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Limited vs XSE

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HighROI

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
My wife and I own a 2013 Rav 4 Limited. We are looking to put a deposit on a 2023 Rav. We are considering the Limited Hybrid and the XSE Hybrid with tech package.

It seems the major differences are:
- Seats - Full leather in limited vs cloth centers in the XSE. Also ventilated fronts and heated rears only available on the Limited.

Suspension - tighter suspension on the XSE. Is this a concern for someone who just uses it for City driving and winter driving?

External color choices. We like the cavalry blue (xse), don't like the ruby red (limited), and not a fan of white, grey, silver, black.

Any comments about the differences above and whether one is way better than the other? Any other differences we should consider? Any major issues on the 2022 model year we should watch out for?

Thanks in advance!
 
#2 ·
I have a '20 Limited. In 2020 the Limited offered the 360 degree camera and the XSE did not. I really use the 360 camera often.
 
#3 ·
HighROI said:
It seems the major differences are:
- Seats - Full leather in limited vs cloth centers in the XSE. Also ventilated fronts and heated rears only available on the Limited.
Click to expand...
The seats in the limited are not real leather, rather they are a simulated leather called Softex.
 
#4 ·
I have the XSE. I've heard it gets a slightly more robust suspension design.
In my opinion, anything less is a waste. To call it stiff would be a lie.

I can't speak to how much like a cadillac one would want the vehicle to ride but I definitely would not want it to be any softer. While a few of the bumps may be a little jarring (not really but need to not make it sound soft), it makes up for in handling traits.

I don't know if you can go wrong either way with the seats. Unless you are a fan of full leather of course. I am disappointed that the XSE (top of the line equivalent) got a fabric insert), but it is nice now that I own it. I haven't seen the full leather seats in person so I can't speak to it, but with the SofTex I have in mine -I don't know if I would be a fan. I'd probably say I do like it if I saw it in person. Seats are comfortable.

I don't have any opinion on the non XSE so I can't help with comparison, however the XSE I have is nearly fully loaded. It does not have cooled seats but I think I'm okay with it. They were not impressive on my previous vehicle.
I keep forgetting that I have the gimmicky 360 camera. :)

You may be on a long long wait list with your limited color choice -so expect that to be a possibility.

Lastly, I'm not well versed in Toyota builds, but at this point in time Toyota is building them how they want. You may or may not get the features you'd except of either a limited or XSE.
I think the current batch of XSE models are excluding the advanced audio package. Somebody in a Limited (I think it was) was missing a few things, or maybe one thing. I believe it was navigation or something that is only available on the advance package ...... they had the audio plus, but not all the features.

If/when you get a call that the car is on the way, expect to look over the built sheet ensuring it has each and every feature you expect.
 
#5 ·
Does the limited have painted wheel well cladding? I saw a limited on the road the other day and was disappointed to see the plain black plastic. The painted cladding on my ‘21 XSE looks so much better imo.

The XSE suspension is what the car should have across all trims. I had a gas ‘19 RAV4 XLE Premium and while it was a great car, the XSE handles much more comfortably. More confident in turns and doesn’t feel squirrelly on mountain roads. Somewhere between the stock suspension on the RAV4 and a CX-5 (latest gen CX-5 is very stiff to me).

I’m sure my kids would love heated rear seats but I don’t sit back there. I also see comments here that the ventilated seats are lackluster. It’s basically a fan that pulls air. No AC.

If the center of the XSE seat is fabric, I can’t tell. Feels like SofTex to me.

I would have liked a panoramic sunroof but honestly I don’t use the normal sunroof on my XSE much.
 
#6 ·
Great comment about the suspension. Nice that you can compare the 2 designs.

One other thing I didn't think to write is payload and trailer towing.
My XSE has a 600lb payload rating -I think that is low compared to other trim packages. 600lbs won't go far if it becomes the family truckster.
I believe 1250 is the towing capacity (but you'd have to look it up to be certain my number is accurate). The XSE is lower payload than others though. What I do not know is if the XSE is the determining factor or if it's the Hybrid that has the reduction in payload.
I suspect a Limited Hybrid would be similar payload to an XSE as they are both similarly equipped and both Hybrids.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Thanks everyone!
360 camera - I have it in my new 2022 Tundra - its fancy but far from a requirement. Sounds like there are some tech upgrades coming for 2023 including a bigger screen so maybe they'll include it.
Sounds like the seats are nice either way. Heated rear seats - not a big deal. Ventilated fronts are ok but not a need.
Towing capacity - not a neccessity as we have a Tundra.
Suspension - seems like its preferred. We like the Rav because it feels a bit more sporty than the Venza anyway.

Are there any serious maintenance issues on the 2022's?
 
#8 ·
HighROI said:
My wife and I own a 2013 Rav 4 Limited. We are looking to put a deposit on a 2023 Rav. We are considering the Limited Hybrid and the XSE Hybrid with tech package.

It seems the major differences are:
- Seats - Full leather in limited vs cloth centers in the XSE. Also ventilated fronts and heated rears only available on the Limited.

Suspension - tighter suspension on the XSE. Is this a concern for someone who just uses it for City driving and winter driving?

External color choices. We like the cavalry blue (xse), don't like the ruby red (limited), and not a fan of white, grey, silver, black.

Any comments about the differences above and whether one is way better than the other? Any other differences we should consider? Any major issues on the 2022 model year we should watch out for?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
The XSE has the black roof which is horrible in the South in the summertime. You should be fine up North unless you plan on relocating.
 
#9 ·
HighROI said:
Any comments about the differences above and whether one is way better than the other? Any other differences we should consider?
Click to expand...
One other thing is the Limited comes standard with a power passenger seat. An XSE, even fully loaded, won't have this option.

I got the XSE because I love the way it looks. Every time I see it I just feel like "WOW this car is beautiful". The limited looks nice but it just wouldn't give me the feeling that the XSE does.
 
#10 ·
The XSE does check a lot of boxes from exterior styling.
I don't want to call it disappointing, but it advertises to be something it is not.
Yeah, it is fun to drive and I can definitely drive it harder than the truck it replaced. I really like the XSE, not sure I'd prefer the non XSE model to be honest. It 'looks' more like a car I'd drive and people I know wouldn't be surprised (aside from them all knowing me as a truck guy).

Passenger power seat is a good catch too.

Along the lines of suspension again, I suppose the non XSE model would float more on long highway drives (haven't been in one to know the difference).... but the comfort gained by the soft ride is probably outweighed by the noisy cabin. The noise level is too loud to consider it a luxury vehicle that the softer highway ride may try to emulate. I haven't been in a Tundra but I'm sure it's pretty quiet (A coworker has an older model Tacoma that is pretty quiet).


I have the panoramic roof and of course the black roof. It's been hot hot this year (several days of 110+). I survived.
I did feel the A/C performance is slightly lacking but I don't know if I'd contribute it to the roof color (and the gray body).
Having the A/C adjusted to not blow on me didn't quite do the trick. I had a 200 mile road tip with temp at or above 100 to experiment with. Of course you change direction to either drive into the sun or it's on your left. When I wasn't sitting in the sun directly, I would move the vents away from me. It is hard to cool down a vehicle in sustained 100+ anyway, even my F150 with a fan speed that would blow you out of your seat made me fell similar that if a little air wasn't blowing on me the cab felt warm (to me). I have always been a warm driver though, put me in the passenger seat and I'm cooler.
For the amount of time in a year temps are that high, it isn't a reason to not buy the XSE or a dark car (in my opinion).

I don't think you can go wrong with either vehicle.

Oh, is Calvary Blue offered in the Limited? If that is your preferred color -your choice may be defined already.
 
#11 ·
HighROI said:
My wife and I own a 2013 Rav 4 Limited. We are looking to put a deposit on a 2023 Rav. We are considering the Limited Hybrid and the XSE Hybrid with tech package.

It seems the major differences are:
- Seats - Full leather in limited vs cloth centers in the XSE. Also ventilated fronts and heated rears only available on the Limited.

Suspension - tighter suspension on the XSE. Is this a concern for someone who just uses it for City driving and winter driving?

External color choices. We like the cavalry blue (xse), don't like the ruby red (limited), and not a fan of white, grey, silver, black.

Any comments about the differences above and whether one is way better than the other? Any other differences we should consider? Any major issues on the 2022 model year we should watch out for?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
As the previous poster mentioned the Cavalry Blue Color is not available on the Limited version of the RAV4 Hybrid so if you want that color you would be limited to the XSE either with or without the Tech package. From what I see you are in Canada (as am I) and that info is according to the Toyota Canada site.
 
#12 ·
The centers of the xse seats is not fabric, even though Toyota calls them fabric inserts in some of their descriptive copy. It is textured softex. I like mine very much!

I think it's a toss up between the limited and xse. If I had kids riding in back a lot still, I might want those heated back seats in the limited. I just like the looks and features of my xse.
 
#13 ·
I have a 22 Silver Limited and love it! I do use the 360 camera frequently. The cooling seats are probably over-rated but overall LOVE my car. I love the beautiful platinum wheels and everything about the car. The XSE was my second choice if I couldn’t get the limited. I like the 2 tone but was ambivalent about the Piano Black fenders and trim. I personally felt it would be harder to maintain because it would show dirt and scratches.

I don’t think you can go wrong either way.
 
#14 ·
The piano black fender trim scares me too!

I would prefer the wheels you have too (I think they are the same design but your are the brushed aluminum?).
That would look better in contrast with the gray car I have and of course with the metallic paint..... with that said, I am the #1 least fan of black wheels.
These work, but the other wheel, in my opinion, would be a better fit for this paint color.
 
#15 ·
HighROI said:
My wife and I own a 2013 Rav 4 Limited. We are looking to put a deposit on a 2023 Rav. We are considering the Limited Hybrid and the XSE Hybrid with tech package.

It seems the major differences are:
- Seats - Full leather in limited vs cloth centers in the XSE. Also ventilated fronts and heated rears only available on the Limited.

Suspension - tighter suspension on the XSE. Is this a concern for someone who just uses it for City driving and winter driving?

External color choices. We like the cavalry blue (xse), don't like the ruby red (limited), and not a fan of white, grey, silver, black.

Any comments about the differences above and whether one is way better than the other? Any other differences we should consider? Any major issues on the 2022 model year we should watch out for?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
I had a 2020 XSE that I traded in for a 2021 Limited with all the upgrades. I did that since used Ravs are selling so so much, my upgrade was almost free...

I noticed a slightly softer suspension in the Limited. After a week I could not tell the difference.
I do prefer the single color of the Limited. Mine is black and I have proceeded to black out 90% of my car.

I really like the cooling seats. It does make a difference on summer road trips. The seats are all Softex and have no fabric middle section.

I use the 260 birds eye camera when parking all of the time and really appreciate it.

I also really dig the foot activated rear hatch which I also tend to use quite a bit.

One of the biggest items my wife prefers is the interior trim is a silver stitching versus the red in the XSE. She hated the interior red.
 
#16 ·
They must have changed the stitching from 2020 to 2022, XSE is now Blue stitched. Red is in the Prime (I believe).
I'll have to check out the silver stitching, I don't think I've seen that yet. YouTube seems to heavily discuss the Prime and XSE stitching, overlooking the other models.
 
#17 ·
The front seat heaters in our 2019 Limited are very weak, a common complaint. Apparently the seat ventilation set up interfered with the heaters. I don't know whether this has been fixed in later years.

I hear you about the color choices. Is that why they call it Limited? We settled for magnetic gray. You could always have the vehicle wrapped.
 
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#18 ·
Just to clarify, the XSE doesn’t have that high gloss piano black trim we are familiar with. It’s legit midnight black paint with clear coat, the same you find on entirely black Toyota vehicles. It has blue flecks in it when the sun hits it right. Much more preferable to the piano black. That crap scratches way too easily.
 
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