I was looking into the back seat of my '22 UL yesterday. I've felt all along it looks just a little plain back there for a car in its class. Part of that is the lack of brightwork around the rear vents and USB ports, but another thing just hit me: the sill plates. They're flat black plastic on my Acorn example. The fronts are adorned with chrome or even illumination, but the rears are economy-car issue and don't dress it up at all.

I took a quick look at Lexus Boutique and eBay. Nobody seems to offer anything. I find this an odd omission. I know our friends outside the States get some rear-seat features and even some exterior chrome that we don't. Does anyone know of anything available anywhere that addresses this?

 

Good point - I agree it seems a bit jarring to open the rear doors. Sort of like going through the curtain from First to Coach. A fix should be pretty easy.

 

I'll have to check mine - the back doors have rarely been opened in my five years of ownership

 

2.5 years owning my 2021. Never looked back there. See it when wiping down door jams after washing but never actually noticed. Now I can get aggravated!

 

That's the downside of following this message board. Ignorance is bliss.

 

Yep. Very astute! I don’t feel like looking for more things to get irritated over. Plenty of them in this troubled world already!

 

Yes, they are plastic, and I don’t care.

 

My opinion is that Lexus knows that most people don't even go back there so why dress it up? In almost 5 years I think the back seats were used maybe 3 times... The rear window shades have been in place since shortly after taking delivery. I installed the illuminated sills up front...

 

It is more so to cut weight. Every little ounce counts to maximize fuel economy.

 

no. It’s just being cheap. Last Gen has aluminium plates all around.

 

I think you're right. That's why cheaper brands often pad the top of the door panel up front and use same-looking but hard plastic there in back. It's cost cutting they figure you'll hardly miss. But I could have bought a Camry for that.

I see the poster below mentioning the previous gen had brightwork on the rear sills. I'd pay to add it to mine, within reason. In my view, lacking it is not very Ultra Luxury.

I do use my rear sunshades, BTW. I use them when I park even if nobody's in the back, lowering the shade that's facing the sun. I figure it keeps the interior cooler and slows UV aging of the upholstery.

 

Does the F-sport have metal sill plates?

I'll enjoy replacing mine after my 6 year old grows up a bit

I really like the metal non-illuminated sill plates in the front. The illuminated ones remind me too much of college days and modded integras...

 

Check these out...

 

Nope - the F-Sport has black plastic sills. I have the metal illuminated sills up front. About the only thing that isn't black in the back seats are the door handles and the speaker trim.

 

Also the rear doors have a more hollow sound when you close them since they don't have the outer rubber seal like the front doors and aren't as heavy, I think the GS, LS have the rubber seal on all doors. Even with obvious areas of cost cutting, its certainly no worse than other cars in this segment, still the nicest car in it's class if you ask me.