I almost passed on the X5 because it was so hard to get in and out of. I'm 5'5" and a woman. The edge of the seat would hit in a very uncomfortable spot. I ordered mine without. I think it still looks great without them. Trust me, for women it's not helpful. With the rail there, one has to go so far inside to get to the seat. It's ridiculous! Even without the rail, I've had comments on the difficulty getting in. Like I said, it was almost a deal breaker. As far as kids, mine are big enough to get in just fine.