sahara Altitude, ‘17 JK Rubicon Recon, ‘18 JLU Sahara and a ‘20 Gladiator Rubicon. I never thought I’d go away from Jeep, but the Toyota on the highway is a dream when compared to any of my Jeeps and is still very capable off road. That being said, I’m currently looking at a ‘26 Gladiator Rubicon to add to the garage just so I can have fun driving again on the weekends. There’s nothing like a Jeep.

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[NC_Overland]

One negative I’ll say about consumer reports is they recommended my girlfriend’s old Hyundai Sonata and she bought it on their recommendation and she liked the looks and drive. It did look and drive ok, but what a pile of junk. It was burning a qt of oil every 500 miles at 38k miles and Hyundai wouldn’t fix it because it hadn’t failed. I think because they’re so backed up with engine replacements. It’s so bad that every Hyundai dealership around here has one or two techs dedicated to doing nothing but engine replacements all day every day with a big waiting list. She bought it new and traded it in for half of what she paid three years later on a 2025 Mazda CX-5.

 

[Baxter]

One negative I’ll say about consumer reports is they recommended my girlfriend’s old Hyundai Sonata and she bought it on their recommendation and she liked the looks and drive. It did look and drive ok, but what a pile of junk. It was burning a qt of oil every 500 miles at 38k miles and Hyundai wouldn’t fix it because it hadn’t failed. I think because they’re so backed up with engine replacements. It’s so bad that every Hyundai dealership around here has one or two techs dedicated to doing nothing but engine replacements all day every day with a big waiting list. She bought it new and traded it in for half of what she paid three years later on a 2025 Mazda CX-5.

I know a few people who have bought Hyundai and Kia vehicles that had excessive oil consumption start at low miles.

 

[SummertimeCarl]

My daily driver is a 2025 Land Cruiser 250 premium. Before this vehicle, I owned a ‘13 JKU Sahara, ‘15 JKU Sahara Altitude, ‘17 JK Rubicon Recon, ‘18 JLU Sahara and a ‘20 Gladiator Rubicon. I never thought I’d go away from Jeep, but the Toyota on the highway is a dream when compared to any of my Jeeps and is still very capable off road. That being said, I’m currently looking at a ‘26 Gladiator Rubicon to add to the garage just so I can have fun driving again on the weekends. There’s nothing like a Jeep.

The Toyota Land Cruisers are sweet for sure. But (and I'm sure you know this) they're not comparable to Jeeps. Just checked Autotrader and in my area I can literally buy 2 new Wrangler/Gladiator Sports for the price of one Landcruiser. Jeeps starting at upper 30's, Land Cruisers in mid 60's to 70's.

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Which brings me to a hot take aimed at getting us back to OP's original intention for this thread....

In my opinion the 4dr JLU's are the weakest Jeep offering. The competition for the 2dr JL's is limited, competition for Gladiators are limited. Us JT owners can easily dismiss because "a Land Cruiser isn't a truck." I'd like a small footprint 4x4 for my daughter that's easily parallel parked so I can dismiss a 4runner because it's a 4dr with a longer wheelbase.

However, the 4dr SUV market is crowded even for those requiring body-on-frame options. Ignore the rock crawler peeps, for the majority of buyers looking at 4dr JLU's, there is likely a better option on the market for them. (Your Land Cruiser likely being one of them).

 

[biodiesel]

We've had quite a few Mopar vehicles over the years. They have all been reliable with very few issues. So, it's hard for me to relate to folks who think that Jeep somehow is of a lesser quality.

2000 Jeep Cherokee 4.0L XJ
2005 Jeep Wrangler 4.0L LJ
2005 Jeep Liberty KJ 2.8L CRD
2006 Ram 2500 5.9L Cummins
2007 Jeep Liberty KJ 3.7L
2015 Ram 1500 3.0L EcoDiesel
2020 Ram 1500 3.0L EcoDiesel
2023 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon EcoDiesel

 

[NC_Overland]

I know a few people who have bought Hyundai and Kia vehicles that had excessive oil consumption start at low miles.

It’s such a huge problem. It’s unreal. It started off with their theta II engines and its most of their engines now. They claimed they fixed the 2.4L and 2.0l after the theta II, but they didn’t. They have issues with their other engine families too. It doesn’t matter if it’s NA or turbo or 4 cylinder or V6. It’s all junk.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I saw a Hyundai engine fail. It was an Elantra. Of course it only did this when the drunk 20 something tried to drive it through the back of my LJ. Lots of armor stopped that from happening. It failed spectacularly though.

 

[gonemad]

I bought two Hyundais new, one in 2013, and one in 2015. They were great when new.

They are both gone now. Won’t buy any more.

 

[WilldWilly]

I saw a Hyundai engine fail. It was an Elantra. Of course it only did this when the drunk 20 something tried to drive it through the back of my LJ. Lots of armor stopped that from happening. It failed spectacularly though.

My son in law purchased a new Kia in 2022. Purchased in August of that year, and the engine let go in November of that year with less than 5k on it. Sat at the back of the Kia lot for three months with no loaner, or any help to cover the cost of a rental, constantly fighting with Kia to get them to cover the engine. They did finally replace the engine seeing how the engine is the same one failing for both Kia and Hyundai.
Last week they traded it in on a New Kia............. At least he is good to my daughter and works hard.

 

[FormerToyotaGuy]

I have used Consumer Reports to find out what is a great off road vehicle. If CR states "it drives like a truck, has horrible on road manners" I look at buying it. Over the years their "truck" suggestions have been things like Honda Ridgeline, or Subaru Brat or Baja (whatever that thing is) all of which are NOT off road trucks. They rate Toyota high, I owned the last generation Tacoma 2016 TRD Off road, the engine was totally wrong for a 4x4 truck zero power down low had to drive in power mode all the time to feel normal not sporty. The 6spd transmission was always hunting for gears. Going back further I think Toyota 4.0 in the Tacoma and FJ was a great engine but since then I haven't been impressed.

 

[WilldWilly]

It reminds me of that line from Tommy Boy about warranties.

So true.
"If you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will"

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

The block/ignore button is a much loved function on forums.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

Same here! Smiles every mile.

Come on y’all, the other consumer report thread (that this quote is from) still has more posts than this one. I believe in y'all. You can do it!

 

[Blade1668]

A thing I find funny is several vehicles that are compared with a Jeep and said to be better started out as copies of Jeeps actually. If in 1991 a maker would have been making a solid axles in small pickup "Ford or Dodge" I'd probably bought it not my Comanche. I'll leave my opinion on Chevy or Chevy owners out of it right now.

 

[NC_Overland]

That BS. I was civil and responded to everything he said and took the time to explain everything with first hand knowledge. Literally all based on first hand experience. In the US and in Korea. Now it’s all erased.

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