He said LE models won't have roof rails. Other manufacturers do that also - leave roof rails off the lowest trim - to save money and further differentiate I presume.

He keeps referring to the "trail" model? Is that the Canadian version of the Adventure?

 

My gas model 2021 XLE has the identical flush roof rails as are on 2019 onwards LE models. I'm not sure which exact models have raised rails that can use cross bars. The issue with the roof rails relates to the leaking--what is the 2022 going to do about sealing the holes? Are there even going to be holes in the roof? If there is going to be a replacement for the leaky present rails can it be retrofitted to the earlier RAVs? Also will there be a TSB or recall to do a retrofit?

 

Sounds like it's supply chain driven. It's 2021 and no car should have a keyed ignition IMO. Toyota should should move the XLE features to the LE, make the XLE Premium the XLE and have the limited. I think Honda does options way better. And how can it be for the Prime that it costs 40k and has no fogs on the SE? Those folks in Canada pay a fortune they should get more. Let's see what Jeff in NC has to say.

 

This salesman in the video may be full of beans! The 2022 sales brochure depicts the same low flush mount trim rails and the high mount cross bar rails as are on the earlier models up to 2021. It does not show the LE however. We'll see if he's right about the deletion of fog lights on XLE models.

 

Have you seen info on when the '22 model may be available ?

 

It doesn't make any sense to delete the holes on just the LE - that's too expensive a change to the production line. Just covering the channel with a thin rubber fill strip sounds more likely. Would it seal the holes better? Can't really speculate.

 

Not really. All they have to do is change one part on the build - the roof sheet metal panel on the LE is the only part thats different - not counting the rack parts they leave off. Nothing else really changes - except they don't add the roof rails later.

Having said that the cost savings will be pretty minimal, so the question is - why do it? You typically only de-feature stuff to save cost. I don't see this one saving all that much.

 

I'm jealous the 2022 is getting a height adjustable power seat on the higher models. That's something I consider a pretty big improvement. Also LED fog lights and LED interior lights are going to be a nice improvement on the 2022's, but that's something I can DIY on my 2021 when I have the time.

 

It's hard to speculate based on what little info is out there, but if true it might come down to the fact the video claims the gas XLE non-premium trim is going away. So perhaps the sheet metal on the roof would be different since I don't believe you can add a moon roof to the LE? Meaning maybe the non-moonroof'able (new word?) Rav4's also won't have roof rails, so from a production standpoint that's how they would pull it off.

This is also a YouTuber based in the Canadian market so it is entirely possible the changes may not affect the US market.

Again, hard to say until we have more info or see them start rolling on (and immediately off) dealer lots. Shouldn't be too much longer a wait!

Edit: I rewatched the video and saw that only the FWD non-premium XLE is going away, so that blows my theory out of the water!

 

This is also a YouTuber based in the Canadian market so it is entirely possible the changes may not affect the US market.



Edit: I rewatched the video and saw that only the FWD non-premium XLE is going away, so that blows my theory out of the water!

As you state, video is from Canada so perhaps changes may not affect US. I would be surprised to see any FWD model go away in the US.

 

Not sure if I am too late for the party here. But this is a photo of the roof of my (american) 2022 Rav4 LE AWD. It has no raised roof rails or flush rails, just a rubber strip in a channel on either side of the roof. In the photo I have lifted up the strip and there is nothing but painted metal. No bolt holes, no plugs, no added plates at all. there is nothing there to attach a roof system to.

 

You can see raised "bosses" in the photo where the holes would be drilled. I wish this was used on my '21 ICE XLE--no possibility in the future for roof leaks. The roof rails should have always been an option--not standard equipment.

 

My Rav4 came with the port installed roof rails and I took them off pretty much day two. The wind noise is crazy at highway speeds, especially with the moon roof open. In the summer bugs like to smash into them on the highway and sometimes ricochet into the cabin. 😂

I have them in the garage collecting dust, but with all these folks reporting leaking roof rails I will probably never reinstall them. I would have preferred my Limited have the sealed roof rails like OP's picture.

I would probably still purchase another Rav4 down the road when it's time to replace this one, this being my 3rd Rav4 over the decades, but I have learned a great deal from this generation of Rav4's and would probably make some different options choices when the time comes.

 

Don't you mean the crossbars?

You can't remove the recessed, flush mount rails.

 

Does the 2022 LE Hybrid have flush rails or not?

 

Not sure about hybrid but 2022 gas model LE does NOT have what we have been calling a "flush mount roof rail" on this forum. The 2022 gas LE has a completely flat, flexible rubber like trim strip in the channel-- not a slightly raised hard plastic rail that protrudes above the channel.

 

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