Any RAV4.5 owners fitted Wind Deflectors? Some questions please...

[PeteB]

I'm wondering about getting these fitted to my 2019 RAV4 Excel.  I often chill (and sometimes cat-nap) with the seat reclined and some ventilation by the local beaches, listening to the waves.

Sometimes when it rains I can leave windows open on the leeward side of the car but occasionally, as today, the wind and rain is such that even a ¼ inch gap lets droplets in, and I don't really want to leave the car in READY state with the A/C or fan running.

I rarely have windows open while driving.

So my questions are:

• when stationary, do the deflectors allow a useful flow of air while still excluding rain?
• do they add to (or even reduce) wind noise when driving with windows shut?
• any other plusses or negatives?
• I'm guessing any impact on aerodynamics and therefore mpg is insignificant>

Thanks in advance.

[KnightOwl67]

Good topic as I've been contemplating these for our 2021 Rav

This is my view;

• when stationary, do the deflectors allow a useful flow of air while still excluding rain? Depends how windy it is but they should keep out the rain.
• do they add to (or even reduce) wind noise when driving with windows shut? Not that I've heard, fitted to a previous car and didn't introduce any noise
• any other plusses or negatives? It adds aesthetics to the look of the car.
• I'm guessing any impact on aerodynamics and therefore mpg is insignificant> I doubt make any difference.

[Rav4ster]

Hi Pete
I do not have the wind deflectors on the RAV4 (leased car), but had them on Avensis, Prius and Seat Leon. They were all HEKO in channel type. Only downside with them, that you need to use metal fixing clips and it does not work for all cars. Saying that, for RAV4, I would go for the original (I believe they use a combination of sticky tape and clips) or stick on after market ones. My dealer had a demo car with original wind deflectors and they looked good.

·  when stationary, do the deflectors allow a useful flow of air while still excluding rain?
Yes, as long as you open at least two windows.

·  do they add to (or even reduce) wind noise when driving with windows shut?
did not notice any change in wind noise levels

·  any other plusses or negatives?
you can drive with windows slightly open when it rains and don’t need to use AC to defog the windscreen, or just enjoy the fresh air. Faster you drive, noiser it will get, but very similar to the open windows without wind deflectors.
Also, on the hot day, you can leave the windows open a bit when the car is parked and it will not get too hot and water will not get in if it starts raining.

·  I'm guessing any impact on aerodynamics and therefore mpg is insignificant
not noticed any change in mpg.

[PeteB]

Thanks Andy.  If I go for them (and I'm warming to the idea), I'll get my dealer to supply and fit the official ones.

[Avalon]

I believe the OE ones are Climair - if you want to pay the dealer for them you are welcome, but they are usually going to be much cheaper to buy and fit yourself in a few minutes.

If you open two Windows slightly, you will have the potential for a through draft, they keep the rain out, but also reduce visibility slightly at the A pillar. They do increase wind noise slightly (you get used to it very quickly) and while they will likely increase drag fractionally, it should be minimal, my mpg didn’t drop if that’s the concern. Also the Heko ones I have fitted to the 4.2 and 4.4 take minutes to fit and cost roughly 1/4 of the price of Toyota items, for the extra £1 odd I would order extra clips and double up though, it makes them more rigid. Obviously check with your insurer as it’s classed as a modification and some will load for it - we live in a world where insurers have refused claims over stickers and it’s gone to court which obviously is best avoided. Plausible deniability isn’t so great when you are the only owner of a new car.

[PeteB]

2 minutes ago, Avalon said:

I believe the OE ones are Climair - if you want to pay the dealer for them you are welcome...

...Obviously check with your insurer as it’s classed as a modification and some will load for it...

Thanks.  These days I prefer to leave anything like this to the dealer, and yes, it will cost (I have been accused of having more money than sense, even though I don't have that much money!) 😁

Yes well aware of insurance issues.  I religiously list all my mods when getting quotes, and on one occasions Co-op insurance declined to quote because my car had the official dealer-fitted Side Body Mouldings on the doors to protect against people who carelessly open their doors!  Needless to say, I haven't bothered getting quotes from them since.

I doubt policy will be loaded, but very likely my broken will make their standard charge (£25 I think) for making the change.  Also, I'm sure they would still require all windows to be fully closed when the car is unattended.