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Replacing Center Console Arm Rest

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My_Rav4

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Former owner of a 2020 RAV4 XLE
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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I drive a 2020 XLE and aside from the shift knob, the other surfaces are hard plastic.

I don't touch or lean on those surfaces except for the center console storage arm rest.

I want to replace that arm rest surface with the soft touch surface in the XLE Premium.

How can I replace that part? What is the part number and price to do this? Thanks.
 
#2 ·
In my 2019 XLE the armrest is pretty squishy and comfy. I sat in a 2020 XLE Premium and the arm rest felt the same as my 2019 except it had some faux stitching down the middle.

Are the 2020 XLEs a different material? 🤔
 
#3 ·
Looking at Toyota's parts site, it looks replaceable. It ain't cheap however. $160 to $195 depending on the style. If you really want one, I'd go ask your dealer parts department to see what the version for the XLE Premium costs. On my Adventure, I have the soft touch version with the orange stitching down the middle and I love it.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
WillRav4Tacos said:
In my 2019 XLE the armrest is pretty squishy and comfy. I sat in a 2020 XLE Premium and the arm rest felt the same as my 2019 except it had some faux stitching down the middle.

Are the 2020 XLEs a different material? 🤔
Click to expand...
For the 2020 models, the XLE Premium is different than the XLE. One of those differences is the use of softtouch materials throughout the cabin including the armrest.
 
#6 ·
My_Rav4 said:
For the 2020 models, the XLE Premium is different than the XLE. One of those differences is the use of softtouch materials throughout the cabin including the armrest.
Click to expand...
What I was trying to say was my non Premium XLE has the same soft touch material as the XLE Premium minus the faux stitching.
 
#7 ·
Adventure owner here with the soft padded center console arm rest. I took its cover off to see what was underneath and evaluate the quality of the material up top. Super cheap thin plasticky material. Almost like vinyl pressed onto 2 millimeter yellow foam staples to the Black plastic lid from inside. The base is a grey closed cell foam. That’s what really gives the paddling.

So yeah, you can easily replace the plastic lid. But for the money, I’d rather get a custom armrest cover off cartrimhome, add more foam padding from your local crafts store and glue the sucker in place (or use a heavy duty stapler for that OEM fit and finish like mine 😂).
 
#8 ·
pawnsay said:
Adventure owner here with the soft padded center console arm rest. I took its cover off to see what was underneath and evaluate the quality of the material up top. Super cheap thin plasticky material. Almost like vinyl pressed onto 2 millimeter yellow foam staples to the Black plastic lid from inside. The base is a grey closed cell foam. That’s what really gives the paddling.

So yeah, you can easily replace the plastic lid. But for the money, I’d rather get a custom armrest cover off cartrimhome, add more foam padding from your local crafts store and glue the sucker in place (or use a heavy duty stapler for that OEM fit and finish like mine 😂).
Click to expand...
 
#11 ·
#12 ·
TrueTexan said:
You could check with a car, boat or furniture upholstery shop and see how much they would charge to make a cover or a slip cover.
Click to expand...
I ended up buying a new armrest from Toyota (not cheap) and installing it myself. I found a lot of helpful videos for the redesigned 2019 Rav4 but none for 2018. It seems that there are issues with the latch breaking on the console on the newer ones... and it is spring-loaded. So it just keeps popping open. The 2018 doesn't have that tension spring. I was able to open the back of the console with plastic bike levers that I use to change tires. Those work really well to keep from damaging the plastic. There are plastic sleeves that you pull out on either end of the metal pin holding the whole cover assembly in place. Very easy to remove. Probably took me 15 minutes for the whole thing..
 
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