[brtnstrns]

I just read the review. They actually complained because it rides like a truck! Their exact words were "truck like nature". Hey CR, I got some news for you geniuses, it is a truck! What did they expect? I guess CR thinks it should ride like a Lexus and still magically have a 1,500 Lb payload capacity and off-road capabilities. These folks are seriously lacking common sense. This viewpoint is as absurd as 4x4 Magazine reviewing a Lexus sedan and complaining that it sucks at rock crawling and giving it a poor review. Compare trucks to trucks and luxury cars to luxury cars, don't try to make a truck into a luxury sedan. That being said, my Colorado rides better than my wife's fully loaded Elantra.

I want to see them do this and make it seem like a real review.

 

[CaryBosse]

I...This viewpoint is as absurd as 4x4 Magazine reviewing a Lexus sedan and complaining that it sucks at rock crawling and giving it a poor review. ...

I want to see them do this and make it seem like a real review.

The difference is, at the end of the day, the truck may deliver you to your destination in a lot more varied circumstances/road conditions with your payload, the Lexus, probably not.

If all you ever do is haul yourself, since most cars I see typically only have a driver, down the highway, the Lexus is fine.

That Lexus would have been a pain hauling that 1,000 pounds of landscaping materials home from the landscaping yard, and I don't want to imagine it towing the Saturn Vue or my Jeep Wrangler like I did this past weekend. I want even touch on the camping trips, but I could always go back to the Wrangler on those. Ouch, CR thinks less of my Wrangler than any pickup truck on the road.

Does Consumer Reports have a solution?

1. Park an old truck in the driveway and only use it when you need to haul something, thereby providing the most safety and best MPGs in your daily driver? However, what is the overall costs to the consumer in insurance, tags, and maintenance of a second vehicle?

2. Rent a vehicle anytime you actually need to transport something other than people? Extra costs and aggravation of rental.

3. Buy a truck that can handle your daily driving needs, gets moderately good MPG as compared to cars of just a few years ago, can handle your people hauling duties, your weekend warrior duties, camping trips, etc. so I only have to expend money to support one vehicle in terms of purchase price, insurance, tags, and maintenance.


DING, DING, DING. I choose Option 3.

All choices are a compromise. For the last 30 years, I have tried to keep a SUV, large minivan, or truck in the garage to handle many of my duties. I tried to stretch the use of a Wrangler for 6 1/2 years into that role, it was difficult. Fun vehicle, but doesn't cover the broad range of my needs.

I wonder how growing up we survived with out a truck, but with 5 kids before crew cabs were a fad and before we knew what the letters SUV would mean, a car was our solution. My dad was pretty good at tying loads on the roof, we did have that awe-inspiring Rambler station wagon for a few years, we made do. If I had known what I was missing, I probably would not have owned 2 cars before I finally broke down and entered the ranks of what CR would consider the savages on the road, and purchased a truck.

 

[Jayhawk]

CR is pretty lame for anything automotive. They should stick with reviewing mixers and toaster ovens.

I have never put much stock in CR's auto reviews. Most car guys I know never have either.

 

[Jimsc]

These Consumer report reviews are a joke. They complain about the ride as being rough? This is the only truck review that I have read where the ride was an issue. I'm not sure what they are comparing it to, but it rides good for a truck!

 

[bsn64]

3. Buy a truck that can handle your daily driving needs, gets moderately good MPG as compared to cars of just a few years ago, can handle your people hauling duties, your weekend warrior duties, camping trips, etc. so I only have to expend money to support one vehicle in terms of purchase price, insurance, tags, and maintenance.

DING, DING, DING. I choose Option 3.

I live in the Lake Michigan lake effect snow belt. Along with the other items you mentioned... Part of my daily driving needs include being able to drive into work in 14" of snow at 3AM if an emergency should arise. There are not many sedans that can do that very well. That makes a truck the best all around option for me too.

 

[Vois]

I must say although I own the sister Canyon model, I agree with what Consumer Reports said, they were honest.
Although I do think the "engine" issues are more related to transmission programming than the engine itself.

 

[DanR7985]

Why would anyone care if my dials, panels, and switches are hard to the touch? Heck I didn't even notice because on the list of things I care about in my whole life it is near the bottom. If you notice things like that I think you need to spend more time paying attention to your driving and less attention to the feel of the knobs.

I personally love the seat comfort. Sometimes a lumbar support would be nice, but only maybe 5% of the time for me. I could potentially agree with the telescoping steering wheel not moving enough for some people, but for me personally I don't even need to mess with it.

I have no idea where they think that about the ride though. I have had it on gravel, interstate, sand, ruts, blacktop, fields, and overgrown hunting areas. I think the ride over everything was fantastic. Yeah you are going to feel it dropping a tire into a several inch deep hole. What vehicle aren't you going to feel that in, unless it is equipped with high performance racing shocks or something of the like?

They went crazy over the backup camera and the tailgate damepener. Yeah I have them, but that is also near the bottom of things I care about even though it does add to the overall greatness of the truck. I'm more glad that the tailgate locks.

I could probably say more, but I'm tired of typing.

 

[steamloco76]

The GM LFX 3.6 is a very rev happy powerplant which is somewhat at odds with what most expect in a truck. Once it's above 2K RPM it pulls darn well cleanto the redline. I like the engine, though for towing Chevy should make the rear end ratio 3.73 instead of 3.42. Silverado tow packages get the 3.55 with the 5.3, though both trucks suffer from transmissions programmed to stubbornly grab and hold higher gears. Come on GM, give us a program re-mapping update.

Ive been a CR subscriber for years. Their measurements, specs and reliability charts are helpful. The actual car reviews, well lets just say you shouldn't take them as gospel! I bought a new 2004 Camry based on a CR review. They said the Camry had solid handling and good road feel. No, it drove like a 1980's Buick.Floaty ride, numb steering and horrible understeer coupled with lousy brakes made me hate that car! It also wasn't particularly reliable either.