There is about a 6" gap between the cargo cover and the rear seat where a person can look inside from outside the car and see the stored contents. Reclining the rear seats narrows the gap but not all the way. I see RX350 cargo covers on eBay that have not only the retractable section but two additional sections with two clips each that appear to attach to the reat seats thus closing the gap? Were these flaps phased out in 2013 or did I just not get them?

 

Phased out; most people don't use them at all!

 

Right, the small flaps that connected the tonneau cover bar to both of the back seats was mysteriously eliminated with the 2013 models. My very early 2013 actually has the connector attachments on the back of the seats, but no flaps to hook into them. It surprised my dealer when I questioned them on this upon delivery. I still wish they were provided as IMO the gap is too large without them when the back seats are in normal upright position.

 

Interesting. I store an umbrella on top of the flaps (I keep my cover in the car all of the time.) That keeps it out of the way when I put golf clubs back there several times a week.

 

I have the 2012 and the flaps. They are much easier to hook up than the gen 1&2 models. I store my sunviser there when I have passengers. I like them very much and would be disappointed if I did't have them.

 

The flaps were causing the seats to not lay down properly when the release was pulled. That little bit of extra tension slowed them down. You please one person you **** off the other.

 

Is it possible to use a 2012 tonneau cover on the 2013? We really like extra covering --the gap on the 2013 is huge and when you look into the side windows you can see everything under the cover.

 

When I asked at Lexus Parts, I was not able to purchase only the "flaps" as part of the 2012 (they don't have a separate part #), and I would have had to purchase the complete cover which I was unwilling to do after spending $60K on my brand new truck. The other challenge I believe is most 2013's do not have the four connectors for those flaps on the back of the seats -- my 2013 RXh happens to (but no "flaps" to connect into them), but it was one of the first 2013's manufactured in Japan and I suspect Lexus used the last of their 2012 seats in my 2013... When I took delivery a couple months ago, other 2013s on the floor, including RX from Canada, did not have the seat connectors. I bet 2013 RXh built later than mine don't have them either.

My suggestion is if you have a 2013 and you really want the complete cover, contact your local Lexus Parts department and see what they can do for you. Lexus made no changes in the back cargo area from 2012 to 2013, so physically, the old tonneau cover should fit.

 

Why not just tint the side windows?

 

thanks for the reply--how much did they say the price was for the 2012 tonneau cover? I 'll have to check for the connectors on the seats.

btw: the side windows are tinted dark, but if you look into them, you can see in.

 

Sorry, don't remember the price -- it was really ridiculous having to buy the whole thing. Don't know -- I just washed it out of my mind at that point with everything else I was doing while taking delivery. Give the parts dept a ring. Frankly, I'd love it if the flaps were available independently for those of us that want them -- they just slide into the (expensive) tonneau cover itself and manually hook to the back of the seats, so it's a piece of cake to put it back (at least on mine!)

 

The 2012 cargo cover tonneau can be purchased from Sewell Lexus at the member price of 426.82

 

Interesting...I have a 2012 RX 350 and my side and back windows were tinted when I bought the car (brand new). In California, it is illegal to tint the drivers or passengers windows (and of course the windshield) but all the RXs I see here in California have tinted side and back windows. I think they come from the factory that way.

SeeEss

 

I had a 2012 RX350 loaner last week and the retracted cargo cover rattled with every bump. Removing & reinstalling it didn't help. It made my Prius sound quiet in comparison.

 

You are absolutely right. What I should have said was add tint to the factory tint!