The power lift gate option has become more common these days, making its way down the RAV4 and CX-5.

It wouldn't surprise me if the popularity of the power lift gate is killing off the remaining side swinging rear doors, too.

 

Side hinged style makes for easy access to the roof rack with bikes or skis. Cargo pods also.
Quick to open and close for pets large enough to jump or for just loading cargo, no waiting for the
springs or arms or motors to hoist the hatch.

 

The reason is the spare tire. The Land Cruiser Prado has a spare tire on the door in some trims, which is why the GX has a side hinged door.

I also really dislike it, and its one of the big reasons why I wouldn't buy a GX. My brother in law has an older Rav4 that he loves everything about except the door, he hates it.

 

All the more reason to get rid of it. Lexus needs to differentiate it better. Let's face it, a large percentage of GX don't ever leave suburbia. Tailor it better to the market

 

Fun size!!!!'

 

like your minion !

 

Did you forget some decimal places there? My 6-year-old is positively huge for his age (99th percentile, pushing 90lbs) and is still 20lbs shy of your 11 month old.

 

Not to go off topic too much (but shows an SUV is needed for my monsters)

Sadly no

This was right around Spring of 2013



This is now

 

Not an SUV, but the recently debuted next gen Ford Transit Connect Wagon can be had with optional barn doors in the rear, and the lower load floor height could be easier for the dogs to get in and out.

 

But then you'd look like some sort of weirdo Parisian plumber driving around in one of those.

 

I have a Ford Transit Connect as a business vehicle. I rarely drive it, our employees do but I have obviously driven it multiple times. It's a great little work vehicle, but it's not anything I would ever consider buying with seats as a non-commercial vehicle. It's very unrefined, driving position is work vehicle/bus like.

I know they sell them with seats as a family vehicle, but I can't imagine why someone would buy one for that.

 

The current one, yes, I agree is very rough and unrefined, my parents have one for their small business delivery vehicle. This new gen about to hit dealers, has a much more passenger focus for the "wagon" versions and should be much more refined and suitable for personal use.

 

new model looks like a totally different ball game.

 

i can see why some people can take advantage of side barn door but given we have a gx, i can only see far more problems.

first the gx door swings on the wrong side. the way it is now on a parallel parking situation, with US spec setup, door will be on passenger side so you have to go to the traffic side to get in. bad idea. and yes, let alone if there is some car close by behind you, then you have big trouble opening the door

and if the car is not on a completely flat surface? the door can start swinging close again, argh big trouble. yes there is the locking mechanism, but it's not the easiest either.

and imagine if you have a shopping cart, you get to the car and now you need to maneuver the cart around back and forth to open the door. not the best job at all.

with swing up tailgate, for those with height problem, i believe some of them has adjustments on "heights" so the tailgate actually doesn't swing up all the way. that should solve the problem for most (of course if you 4' 9" then it might be a different story).

overall, i like the gx a lot, but both my wife and i can't find ourselves to appreciate the rear side swing door much

 

I love my GX and the barn door. Only problem is it opens the wrong way. If Lexus made the barn door open to the left it would be perfect.