Autoblog - Consumer Reports rates half-ton pickups, raises eyebrows!

[GMusa]

Consumer Reports rates half-ton pickups, raises eyebrows

Posted Aug 6th 2007 6:00PM by John Neff
Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Chevrolet, Toyota


While we do respect the folks over at Consumer Reports, we do not envy them. Whether the subject is vacuums, lawnmowers or half-ton pickups, nearly every test they perform is scrutinized down to the tiniest of details. We suppose it goes with the reputation of being the most reliable source of production information for consumers, but it's gotta be hell on the nerves.




In its most recent issue, CR is publishing a report on half-ton pickups that might have some crying foul and revisiting claims the publication is biased in favor of imports. Included in the test are the 2007 Toyota Tundra 5.7L V8, 2007 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3L V8, 2007 Ford F-150 5.4L V8 and 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L V8. The report puts an emphasis on towing, and (spoiler alert) the Toyota Tundra received the best score of the four pickups. The Tundra also received the "Recommended" label from CR (as did the Dodge Ram 1500), and was awarded a predicted reliability rating of "Very Good" thanks to the past performance of all Toyota's in CR's reader survey results.

We can already hear the grumbling. The domestic half-tons are offered in such a dizzying array of configurations, why didn't CR choose to buy a Silverado with the larger 6.0L V8 and a 4.10 rear-axle ratio (a no-cost option that would have matched the Tundra's ratio)? Jake Fisher, a senior automotive engineer for Consumer Reports, told Mike Levine at Pickuptruck.com, "For our readers, fuel economy is more important than gaining an extra second or two faster time 0 to 60, and we tested the trucks we felt were configured as our subscribers would use them."



It seems clear that CR could've have made an effort to more closely match the configuration of each truck in this test, specifically the Silverado, but they instead chose to test configurations that they felt were the most popular with consumers. We take their explanation at face value, but considering the Tundra is brand new to market and has fewer configurations, it seems a bit unfair to pit Toyota's monster 5.7L and a rear-axle ratio better suited to towing against a less optimally configured Silverado, especially when a more capable Silverado is available.

Mike Levine does a better job of explaining the intricacies involved here than we can, especially considering he just completed his big Heavy-Duty Shootout and probably knows more about testing pickups than anyone on the planet. He's also read the article in question, which we haven't. Click the Read link to get his take, as well as more quotes from CR itself.



Tags: chevy, chevy silverado, ChevySilverado, consumer reports, ConsumerReports, half-ton, half-ton pickups, half-ton pickupts, Half-tonPickups, Half-tonPickupts, silverado, toyota, toyota tundra, ToyotaTundra, tundra

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[marinerbc]

No surprises here; CR did what they usually do.

[GMusa]

You have got to be kidding me! CR are a bunch of idiots! I cant believe how one sided they are, they have hatrid against U.S. automakers! Pick trucks that actually compare against each other!!

And the Tundra being more reliable then the Silverado and F-150 is just nuts!

I hope people see past their biased views!

[ZvetteGuy]

I hope that CR eats their own words and opinions about all of this...

Could you imagine if the 5.7 v8's the Toys have in their engine bays would be nothing more than junk and not reliable?! Wow... that is something to think about... but, based off of the CR reports... Toyota is infallable...

[genjy]

The report puts an emphasis on towing, and (spoiler alert) the Toyota Tundra received the best score of the four pickups.

lol pwned.

[likearock00]

I take CR reviews with a grain of salt. So many other car mags have tested these 2, and the Chevy has come out almost always on top. It wouldn't change my choice when it comes down to a purchase, so I could care less.

[A.J.]

What was weird to me, was that the Chevrolet Avalanche was rated above all the trucks in their list.

[GMusa]

I take CR reviews with a grain of salt. So many other car mags have tested these 2, and the Chevy has come out almost always on top. It wouldn't change my choice when it comes down to a purchase, so I could care less.

Your right.. in pretty much all of the other reviews by trusted people, the Silverado/Sierra came out as the BEST truck and buy!

I also would still walk into a Chevy/GMC dealership and buy a Silverado/Sierra without thinking twice.. knowning that I am getting the best truck available!

[jeffnvme]

Consumer Reports Tow Tests and Ranks Half Ton and Heavy Duty Pickups. By: Mike Levine Posted: 08-06-07 15:00 PT
© 2007 PickupTruck.com
Page: [1] [2] [3]
Consumer Reports has just released its latest rankings for full size pickup trucks and the results prove one thing – pickups are a pain in the arse to compare.
I've got a lot of respect for Consumer Reports. Some folks say CR has a bias favoring import vehicles, but there’s no reason to believe the hype. What’s in it for them? They don’t receive a penny in advertising from the automakers and they purchase all of their test vehicles directly from the same place you or I would, at a dealer. And CR examines all the vehicles it tests at its own world class facility in Connecticut, where cars and trucks are subjected to 50 different performance tests with the best vehicle instrumentation money can buy.

Read More..

www.pickuptruck.com/html/news/miscnews/cr071.html

[RamJet502]

I hate Consumer Reports, the way they rationalize putting a Silverado with 3.73 gears against a Dodge with 3.92s and a Toyota with 4.10s is pathetic.

[WishIhadatruck]

What was weird to me, was that the Chevrolet Avalanche was rated above all the trucks in their list.

They must rate the design highly. They rated the Avalanche the highest at times in the past as well with the previous generation.

I think they consider safety as a high priority and it hurts the domestics when certain features such as side air bags aren't standard. They also rate fuel efficiency high also. The Toyota was the most powerful and the most fuel efficient at the same time. Other magazines have seen the same results with fuel efficiency compared to the Chevy.

I'd buy a Chevy first of course, but the Toyota is a very impressive truck.

[CaptianStu]

Well we don't like the results and they could have matched the trucks better for towing.

Still though, the Tundra got the best mpg with it's 4.30 rear. Even the 5.3 with econo gears got worse mileage. Imagine if they had the 4.10's in there or the 6.0 they would have faulted GM severly for mileage. The Tundra was also faster 0-60 towing 7,400lbs than the HD diesels they tested.

It's hard to forget about Toyo's powertrain even considering everything else GM does much better which is basically the rest of the truck.

[Xenon]

I bleieve that there is some in-depth discussion oon why the Silverado got the rating on pickuptruck.com. It basically boils down to not choosing any of the options that can effect fuel economy.

But one thing that really baffles me is WHY didnt they choose the 6.0 over the 5.3? Everyone else in the comparo is using the highest engine available.

And the Silvy really needs the 6 speed and the 6.2, like now at the very least. Its pretty lame how GM is reserving it for the 45K Denali instead of the lower models.

[RamJet502]

Still though, the Tundra got the best mpg with it's 4.30 rear. Even the 5.3 with econo gears got worse mileage. Imagine if they had the 4.10's in there or the 6.0 they would have faulted GM severly for mileage. The Tundra was also faster 0-60 towing 7,400lbs than the HD diesels they tested.

How do we even know the numbers they give are accurate?

[mikesright]

I bleieve that there is some in-depth discussion oon why the Silverado got the rating on pickuptruck.com. It basically boils down to not choosing any of the options that can effect fuel economy.

But one thing that really baffles me is WHY didnt they choose the 6.0 over the 5.3? Everyone else in the comparo is using the highest engine available.

And the Silvy really needs the 6 speed and the 6.2, like now at the very least. Its pretty lame how GM is reserving it for the 45K Denali instead of the lower models.

By mid 2008, they'll all Vortec Max models will switch to the 6.2L and all trucks will have six speed trannies. What consumer reports did was idiotic, though. I just hope all the Tundra 5.7 owners have fun changing that timing belt!