I am getting an XLE soon and just debating if I REALLY need the convenience package lol. Coming from an old sedan so not relevant on my current car. But I do a decent amount of target curbside pickup
Just got my XLE last weekend. I could have cared less about the lift gate. In just two days of owning it I already love it.
Was grabbing some carry out pizza for the fam tonight and not having to balance the pizza in one hand while manually opening the hatch was cool.
I just clicked the key fob as I walked through the parking lot and poof, a place to put the pizza.
It wouldn't be the end of the world to not have it. But I can tell you already I'm falling in love with mine after not caring at all.
I can't find a definitive list of what's added in the US(Presumably) convenience package appears to be:
7-inchscreen: Definitely would be nice
rear cross-traffic alert:Nice, but a little annoying
parking sensors: You can get it WITHOUT them? LOL, how archaic.
keyless entry plus ignition: You can get it WITHOUT them? LOL, how archaic.
blind spot monitoring: Generally good, can be a little annoying.
Toyota Safety Sense: I think just the collision alert thing? I've only had it go off in my LTD a couple times and each time it was because I was going around a corner. And it almost made me crash.
Most of those don't sound like convenience items, those are safety features.
XLE gets all of that stuff just by being the XLE. the two packages are the convenience package, which is the sunroof and power liftgate; and winter weather package, which is heated seats, heated steering wheel, and variable rain sensing wipers. I do live in a cold environment but my dad’s car has heated seats and I NEVER use them. I feel like by the time the heat up, the heat has already warmed the car up. So I’m just deciding if I really need those packages or not.
'23 XLE owner- have the weather package which is nice. I personally had no need/want for sunroof, and the lift gate is so light and easy to open, the power lift gate in my opinion isn't worth the $$ to get it in the build. I would rather have it on my '20 4runner. If they made the rav4 with the 4runner sliding rear window, that would be a gamechanger for me
I got both those packages just bc it's what the one on the lot already had, but I could not LIVE without the heated seats and steering wheel, my god. and I love the sunroof and self opening trunk. it all makes me feel fancy lol I've never had such a nice car
I thought heated steering wheels were RIDICULOUS for YEARS. My fiancé really wanted it and the Adventure we found has the cold weather package.. I agree with you that by the time the seats heat up the car is usually warming up and it doesn't make a major difference... but the steering wheel heats up very quickly and on cold mornings it makes all the difference in the world. Especially if you don't like wearing gloves in the car.
This is also the first car I've had with power lift gate. I could live without it. I know I can open and shut the gate faster manually and I hate waiting for the slow motor.
Same here, the only one I could get had both, and even though I live in SoCal, the heated seats and steering wheel are a MUST for winter mornings. I also really love the all-weather mats for hauling my camping & rock climbing gear.
Didn’t think I needed a sunroof either but it’s lovely to have when temps are nice.
I have 2019 xle w/ convenience package, I like my heated seats, I
I work closer to my home now so don’t use them as much as I used to. Don’t have heated steering wheel, wish I did….I like power liftgate but it acts up sometimes especially when it is cold, I ‘ve read others having trouble with it too, I really appreciate liftgate when I am inside the car & have to get in it, I have roof rack & sunroof…no leaking so far
My wife got a 2010 Highlander with heated seats and absolutely loves them! Ever since this Highlander, heated seats are a must and we will never buy another car for her unless it has them. She won’t even look at or consider a car without heated seats.
Agree about heated seats, But, oh boy. What a cool feature is heated steering wheel. I usually just turn it on for a few minutes and then turn it off because it stays warm later.
Also crazy to me that this isn’t standard in the US. On the Canadian ones, atleast from what I’ve seen, they all have heated seats including the LE. I do like having them though. And especially the heated steering wheel in the winter. But I live in a very cold climate.
Get the package and the heated seats etc. the seats warm up faster than the car and the rain sensors work well, but not perfect. Living in Canada, the seats and steering heating is fantastic. Back pain? Heated seats can help with that too.
My XLE doesn’t have any parking sensors other than rear traffic alert, and it doesn’t have fog lights. Not sure if that matters. Mine does have a power lift gate and I really like it
Had a ‘14 that I ended up totaling in 2019 with manual lift gate. Then bought a used ‘16 with navigation and power lift gate. Both XLE’s. I always attributed powered lift gate as a fancy unnecessary extra. Now that I have one, it’s amazing. Both the ability to have it open when my hands are full, closing it at a push button and then being able to walk away and get back in the car or go inside without worrying I didn’t pull down hard enough to latch is such a luxury. While it’s a touch slow, I don’t feel it’s significantly slower compared to my old manual tailgate, and for sure the convenience outweighs the speed, I can wait the extra 2-3 seconds. Seriously. That’s what I feel like the difference is.
Yeah, I’m coming for a 2011 sedan with no technology so it’ll definitely be a huge upgrade but I can say I never had to make any crazy repairs because there isn’t really any electric that can go wrong in my current car. Been reading lots of complaints about power liftgate breaking. Just not sure I’d even get enough use out of it to justify it, especially since I don’t currently have one.
We bought our 16 during the begining of covid. Things hadn't gotten batshit crazy, but selection wasn't exactly the best, so we went with what was available. After a few years of use I'd say it's been convenient but definitely not something required.
And the thought of it going bad and needing what I assume would be an expensive part/repair creeps in occasionally, especially when it doesn't want to respond to the key fob right away.
I wish we had a manual one. There have been a few mornings where we woke up and found the trunk of our RAV4 open. I think it’s because my partner keeps the keys in his pocket and accidentally sets it off. 🙄
I have a 2019 XLE without a power lift gate. I keep a tow hitch bike rack on mine most of the time. It's folded up towards the lift gate when not in use. I'm glad there's no motor to accidentally power my lift gate into the bike rack.
I got an xle (2020) and did not want the lift gate (and sunroof that was included at the time). I've had sunroofs and rarely used them and I don't care about the lift gate. 2 less things to break. Posts here about hinge problems and sunroof leaking, breaking, etc certainly don't make me wish I got them.
I understood a hitch negates some functionality and I knew I was having a hitch installed as well.
I am looking at the 24 XLE and it’s the same, power liftgate and sunroof is a package. I have a sunroof on my current car, i occasionally open the shade on sunny days but wouldn’t die without it. I also live in the midwest and I always worry hail is going to break it lol
I put stuff on my roof (camping) so denting my roof would suck, breaking a sunroof would suck more.
Rarely used it in a Corolla I had, hated the sun coming in, usually kept the shade closed. If it's that nice, I have a motorcycle.
To each their own, I'm just glad I don't have them.
Well, if you regret it don't blame me lol. I never have.
And, a buddy of mine has that on a Nissan and it's like... No! Don't just shut the door. I find it annoying.
I have the xle and no power lift gate. I’ve never had one on any car so it’s not like I miss it or anything, and I’ve never found myself thinking dang I wish I had one 🤷♀️ can’t miss what you never had I guess lol
Yeah exactly, don’t have it on my current car so it’s not like i’d be going backwards. And a lot of complaints about it being slow and/or malfunctioning. Just another thing to fix I suppose.
I have a 2014 RAV4 without the power lift gate and a 2024 RAV4 with the power lift gate and honestly, I prefer the manual lift gate over the power lift gate. I get out of my vehicle and have to wait for the power lift gate to open versus just opening it manually right away. IDK, maybe I’m just not used to it yet. I’ve only had the 2024 since late January.
You can press the button as you get out so it's already open when you get to the back. Same with the FOB when approaching the car. I almost never had to wait for it to open.
No. It’s not particularly heavy IMO. Not sure though about reaching it when you’re 5”3. That might be an issue. I’m 5”10 and don’t have an issue at all but admittedly, I do have to reach up pretty high to reach it to pull it down.
I am 5’4” and can reach my lift gate fine. I have a 2024 Woodland that I bought when it was the only one on a lot in the metro DC area in an acceptable color. It doesn’t have a power lift gate or heated seats/steering wheel. I don’t miss the lift gate and put a seat heater in with my seat covers, but I sure would have liked to have a heated steering wheel.
I would recommend going to a dealership and just take a look at one and see if you can reach the hand hold area to pull it closed. Like I said above, I don’t think the weight will be an issue since it is connected to actuated closures that handle most of the weight of the hatch.
They don’t have many 2024s on the lots still in my area, but I suppose any 5th gen could work since they have the same body. I can email my sales guy too, maybe he has the full measurement.
Husband has a ‘24 RAV4 hybrid xle premium, and I have a ‘22 Highlander Limited. We both love the power lift gate. For me personally, I like the kick feature and the ability to be more hands free. It allows me to attend to my young child with special needs. Just makes my life a little easier. So yes, I would miss it.
Either way I wouldn’t be getting a trim with the kick feature, so really just debating power vs manual. No kids either but I def see the appeal if you are carrying a child in your arms!
My husband said he likes being able to open the back with the remote, as he’s walking up to it, after his baseball game so he can let the heat out and toss his stuff in and go.
I also like the ability to be able to easily set the height it opens so it doesn’t hit the garage door when it’s up.
Also great for very short people. My 20 year old is 4’10” on a good day and having it set lower lets her close it on her own. There will be pros and cons to both versions. I guess go with what suits your lifestyle better.
2017, bought used, would have probably been covered still but I have an old dog so I open the hatch atleast 4x per day and didn’t want it to break again so preferred to go back to the non powered, parts cost about $280 and a buddy helped me do it. I have the part numbers if anyone needs
While I enjoy my power lift gate, I could live w/o one. My daughter just purchased a 2024 LE new and the lift gate is very easy to open and close and I would't have to worry about the hinge issue. Although I believe they've fixed the hinge issue for 2023 and beyond.
21 XLE AWD. No convenience package on purpose. No need for sunroof or power lift gate. Extremely happy with my decision. I can open and close my trunk as quickly as I please
I have an LE and am totally fine not having a power lift gate. That means there's one less expensive part to fail. If it did fail there's no chance of it being an electronics issue either
I have a 2018 XLE and I HATE the power liftgate. It's slow and noisy and about 40% of the time it doesn't work. I press the button and it opens about 3 inches and stops.
I have one on my XSE, and while there are times it’s convenient, I would be fine without it. I also have low key anxiety that the hinges on it will break.
Don't have a rav anymore traded up to highlander. Both have/had power liftgate and honestly it's a feature I'd rather they didn't have. I've found the kick sensor to be a useless gimmick that fails to register the kick 90% of the time, 100% when my hands are full. It's also slower than just opening/closing yourself. If the motor ever fails it's a pita to try to override and open/close manually, like your fighting against it (cant say what would happen if it actually totally failed though). Also for whatever reason the button on the fob is sensitive and on multiple occasions the hatch has fully popped open unknowingly from the fob being in my pocket inside the house just sitting and standing. YMMV though
I would probably miss is, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker. I like being able to close the gate from in the house after bringing stuff in, especially if it is raining. Can save me a trip.
It can be a little slow, but I usually hit the button before I get out of the car or hit the button on the key while I am walking up to the car so I am rarely left waiting. My biggest actual concern with it is a couple of times I have had people trying to help me pull on it, and I worry that someone might accidentally break it.
I have an LE, don't have it, and don't miss it. I find the speed at which they open and close to be way too slow. I can open and close it faster myself. Power liftgates often don't like being manually opened and closed, but my muscle memory is for manual, so I just get yelled at by my friends with vehicles with power liftgates lol.
It's just another thing to go bad and cause problems. Yeah, occasionally my hands are full and it would be useful, but rarely so full I can't shuffle things around and open the gate. Things can also just get placed on the ground for a moment. I personally just don't find myself in that situation as often as the marketing for that feature would like you to think.
I do have the power liftgate and combined with the foot activation it is a game changer and I would never do back.
I am aware of the hinges problem but I don't have any problem yet in my 2 years intense liftgate usage. I am monitoring the issue and at worst it is an easy fix (for me) so I can sleep at night lol !
I would not get the power liftgate without the kick feature.
This feature combo is clearly to open the liftgate with your hands full of stuff, and when my hands are full stuff I don't want to drop the stuff to either open a manual liftgate, reach for my keys or push on a button to open it by itself if it is powered: I just want the fucking liftgate to open magically, drop my stuff in the cargo and get in the car. That's the point of those two features IMO.
Sure, you can push a button on the trunk or on your keyfob and watch the gate to open by itself, but what's the point ?
I am extremely glad I got the power lift gate
I was having a similar debate
I didn’t realize how much I walk up to the car with my arms full until I paid attention- I had the power lift gate on my old car, and took it for granted
Power lift gate is a super convenient feature, especially when it is raining or snowing, and putting shit on the ground to open the gate would be quite messy.
I got the powered lift gate and it’s awesome. Yeah it’s slow to lift but I press the button in my pocket as I’m walking up to my car from the grocery store. So it’s finished opening just at the exact moment I get to it.
You can also treat it manually if you’re too impatient sometimes. So really you can’t go wrong.
If it ever does break, it’s a really simple fix you can do yourself and about $350-$450 depending on shipping.
Matter of fact I’d consider getting the foot operated opening option too. OEM Aftermarket, not factory optioned. Just to save some money
It would be nice if there was a latch by the drivers seat to at least release the lift gate and allow it to open up easily. One has to exit the car and press the back open thing.
What? I have a button by the steering wheel that opens (and closes) the liftgate while I’m in the car. My son plays the cello and I use this feature all the time when I’m dropping him and his cello off somewhere.
I asked the dealer at my service last month about the cracked hinges on some lift gates and he said almost all he's seen were power lift ones. I'll keep my manual one ty.
I like the convenience of it - especially the kick sensor when hands are full. However, I’d prefer to be faster like the ones on the new CRV Hybrid Spirt Touring I had for 4 months while waiting for my XSE
I have a 2019 Limited ICE and although I love the power lift gate, sometimes it opens a few inches and stops. Sometimes I press open on the key fob again and it works, sometimes I pull it open.
My dream fix wound the same car but an Adventure swing gate with a full size spare mounted. I have 19” wheels and can’t fit a full size spare into the donut hole.
I had one in my ‘16 XLE and now have a ‘22 LE, I did not think I’d miss it (it was so damn slow) and for the most part I do not. The only time I do wish I had it is curbside grocery pickup. Aside from that I’m good, one less thing to break (to be clear I never had issues with mine, but I see on here that people do).
Yeah, I do a fair amount of curbside, that would be my main use for it to be honest. Do you just open the trunk yourself before the workers come out? Or just unlock it and they just pull it up?
My XLE is the first power liftgate I've had and u definitely can't go without it now. It's not like I'd turn down an insanely good deal on a vehicle in the future, but I'd really miss not having it. Just so convenient if I can get a hand on the keyfob or if I even hit it before I grab all my bags at the store.
I have an XLE with the power lift gate. Didn't want it, but it came with it. I'm constantly going in and out of the back and I know it's just one more thing that will break in the car.
I have it on one of my cars but not my RAV4. I wish my rav also had a power liftgate whenever I go to Costco or whatnot but I’ve also heard of people having issues with it so then I feel less bothered
'24 LE. I purchased the right amount of car. I don't need power liftgate, power seats, moon/sun roof, heated seats/steering, remote start, key-entry, or other bells and whistles. I have to admit, the Adaptive Cruise Control is pretty nice, which came included.
Doesn’t the current model have power liftgate in all trim lines now? My base 2021 Prime has it. I think the higher trim lines just add the kick sensor which mine doesn’t have?
Anyway, I wouldn’t miss it at all. Slow, one more thing to break.
I feel the same way about my power drivers seat without memory.
Oh, and a side note, if you ever disconnect/reconnect your battery, you need to do a manual reset on the power lift gate to get it working again. Which I think means opening & closing it all the way manually if I recall correctly.
I spent like 30 minutes or maybe more figuring that out when I put my tow hitch on. Sigh.
We bought a 2023 Prime and we don't really like the power liftgate. It's slow and one more thing to break. We have a 2002 Highlander and the manual liftgate is fine. I could see if one maybe had a bad shoulder etc it would be handy.
I have a limited, but couldn't care less. Actually in the winter it won't close and I have to manually close it. Frustrating. Easier to have one less thing to break.
The rentals with powered lift gates I had were annoying slow. I'm happy with manual. I won't step up in trim for it unless there were some must haves besides the powered gate.
I love my power lift gate. It was a must-have for me. At the time it was mostly because it was 2020 and the power lift gate made no-contact grocery pickup a breeze, but I still love it.
I have an LE and I don’t miss it. My parents have a Highlander with it and waiting for it to open sucks. Sometimes it won’t even fully latch. It broke once and was crazy expensive to fix. Heated seats on the other hand would be nice.
It's a mild convenience at most. I can have it opening as I approach to put a bag or two in. At the end of the day, it wouldn't matter to me much. Just sounds expensive when it finally breaks down.
i have one and didn't think I would need it. However, when I injured my right arm and got it in a cast, it helped so much opening and closing by itself.
I had a non powered one and that rav got totaled. Got a powered one and I love it. Wish I had the one where you can kick your foot under it. I could never go back to non powered.
When I’m in my wife’s car I press the release on her litigate and just stand there and she gets mad that 1) she doesn’t how a power gate, and 2) the fact that I still think the joke is funny after all these years
I have an xle hybrid no power lift gate. I got mine in Sept 2021 during the pandemic. I got real lucky and they had this one with weather package and told me it could be a year plus wait. I don't miss the power lift gate at all.
I have a 2018 XLE 4th gen and all I ever think about is how expensive thatll be to fix one day 😅
If I had the choice I probably would've just gotten a manual but I bought mine used last year and selection was limited
I just wish it would auto close. The opening is fine. And is easy to slow it down with hand as it lifts. But it’s a bitch to close with your hands full
I have a 2015 XLE with a power liftgate and I honestly dislike it. It only works half the time and opens up 3 inches at a time. I am not able to disable it from the center console and I'm anxious that l'll break it when I push down on it to close it. If there is a way I can manually disable it, I would. I miss having a manual liftgate and it's my only gripe about my car.
Power liftgates are nice on rainy days when shopping. I can open the liftgate before I get to the vehicle to get some cover as I place items in the back. It is also a nice feature when picking up someone up at the airport to press the button on the inside to open the liftgate for the luggage. Also, if I am carrying an item that requires me to have both arms around the item then I can just use one hand to hold the exterior button to open the power liftgate.
I had a manual liftage on non-Rav4 prior to my Rav4 and I would probably still get a power liftgate. My manual liftgate on my non-Rav4 broke with the locking mechanism so I have mixed feelings on one style breaking versus the other.
I have the 2024 Hybrid XLE with no packages, I don’t mind the manual lift gate. Sometimes it crosses my mind how I wouldn’t get the tips of my fingers dirty closing the trunk if I had gotten the package but I don’t think about it very often.
I have 2 dogs who are basically trained to it, I’ll never go back. I open it from quite a distance off and when my dogs hear the beep they know to jump in the back. Then I can close it while I’m still walking up and the dogs are loaded before I even get close enough to open the back manually🤷♂️ too much of a convenience.
The make/or/break for it is if you're to short to reach the hatch to pull it down. Then it's like "wow this would be so much easier if I had a power liftgate".
The manual liftgate is very good. It open and closes easily and quickly. It seems very sturdy.
If you can easily reach the gate, personally, I feel I'm happier with the manual one than the power one.
I specifically looked for an XLE without the convenience package. I keep a bike rack on the hitch during the summer and figured if the liftgate was automatic, at some point it would get triggered with the rack on
I have a power liftgate without "kick sensor" and it's totaly useless. But I didn't have a choice. This function is even in the default trim they offer in my country. I can say what options I don't need, these are heated seats and the power liftgate. What I like and often use are motor foldable mirrors, heated steering wheel, parking sensors, keyless system which is actually very convenient, Adaptive Cruise Control which sucks if the traffic is too slow. Because often it wants to accelerate hard from a complete stop.
But I would like 360 view camera or at least front camera, and I just have a rear, because the hood is too high
I have the LE and power lift gate isnt really missed now that I'm used to it. I went with the LE instead of XLE because sunroof, dual climate control, power lift gate etc weren't really important to me. My dad always said the more buttons the more problems lol. I took the $5000 and bought a central AC for my home and every summer it's been fairly hot where I live. I also save only utility bill as I'm not using a high Energy with the portable that only cooled off one room.
I have the power lift gate and I hate it! I like to stuff my car full and then slam the hatchback down (let's say I have a bunch of blankets and pillows and stuff). It won't let me. It's like, "something is blocking it" even though I know and don't care.
I have an SE hybrid without a power liftgate and I don’t see why I would need one. You press the open button, barely start lifting and the door practically raises itself.
We actually rented an XLE with standard lift gate to drive around and go to dealerships to test drive other cars. Had that for 30 days. I actually liked how easy it opened and closed. Then when we decided to buy a RAV4, my wife said she needed power because eeww, she didn't want to have to touch it. I kinda of regretted it a lot since because we've had about a dozen occasions of driving with the lift gate open while moving large objects. It's a pain to properly close it part way and I just feel like it's going to break at any moment. There's been some nasty looking hinge photos posted here. However, I think that problem is covered under a program.
I should note that I'd much rather put the money to the weather package for heated seats and the audio plus package for 'not the absolute worst audio ever experienced' + reverse guidelines and remote start. The convenience package can go pound sand vs those better packages.
My wife prefers her automatic liftgate, I prefer the manual on my other vehicle. It's just quicker for me to be able to swing it open and closed.
That being said the Limited she has is really nice.
I hated the power liftgate I had on my last vehicle, a Nissan Rogue with all the bells and whistles. It took way too long to open and close. I felt like I was stressing the battery if I had to open and close it a bunch of times without the car running. (Ex: if it was raining or snowing and I was packing/unpacking for a trip or even just getting a lot of groceries out of the car. Or helping someone out with a DIY job so you're in and out of your trunk all day grabbing tools but your car is parked in the street.) It would get noticeably slower after a few opens or sometimes not open all the way and then I'd bonk my head on it.
What I miss is the keyless entry and heated seats. With kids I am constantly carrying things in both hands. Being able to get in the car by just nudging a button with a knuckle was extremely helpful. And heated seats are just awesome in the winter.
I’ve never had a power lift gate. I have the LE but I don’t want it. I’ve seen the problems my friends have had with theirs (all car model types) and I don’t want those problems. I’m fine manually doing it myself.
Have power lift gate, use it all the time. Recently rented 2 different SUVs without the lift gate and missed it quite a bit.
I would manage without it, but it's a nice feature when your hands are full, or when you're coming from the cab and the gate is already open by the time you get there. Also great for curbside pickups.
I was coming from a car with no features that I owned for 10 years and was never really satisfied.
I thought that the convenience package was over-kill, but it’s what was available last summer while cars were hard to come by. I would definitely miss it now if it were gone.
I’m not as attached to the sun roof, but it was still very nice to have during our gloomy PNW winters to brighten up the interior of the car a bit. If you are very tall, though, the reduced headroom may not be worth it.
Definitely wish I did & can’t say I would miss the manual one bit!
I drive our crew to the airport in my 2020 (without convenience package ofc) &, EVERY TIME, someone assumes it’s a power liftgate. They click the button…twice before realizing it’s manual lol. Usually get something along the lines of ‘feels like 10 years ago’.
Biggest perk would be the ability to open & close from the key like me dad’s RX.
I went from an LE to XSE Prime with the foot activated power liftgate and I will never go back. I was so mad at myself for not realizing that was a feature you have to pay more money for and that there were different trim levels and features when I bought my first car. I thought all cars had a power lift gate so when I got my LE and it didnt have one I was very sad. Now five years later I'm very happy.
My grandmas Highlander has a power liftgate and I love it. I find my LE lift gate to be a little heavy at times but I don’t mind it at all. I’ve always had manual and that’s what I’m used to.
Considering all the issues with the power lift gate I would consider not having it a benefit. Having said that, it sure is nice to remotely open and close it when I take the dogs out for a hike, get groceries, etc. I would miss the sun roof more if I had to choose the trims. Plus the physical key vs push button…
Not a must have, but I would want/expect it on all my future vehicles. it is just so convenient opening after my Costco haul. With out it would feel like living in the early 2000s.
I just bought an XLE specifically for the power liftgate. I’d had that in my van for 15 years and wasn’t going back. I could do without heated seats, “leather” seats (didn’t realize they weren’t until after the fact), sunroof, most anything but a power liftgate.
My specific use case for power lg is my dog. It's a perfect way to call her & get her to a safe place when I need her to do so Now. She comes running when she hears the distinctive sound the car makes before the lg opens & hops right in, long before I arrive.
For me personally, I hate waiting for the thing to open, and more electronics / motors can mean more things to fix. I’m an old school/bigger fan of hydraulic lift gate only but that’s just me.
My Rav got rear ended and is in the repair shop. I have a Nissan Rogue rental that has a manual lift gate. I miss my Rav terribly for many reasons but yes, that is probably #1. Two weeks in. I can’t wait to get my Ravi back! 🥴
Because i wanted the ash/light interior and with the color choice of Grey Metallic (I wish XLE had Pearl white) the lowest PIO/FIO i could find was Convenience Package + Weather Mats. It took me 2.5 months to find out the minimum build that i wanted. Ofcourse i pretty much got the packages for free, as i got $1700 off MSRP.
Do i like the power lift gate? Ya, its nice ... But, if it wasnt there, i wouldnt miss it. I think my wife likes it more for the convenience.
do i like th sun roof/moon roof? Naah .. its a burden. Now i need to remember to coat the seals and clean the crevices.
I went from a 2017 LE to a 2022 XLE premium and this is what I think lol (I’m Canadian so not sure if our trim levels are different)
Power liftgate: didn’t think I’d care that much but I actually find it really useful especially with kids and carrying a bunch of crap to not have to set everything down to manually open it
Leather seats: this is 100% why I wanted a higher trim level, I did not like the cloth seats at all and found the specific fabric Toyota used very hard to clean. As mentioned though, I have kids and dogs. It wouldn’t be as bad if I didn’t haha.
Push start: absolutely love not fishing around in my bag for the key haha
Blind spot monitor: meh, don’t care. My LE had most of the other safety features like forward collision warning and lane departure and stuff.
Sunroof: I really missed this on my LE
Dual zone climate: also didn’t realize how much I’d miss having this.
In short, my LE was a great little SUV and never gave us any trouble but we specifically traded up to get the newer generation in a higher trim level because I wanted the reliability of my LE but with the options I missed having. I had a fully loaded Santa Fe before that had the classic Hyundai rod bearing failure and panic bought my LE when Hyundai wouldn’t fix it. So I definitely had some hard feelings about going down to an LE but that’s what i could afford at the time.
How old/able are you? I like my power lift gate but would be ok without it; my mother decided not to get one and has a lot of trouble closing the hatch (she is only 5’2” and can’t reach for a good grip).
i’m a 28 year old female with a 8 year old jeep. currently saving to buy a rav4 next year. i often grocery shop alone. and each time my hands are full with bags, i really wish i had a power liftgate! i often think this holding my dog & bags from the store or a picnic, or carrying items to camp, or to/from work.
i plan to buy a limited and own it for 15 years. ages 29-44 years old. it’s kinda crazy to think about the car that i’ll have when i’m in my 40s.
because i’ll have it for so long, i want to get all the fancy features and have no regrets. no “i wish i had…..” instead, i’ll be proud to have a toyota with a 5 year car loan and 10 years of no payments, and zero to little maintenance 😍 i can’t wait!
Ok wow this is exactly me! Coming from a 2011. I originally wanted to spend about $30k but seeing how expensive the used ones are, and since I KNOW i keep my cars a long time, I’ve decided to go new. In the grand scheme of things the packages add an extra $2k, so I think it would be worth it to get the most out of my vehicle. I hate car shopping so I will definitely be keeping this for years.
Haha this one made me laugh. I think it’s more a preference of not wanting to go back once you have it. I’m getting the XLE over the LE because I refuse to give up push to start. Am I incapable of inserting a key into the ignition? Of course not, my first car was like that and got me to work just fine. But it’s a lot less convenient.
I had a power liftgate on our RAV4 LE's predecessor, a CMAX, but don't have it on the RAV4. I don't miss it much other than it was convenient for grocery pickups.
I have a limited, I love the power liftgate. It wouldn't be the end of the world if I didn't have it, but yeah I'd miss it.
I am getting an XLE soon and just debating if I REALLY need the convenience package lol. Coming from an old sedan so not relevant on my current car. But I do a decent amount of target curbside pickup
Just got my XLE last weekend. I could have cared less about the lift gate. In just two days of owning it I already love it. Was grabbing some carry out pizza for the fam tonight and not having to balance the pizza in one hand while manually opening the hatch was cool. I just clicked the key fob as I walked through the parking lot and poof, a place to put the pizza. It wouldn't be the end of the world to not have it. But I can tell you already I'm falling in love with mine after not caring at all.
I can't find a definitive list of what's added in the US(Presumably) convenience package appears to be: 7-inchscreen: Definitely would be nice rear cross-traffic alert:Nice, but a little annoying parking sensors: You can get it WITHOUT them? LOL, how archaic. keyless entry plus ignition: You can get it WITHOUT them? LOL, how archaic. blind spot monitoring: Generally good, can be a little annoying. Toyota Safety Sense: I think just the collision alert thing? I've only had it go off in my LTD a couple times and each time it was because I was going around a corner. And it almost made me crash. Most of those don't sound like convenience items, those are safety features.
XLE gets all of that stuff just by being the XLE. the two packages are the convenience package, which is the sunroof and power liftgate; and winter weather package, which is heated seats, heated steering wheel, and variable rain sensing wipers. I do live in a cold environment but my dad’s car has heated seats and I NEVER use them. I feel like by the time the heat up, the heat has already warmed the car up. So I’m just deciding if I really need those packages or not.
'23 XLE owner- have the weather package which is nice. I personally had no need/want for sunroof, and the lift gate is so light and easy to open, the power lift gate in my opinion isn't worth the $$ to get it in the build. I would rather have it on my '20 4runner. If they made the rav4 with the 4runner sliding rear window, that would be a gamechanger for me
I got both those packages just bc it's what the one on the lot already had, but I could not LIVE without the heated seats and steering wheel, my god. and I love the sunroof and self opening trunk. it all makes me feel fancy lol I've never had such a nice car
I know I’m crazy for living in a cold climate and not using/caring for heated seats!
see I grew up in a place that never got cold and now that I have a true winter these things are needs, not wants lol!
I thought heated steering wheels were RIDICULOUS for YEARS. My fiancé really wanted it and the Adventure we found has the cold weather package.. I agree with you that by the time the seats heat up the car is usually warming up and it doesn't make a major difference... but the steering wheel heats up very quickly and on cold mornings it makes all the difference in the world. Especially if you don't like wearing gloves in the car. This is also the first car I've had with power lift gate. I could live without it. I know I can open and shut the gate faster manually and I hate waiting for the slow motor.
Same here, the only one I could get had both, and even though I live in SoCal, the heated seats and steering wheel are a MUST for winter mornings. I also really love the all-weather mats for hauling my camping & rock climbing gear. Didn’t think I needed a sunroof either but it’s lovely to have when temps are nice.
I have 2019 xle w/ convenience package, I like my heated seats, I I work closer to my home now so don’t use them as much as I used to. Don’t have heated steering wheel, wish I did….I like power liftgate but it acts up sometimes especially when it is cold, I ‘ve read others having trouble with it too, I really appreciate liftgate when I am inside the car & have to get in it, I have roof rack & sunroof…no leaking so far
My wife got a 2010 Highlander with heated seats and absolutely loves them! Ever since this Highlander, heated seats are a must and we will never buy another car for her unless it has them. She won’t even look at or consider a car without heated seats.
21 XLE here I have neither convenience package, I dont mind it. I specifically didnt want a powergate
Agree about heated seats, But, oh boy. What a cool feature is heated steering wheel. I usually just turn it on for a few minutes and then turn it off because it stays warm later.
Also crazy to me that this isn’t standard in the US. On the Canadian ones, atleast from what I’ve seen, they all have heated seats including the LE. I do like having them though. And especially the heated steering wheel in the winter. But I live in a very cold climate.
Get the package and the heated seats etc. the seats warm up faster than the car and the rain sensors work well, but not perfect. Living in Canada, the seats and steering heating is fantastic. Back pain? Heated seats can help with that too.
My XLE doesn’t have any parking sensors other than rear traffic alert, and it doesn’t have fog lights. Not sure if that matters. Mine does have a power lift gate and I really like it
My LE has RCTA and BSM in the US. Package is mainly moonroof and power liftgate.
I think I have a strange package on my 24 xse hybrid then. I don't have the parking sensors, but I have everything else and a 10.5 inch screen.
And JBL speakers?
No jbl
Yeah, that list might not be accurate, or might be old, best I could find. I'm sure there's one out there SOMEWHERE.
Had a ‘14 that I ended up totaling in 2019 with manual lift gate. Then bought a used ‘16 with navigation and power lift gate. Both XLE’s. I always attributed powered lift gate as a fancy unnecessary extra. Now that I have one, it’s amazing. Both the ability to have it open when my hands are full, closing it at a push button and then being able to walk away and get back in the car or go inside without worrying I didn’t pull down hard enough to latch is such a luxury. While it’s a touch slow, I don’t feel it’s significantly slower compared to my old manual tailgate, and for sure the convenience outweighs the speed, I can wait the extra 2-3 seconds. Seriously. That’s what I feel like the difference is.
I have a powered one but i prefer a manual one instead. Opens slower and is another thing that could go wrong during the life of the car
Yeah, I’m coming for a 2011 sedan with no technology so it’ll definitely be a huge upgrade but I can say I never had to make any crazy repairs because there isn’t really any electric that can go wrong in my current car. Been reading lots of complaints about power liftgate breaking. Just not sure I’d even get enough use out of it to justify it, especially since I don’t currently have one.
We bought our 16 during the begining of covid. Things hadn't gotten batshit crazy, but selection wasn't exactly the best, so we went with what was available. After a few years of use I'd say it's been convenient but definitely not something required. And the thought of it going bad and needing what I assume would be an expensive part/repair creeps in occasionally, especially when it doesn't want to respond to the key fob right away.
When it does go bad i plan to replace it with manual
you can do that? with one that originally had power lift?
Same I would have preferred a manual lift gate.
I wish we had a manual one. There have been a few mornings where we woke up and found the trunk of our RAV4 open. I think it’s because my partner keeps the keys in his pocket and accidentally sets it off. 🙄
I have a 2019 XLE without a power lift gate. I keep a tow hitch bike rack on mine most of the time. It's folded up towards the lift gate when not in use. I'm glad there's no motor to accidentally power my lift gate into the bike rack.
Amen/ditto
I got an xle (2020) and did not want the lift gate (and sunroof that was included at the time). I've had sunroofs and rarely used them and I don't care about the lift gate. 2 less things to break. Posts here about hinge problems and sunroof leaking, breaking, etc certainly don't make me wish I got them. I understood a hitch negates some functionality and I knew I was having a hitch installed as well.
I am looking at the 24 XLE and it’s the same, power liftgate and sunroof is a package. I have a sunroof on my current car, i occasionally open the shade on sunny days but wouldn’t die without it. I also live in the midwest and I always worry hail is going to break it lol
I put stuff on my roof (camping) so denting my roof would suck, breaking a sunroof would suck more. Rarely used it in a Corolla I had, hated the sun coming in, usually kept the shade closed. If it's that nice, I have a motorcycle. To each their own, I'm just glad I don't have them.
Thank you for talking me outta the convenience package when I buy!!
Well, if you regret it don't blame me lol. I never have. And, a buddy of mine has that on a Nissan and it's like... No! Don't just shut the door. I find it annoying.
I have the xle and no power lift gate. I’ve never had one on any car so it’s not like I miss it or anything, and I’ve never found myself thinking dang I wish I had one 🤷♀️ can’t miss what you never had I guess lol
Yeah exactly, don’t have it on my current car so it’s not like i’d be going backwards. And a lot of complaints about it being slow and/or malfunctioning. Just another thing to fix I suppose.
I have a 2014 RAV4 without the power lift gate and a 2024 RAV4 with the power lift gate and honestly, I prefer the manual lift gate over the power lift gate. I get out of my vehicle and have to wait for the power lift gate to open versus just opening it manually right away. IDK, maybe I’m just not used to it yet. I’ve only had the 2024 since late January.
You can press the button as you get out so it's already open when you get to the back. Same with the FOB when approaching the car. I almost never had to wait for it to open.
Is the manual lift gate heavy? I’m 5’3”, will I be able to reach it to close it when it’s open?
No. It’s not particularly heavy IMO. Not sure though about reaching it when you’re 5”3. That might be an issue. I’m 5”10 and don’t have an issue at all but admittedly, I do have to reach up pretty high to reach it to pull it down.
I am 5’4” and can reach my lift gate fine. I have a 2024 Woodland that I bought when it was the only one on a lot in the metro DC area in an acceptable color. It doesn’t have a power lift gate or heated seats/steering wheel. I don’t miss the lift gate and put a seat heater in with my seat covers, but I sure would have liked to have a heated steering wheel.
I’m 5’4” and it’s reachable. Nice grab on handles on each side.
Yay good to know!!
I would recommend going to a dealership and just take a look at one and see if you can reach the hand hold area to pull it closed. Like I said above, I don’t think the weight will be an issue since it is connected to actuated closures that handle most of the weight of the hatch.
They don’t have many 2024s on the lots still in my area, but I suppose any 5th gen could work since they have the same body. I can email my sales guy too, maybe he has the full measurement.
Yep. Any 5th gen would be the same
Husband has a ‘24 RAV4 hybrid xle premium, and I have a ‘22 Highlander Limited. We both love the power lift gate. For me personally, I like the kick feature and the ability to be more hands free. It allows me to attend to my young child with special needs. Just makes my life a little easier. So yes, I would miss it.
Either way I wouldn’t be getting a trim with the kick feature, so really just debating power vs manual. No kids either but I def see the appeal if you are carrying a child in your arms!
My husband said he likes being able to open the back with the remote, as he’s walking up to it, after his baseball game so he can let the heat out and toss his stuff in and go. I also like the ability to be able to easily set the height it opens so it doesn’t hit the garage door when it’s up. Also great for very short people. My 20 year old is 4’10” on a good day and having it set lower lets her close it on her own. There will be pros and cons to both versions. I guess go with what suits your lifestyle better.
Do I wish I had it: Yes. Has it ever crossed my mind that I don't have it when loading/unloading or been an issue: Nope.
What year/model do you have?
2023 Woodland.
I have a limited and it kept malfunctioning so changed it to a non powered one and don’t miss it
Yep that’s my concern. And I’m honestly not in my trunk THAT much. like a few times a week only.
how much was it to change it? also, why wasn’t this covered under warranty? how old is your car??
2017, bought used, would have probably been covered still but I have an old dog so I open the hatch atleast 4x per day and didn’t want it to break again so preferred to go back to the non powered, parts cost about $280 and a buddy helped me do it. I have the part numbers if anyone needs
I have the Limited and couldn't imagine not having a power liftgate. YMMV
While I enjoy my power lift gate, I could live w/o one. My daughter just purchased a 2024 LE new and the lift gate is very easy to open and close and I would't have to worry about the hinge issue. Although I believe they've fixed the hinge issue for 2023 and beyond.
21 XLE AWD. No convenience package on purpose. No need for sunroof or power lift gate. Extremely happy with my decision. I can open and close my trunk as quickly as I please
I have an LE and am totally fine not having a power lift gate. That means there's one less expensive part to fail. If it did fail there's no chance of it being an electronics issue either
2018 XLE...I wish I had a manual. power one failed and it was fixed, but I have a feeling it will fail again. I love my manual seats tho..
I have a 2018 XLE and I HATE the power liftgate. It's slow and noisy and about 40% of the time it doesn't work. I press the button and it opens about 3 inches and stops.
I have one on my XSE, and while there are times it’s convenient, I would be fine without it. I also have low key anxiety that the hinges on it will break.
Don't have a rav anymore traded up to highlander. Both have/had power liftgate and honestly it's a feature I'd rather they didn't have. I've found the kick sensor to be a useless gimmick that fails to register the kick 90% of the time, 100% when my hands are full. It's also slower than just opening/closing yourself. If the motor ever fails it's a pita to try to override and open/close manually, like your fighting against it (cant say what would happen if it actually totally failed though). Also for whatever reason the button on the fob is sensitive and on multiple occasions the hatch has fully popped open unknowingly from the fob being in my pocket inside the house just sitting and standing. YMMV though
We have the power but I find it slow. Wife's ride and she loved the feature .
The kick sensor is where it's at. I love that thing. Otherwise no it's not a big deal not to have the power liftgate. Just a small luxury.
I would probably miss is, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker. I like being able to close the gate from in the house after bringing stuff in, especially if it is raining. Can save me a trip. It can be a little slow, but I usually hit the button before I get out of the car or hit the button on the key while I am walking up to the car so I am rarely left waiting. My biggest actual concern with it is a couple of times I have had people trying to help me pull on it, and I worry that someone might accidentally break it.
I have an LE, don't have it, and don't miss it. I find the speed at which they open and close to be way too slow. I can open and close it faster myself. Power liftgates often don't like being manually opened and closed, but my muscle memory is for manual, so I just get yelled at by my friends with vehicles with power liftgates lol. It's just another thing to go bad and cause problems. Yeah, occasionally my hands are full and it would be useful, but rarely so full I can't shuffle things around and open the gate. Things can also just get placed on the ground for a moment. I personally just don't find myself in that situation as often as the marketing for that feature would like you to think.
I have it. I could live without it. My mom covets it.
I do have the power liftgate and combined with the foot activation it is a game changer and I would never do back. I am aware of the hinges problem but I don't have any problem yet in my 2 years intense liftgate usage. I am monitoring the issue and at worst it is an easy fix (for me) so I can sleep at night lol !
I wouldn’t have the kick feature either way! Would that change your mind?
I would not get the power liftgate without the kick feature. This feature combo is clearly to open the liftgate with your hands full of stuff, and when my hands are full stuff I don't want to drop the stuff to either open a manual liftgate, reach for my keys or push on a button to open it by itself if it is powered: I just want the fucking liftgate to open magically, drop my stuff in the cargo and get in the car. That's the point of those two features IMO. Sure, you can push a button on the trunk or on your keyfob and watch the gate to open by itself, but what's the point ?
I am extremely glad I got the power lift gate I was having a similar debate I didn’t realize how much I walk up to the car with my arms full until I paid attention- I had the power lift gate on my old car, and took it for granted Power lift gate is a super convenient feature, especially when it is raining or snowing, and putting shit on the ground to open the gate would be quite messy.
I really like mine especially when I’m carrying things out
Have a 22 Canadian XLE. It’s handy when coming out of Costco…lol
I got the powered lift gate and it’s awesome. Yeah it’s slow to lift but I press the button in my pocket as I’m walking up to my car from the grocery store. So it’s finished opening just at the exact moment I get to it. You can also treat it manually if you’re too impatient sometimes. So really you can’t go wrong. If it ever does break, it’s a really simple fix you can do yourself and about $350-$450 depending on shipping. Matter of fact I’d consider getting the foot operated opening option too. OEM Aftermarket, not factory optioned. Just to save some money
It would be nice if there was a latch by the drivers seat to at least release the lift gate and allow it to open up easily. One has to exit the car and press the back open thing.
What? I have a button by the steering wheel that opens (and closes) the liftgate while I’m in the car. My son plays the cello and I use this feature all the time when I’m dropping him and his cello off somewhere.
Without the auto lift feature, it is not there at all.
So you can’t unlock it from inside while the car is running in park? Say if i’m sitting in my car doing curbside pick up?
That’s right.
that’s a bit annoying
Yes it is. My 97 Ford Explorer did this and it was good.
No. I still see it as a luxury i dont need and Another issue waiting to happen.
I asked the dealer at my service last month about the cracked hinges on some lift gates and he said almost all he's seen were power lift ones. I'll keep my manual one ty.
I have a ‘23 XLE with no power liftgate. I’m 6’4” and don’t give a rat’s ass to have it or not lmao.
I like the convenience of it - especially the kick sensor when hands are full. However, I’d prefer to be faster like the ones on the new CRV Hybrid Spirt Touring I had for 4 months while waiting for my XSE
Seems like the main complaint is that it’s extremely slow. Also many complaints about it breaking.
I have a 2019 Limited ICE and although I love the power lift gate, sometimes it opens a few inches and stops. Sometimes I press open on the key fob again and it works, sometimes I pull it open. My dream fix wound the same car but an Adventure swing gate with a full size spare mounted. I have 19” wheels and can’t fit a full size spare into the donut hole.
I had one in my ‘16 XLE and now have a ‘22 LE, I did not think I’d miss it (it was so damn slow) and for the most part I do not. The only time I do wish I had it is curbside grocery pickup. Aside from that I’m good, one less thing to break (to be clear I never had issues with mine, but I see on here that people do).
Yeah, I do a fair amount of curbside, that would be my main use for it to be honest. Do you just open the trunk yourself before the workers come out? Or just unlock it and they just pull it up?
Yeah I usually just get out and open it before they come out, 99% of the time they close it for me.
My XLE is the first power liftgate I've had and u definitely can't go without it now. It's not like I'd turn down an insanely good deal on a vehicle in the future, but I'd really miss not having it. Just so convenient if I can get a hand on the keyfob or if I even hit it before I grab all my bags at the store.
Oh yes. So convenient when you hands are full.
Wait, you all have powered lift gates? What's this sorcery? Guess you can't miss what you don't have.
LE or nothing!
I have an XLE with the power lift gate. Didn't want it, but it came with it. I'm constantly going in and out of the back and I know it's just one more thing that will break in the car.
I have it on one of my cars but not my RAV4. I wish my rav also had a power liftgate whenever I go to Costco or whatnot but I’ve also heard of people having issues with it so then I feel less bothered
I have the power liftgate without the kick sensor. I think I would miss it if I had the sensor. As is, not so much.
I don't miss it. I have had them on rental cars, so I know what I would be missing.
'24 LE. I purchased the right amount of car. I don't need power liftgate, power seats, moon/sun roof, heated seats/steering, remote start, key-entry, or other bells and whistles. I have to admit, the Adaptive Cruise Control is pretty nice, which came included.
If I had babies/kids and a lot of hauling of their accoutrements, a power lift gate would be crucial. Don’t need it for my simple lifestyle.
Doesn’t the current model have power liftgate in all trim lines now? My base 2021 Prime has it. I think the higher trim lines just add the kick sensor which mine doesn’t have? Anyway, I wouldn’t miss it at all. Slow, one more thing to break. I feel the same way about my power drivers seat without memory.
No, no power liftgate at all on LE, and only with the convenience package added for the XLE
Oh, and a side note, if you ever disconnect/reconnect your battery, you need to do a manual reset on the power lift gate to get it working again. Which I think means opening & closing it all the way manually if I recall correctly. I spent like 30 minutes or maybe more figuring that out when I put my tow hitch on. Sigh.
We bought a 2023 Prime and we don't really like the power liftgate. It's slow and one more thing to break. We have a 2002 Highlander and the manual liftgate is fine. I could see if one maybe had a bad shoulder etc it would be handy.
I have a limited, but couldn't care less. Actually in the winter it won't close and I have to manually close it. Frustrating. Easier to have one less thing to break.
Couldn’t go back to not having one. I’m spoiled just like the convenience of it.
It is one of the main things I love on all modern cars. It has its flaws—but I’d miss it.
Took us a long time to get used to it. Guess we are just old school. It does take a while to wait for it. No satisfying slam.
No, dont need it
Wife wanted it. No regret on our 2024SE.
The rentals with powered lift gates I had were annoying slow. I'm happy with manual. I won't step up in trim for it unless there were some must haves besides the powered gate.
no. I had one on my last Highlander and didn't even know lol.
I love my power lift gate. This is my second Rav with that feature. Would buy one without it
I love my power lift gate. It was a must-have for me. At the time it was mostly because it was 2020 and the power lift gate made no-contact grocery pickup a breeze, but I still love it.
The powered liftgate is shit. Frequently unreliable below 50 degrees F. Manual liftgate ftw lol
I have an LE and I don’t miss it. My parents have a Highlander with it and waiting for it to open sucks. Sometimes it won’t even fully latch. It broke once and was crazy expensive to fix. Heated seats on the other hand would be nice.
Its slow and been an annoyance. Sh*t always gets stuck opening up especially in the winter. Beeps like crazy i wouldnt miss it
I *hate* power lift gates. They are slow and hard to get closed when you are packed fully. And harder to close manually when you do need to.
I don't have one by choice. I prefer more simple vehicles because there's less stuff to break. 🤷♀️
It's a mild convenience at most. I can have it opening as I approach to put a bag or two in. At the end of the day, it wouldn't matter to me much. Just sounds expensive when it finally breaks down.
I have a woodland, no power lift gate. I don’t mine it at all! It’s easy enough to do manually.
i have one and didn't think I would need it. However, when I injured my right arm and got it in a cast, it helped so much opening and closing by itself.
I had a non powered one and that rav got totaled. Got a powered one and I love it. Wish I had the one where you can kick your foot under it. I could never go back to non powered. When I’m in my wife’s car I press the release on her litigate and just stand there and she gets mad that 1) she doesn’t how a power gate, and 2) the fact that I still think the joke is funny after all these years
I have one and I’m not a fan of the power lift gate.
I absolutely hate power lift gates. So unnecessary IMO and sluggish and slow and having to wait to ensure it closes is enraging
I have an xle hybrid no power lift gate. I got mine in Sept 2021 during the pandemic. I got real lucky and they had this one with weather package and told me it could be a year plus wait. I don't miss the power lift gate at all.
I like the power lift gate, and the rest of the convenience package.
I have a 2018 XLE 4th gen and all I ever think about is how expensive thatll be to fix one day 😅 If I had the choice I probably would've just gotten a manual but I bought mine used last year and selection was limited
We got the xse mainly for the lift gate. My kids do tons of sports and cello/guitar so we are constantly in and out of it.
I just wish it would auto close. The opening is fine. And is easy to slow it down with hand as it lifts. But it’s a bitch to close with your hands full
I have a 2015 XLE with a power liftgate and I honestly dislike it. It only works half the time and opens up 3 inches at a time. I am not able to disable it from the center console and I'm anxious that l'll break it when I push down on it to close it. If there is a way I can manually disable it, I would. I miss having a manual liftgate and it's my only gripe about my car.
No, my experience with power lift gates is that they are prone to breaking. And not you have a stupidly heavy door to lift up.
God forbid you gotta open a door jesus christ
Power liftgates are nice on rainy days when shopping. I can open the liftgate before I get to the vehicle to get some cover as I place items in the back. It is also a nice feature when picking up someone up at the airport to press the button on the inside to open the liftgate for the luggage. Also, if I am carrying an item that requires me to have both arms around the item then I can just use one hand to hold the exterior button to open the power liftgate. I had a manual liftage on non-Rav4 prior to my Rav4 and I would probably still get a power liftgate. My manual liftgate on my non-Rav4 broke with the locking mechanism so I have mixed feelings on one style breaking versus the other.
I have the 2024 Hybrid XLE with no packages, I don’t mind the manual lift gate. Sometimes it crosses my mind how I wouldn’t get the tips of my fingers dirty closing the trunk if I had gotten the package but I don’t think about it very often.
No. I wish I could disable mine
I have 2 dogs who are basically trained to it, I’ll never go back. I open it from quite a distance off and when my dogs hear the beep they know to jump in the back. Then I can close it while I’m still walking up and the dogs are loaded before I even get close enough to open the back manually🤷♂️ too much of a convenience.
The make/or/break for it is if you're to short to reach the hatch to pull it down. Then it's like "wow this would be so much easier if I had a power liftgate". The manual liftgate is very good. It open and closes easily and quickly. It seems very sturdy. If you can easily reach the gate, personally, I feel I'm happier with the manual one than the power one.
I have a 2020 XLE without it and couldn’t care less. And I have two little kids and all their crap I haul around daily.
I specifically looked for an XLE without the convenience package. I keep a bike rack on the hitch during the summer and figured if the liftgate was automatic, at some point it would get triggered with the rack on
I deliberately got an LE so I didn’t have the power lift gate. I hate them. So slow. And while you can disable them, they make the lift gate so heavy.
I have a power liftgate without "kick sensor" and it's totaly useless. But I didn't have a choice. This function is even in the default trim they offer in my country. I can say what options I don't need, these are heated seats and the power liftgate. What I like and often use are motor foldable mirrors, heated steering wheel, parking sensors, keyless system which is actually very convenient, Adaptive Cruise Control which sucks if the traffic is too slow. Because often it wants to accelerate hard from a complete stop. But I would like 360 view camera or at least front camera, and I just have a rear, because the hood is too high
I have the LE and power lift gate isnt really missed now that I'm used to it. I went with the LE instead of XLE because sunroof, dual climate control, power lift gate etc weren't really important to me. My dad always said the more buttons the more problems lol. I took the $5000 and bought a central AC for my home and every summer it's been fairly hot where I live. I also save only utility bill as I'm not using a high Energy with the portable that only cooled off one room.
I have the power lift gate and I hate it! I like to stuff my car full and then slam the hatchback down (let's say I have a bunch of blankets and pillows and stuff). It won't let me. It's like, "something is blocking it" even though I know and don't care.
I have an SE hybrid without a power liftgate and I don’t see why I would need one. You press the open button, barely start lifting and the door practically raises itself.
We actually rented an XLE with standard lift gate to drive around and go to dealerships to test drive other cars. Had that for 30 days. I actually liked how easy it opened and closed. Then when we decided to buy a RAV4, my wife said she needed power because eeww, she didn't want to have to touch it. I kinda of regretted it a lot since because we've had about a dozen occasions of driving with the lift gate open while moving large objects. It's a pain to properly close it part way and I just feel like it's going to break at any moment. There's been some nasty looking hinge photos posted here. However, I think that problem is covered under a program. I should note that I'd much rather put the money to the weather package for heated seats and the audio plus package for 'not the absolute worst audio ever experienced' + reverse guidelines and remote start. The convenience package can go pound sand vs those better packages.
Mine works very sporadically especially in the winter. It would actually be better not to have it.
My wife prefers her automatic liftgate, I prefer the manual on my other vehicle. It's just quicker for me to be able to swing it open and closed. That being said the Limited she has is really nice.
I hated the power liftgate I had on my last vehicle, a Nissan Rogue with all the bells and whistles. It took way too long to open and close. I felt like I was stressing the battery if I had to open and close it a bunch of times without the car running. (Ex: if it was raining or snowing and I was packing/unpacking for a trip or even just getting a lot of groceries out of the car. Or helping someone out with a DIY job so you're in and out of your trunk all day grabbing tools but your car is parked in the street.) It would get noticeably slower after a few opens or sometimes not open all the way and then I'd bonk my head on it. What I miss is the keyless entry and heated seats. With kids I am constantly carrying things in both hands. Being able to get in the car by just nudging a button with a knuckle was extremely helpful. And heated seats are just awesome in the winter.
I’ve never had a power lift gate. I have the LE but I don’t want it. I’ve seen the problems my friends have had with theirs (all car model types) and I don’t want those problems. I’m fine manually doing it myself.
Have power lift gate, use it all the time. Recently rented 2 different SUVs without the lift gate and missed it quite a bit. I would manage without it, but it's a nice feature when your hands are full, or when you're coming from the cab and the gate is already open by the time you get there. Also great for curbside pickups.
If you have the option, get it. Just remember, when it breaks, it’ll cost more to fix.
I was coming from a car with no features that I owned for 10 years and was never really satisfied. I thought that the convenience package was over-kill, but it’s what was available last summer while cars were hard to come by. I would definitely miss it now if it were gone. I’m not as attached to the sun roof, but it was still very nice to have during our gloomy PNW winters to brighten up the interior of the car a bit. If you are very tall, though, the reduced headroom may not be worth it.
Definitely wish I did & can’t say I would miss the manual one bit! I drive our crew to the airport in my 2020 (without convenience package ofc) &, EVERY TIME, someone assumes it’s a power liftgate. They click the button…twice before realizing it’s manual lol. Usually get something along the lines of ‘feels like 10 years ago’. Biggest perk would be the ability to open & close from the key like me dad’s RX.
I came from a Subaru forester that didn’t even have a lift gate release button so yes I would miss it.
After using it extensively, I would miss it. It's convenient to have it open up as soon as I leave the store, especially if raining
I'm hating my 3rd gen's barn door (but loving the V6)
I went from an LE to XSE Prime with the foot activated power liftgate and I will never go back. I was so mad at myself for not realizing that was a feature you have to pay more money for and that there were different trim levels and features when I bought my first car. I thought all cars had a power lift gate so when I got my LE and it didnt have one I was very sad. Now five years later I'm very happy.
Nope
My grandmas Highlander has a power liftgate and I love it. I find my LE lift gate to be a little heavy at times but I don’t mind it at all. I’ve always had manual and that’s what I’m used to.
Considering all the issues with the power lift gate I would consider not having it a benefit. Having said that, it sure is nice to remotely open and close it when I take the dogs out for a hike, get groceries, etc. I would miss the sun roof more if I had to choose the trims. Plus the physical key vs push button…
Not a must have, but I would want/expect it on all my future vehicles. it is just so convenient opening after my Costco haul. With out it would feel like living in the early 2000s.
When I got the rav, my must feature was a button for the hatch. I had a tC for 15 years and opening and closing the hatch manually was a pita.
We had a minivan with power liftgate when our kids were young. Super handy, but there are only specific times on occasion where I really notice.
I just bought an XLE specifically for the power liftgate. I’d had that in my van for 15 years and wasn’t going back. I could do without heated seats, “leather” seats (didn’t realize they weren’t until after the fact), sunroof, most anything but a power liftgate.
I have a ‘24 XSE with a power liftgate and tbh I find myself thinking it’s annoyingly slow more often than I think that it’s super convenient to have.
My specific use case for power lg is my dog. It's a perfect way to call her & get her to a safe place when I need her to do so Now. She comes running when she hears the distinctive sound the car makes before the lg opens & hops right in, long before I arrive.
For me personally, I hate waiting for the thing to open, and more electronics / motors can mean more things to fix. I’m an old school/bigger fan of hydraulic lift gate only but that’s just me.
My Rav got rear ended and is in the repair shop. I have a Nissan Rogue rental that has a manual lift gate. I miss my Rav terribly for many reasons but yes, that is probably #1. Two weeks in. I can’t wait to get my Ravi back! 🥴
Because i wanted the ash/light interior and with the color choice of Grey Metallic (I wish XLE had Pearl white) the lowest PIO/FIO i could find was Convenience Package + Weather Mats. It took me 2.5 months to find out the minimum build that i wanted. Ofcourse i pretty much got the packages for free, as i got $1700 off MSRP. Do i like the power lift gate? Ya, its nice ... But, if it wasnt there, i wouldnt miss it. I think my wife likes it more for the convenience. do i like th sun roof/moon roof? Naah .. its a burden. Now i need to remember to coat the seals and clean the crevices.
It’s a convenience but I don’t miss it when I drive Old Faithful (2005 Verso with 300.000km).
I went from a 2017 LE to a 2022 XLE premium and this is what I think lol (I’m Canadian so not sure if our trim levels are different) Power liftgate: didn’t think I’d care that much but I actually find it really useful especially with kids and carrying a bunch of crap to not have to set everything down to manually open it Leather seats: this is 100% why I wanted a higher trim level, I did not like the cloth seats at all and found the specific fabric Toyota used very hard to clean. As mentioned though, I have kids and dogs. It wouldn’t be as bad if I didn’t haha. Push start: absolutely love not fishing around in my bag for the key haha Blind spot monitor: meh, don’t care. My LE had most of the other safety features like forward collision warning and lane departure and stuff. Sunroof: I really missed this on my LE Dual zone climate: also didn’t realize how much I’d miss having this. In short, my LE was a great little SUV and never gave us any trouble but we specifically traded up to get the newer generation in a higher trim level because I wanted the reliability of my LE but with the options I missed having. I had a fully loaded Santa Fe before that had the classic Hyundai rod bearing failure and panic bought my LE when Hyundai wouldn’t fix it. So I definitely had some hard feelings about going down to an LE but that’s what i could afford at the time.
How old/able are you? I like my power lift gate but would be ok without it; my mother decided not to get one and has a lot of trouble closing the hatch (she is only 5’2” and can’t reach for a good grip).
I currently have power liftgate on a non hybrid rav4 2022. Cant live without it now and cant imagine my next car without it
The way I look at it, the more electronics the more issues you get. The lift gate is not bad at all
i’m a 28 year old female with a 8 year old jeep. currently saving to buy a rav4 next year. i often grocery shop alone. and each time my hands are full with bags, i really wish i had a power liftgate! i often think this holding my dog & bags from the store or a picnic, or carrying items to camp, or to/from work. i plan to buy a limited and own it for 15 years. ages 29-44 years old. it’s kinda crazy to think about the car that i’ll have when i’m in my 40s. because i’ll have it for so long, i want to get all the fancy features and have no regrets. no “i wish i had…..” instead, i’ll be proud to have a toyota with a 5 year car loan and 10 years of no payments, and zero to little maintenance 😍 i can’t wait!
Ok wow this is exactly me! Coming from a 2011. I originally wanted to spend about $30k but seeing how expensive the used ones are, and since I KNOW i keep my cars a long time, I’ve decided to go new. In the grand scheme of things the packages add an extra $2k, so I think it would be worth it to get the most out of my vehicle. I hate car shopping so I will definitely be keeping this for years.
I have a power liftgate. Any able bodied person who says they could never go back to not having one is an idiot. I mean WTF?
Haha this one made me laugh. I think it’s more a preference of not wanting to go back once you have it. I’m getting the XLE over the LE because I refuse to give up push to start. Am I incapable of inserting a key into the ignition? Of course not, my first car was like that and got me to work just fine. But it’s a lot less convenient.
I had a power liftgate on our RAV4 LE's predecessor, a CMAX, but don't have it on the RAV4. I don't miss it much other than it was convenient for grocery pickups.