Nowadays, you don’t have to spend Rolls-Royce money to get luxury features. It’s possible to find heated and massaging seats on more everyday vehicles, even on pickup trucks. And another such feature is leather upholstery.
But while leather car seats may symbolize luxury to some, are they really better than fabric or vegan ones?
A leather car seat wasn’t always a short way to define ‘luxury’ or ‘expensive price tag.’ Only the wealthy could afford the first cars, not to mention the personnel needed to keep them running. These early cars, despite their mechanical complexity, often looked quite similar to horse-drawn carriages. Which meant they were also named according to carriage terms.
For example, in the early 20th century, one particularly popular luxury car style was the ‘town car,’ aka ‘coupe de ville.’ Which, eventually became the names of a Lincoln and Cadillac, respectively. These town cars usually had a special section for the passengers, while the driver’s row of seats was open to the elements.
Back then, cloth upholstery was considered the height of luxury. However, cloth doesn’t do well when exposed to the elements. That’s not an issue for an enclosed passenger space. But what about the driver? The solution: leather car seats. Many high-end cars, including the first Rolls-Royce Wraith, had leather in front but cloth in the back.
Why? Because, among other things, it’s very durable compared to fabric. The material withstands sunlight and rain better than cloth.
Eventually, though, cars gained enclosed roofs, and owners started getting behind the wheel. As a result, leather car seats became an option, rather than a necessity. But because of its early history, and rising material cost, it eventually became a symbol of luxury.
To be fair, not every automaker necessarily treats leather upholstery as its most premium option. For example, although the Toyota Century offers leather, the vast majority of buyers choose wool seats, Motor Trend reports. That’s because wool is quieter and breathes more freely than leather.
Modern fabrics, especially vegan-friendly ones, have another benefit over leather car seats: they’re lighter. That’s particularly useful for EVs. It’s little wonder Tesla offers vegan-friendly interiors.
Leather upholstery does have another advantage. Although leather car seats require regular maintenance, or they’ll crack, they’re easier to clean than fabric ones. They also don’t hold odours the same way cloth seats do.
Choosing leather car seats over cloth or vegan-friendly ones is ultimately a personal choice. If you like the look, the smell, the feel, and the durability, go for it. But for something easier to live with, and arguably more comfortable, cloth isn’t necessarily a downgrade.
Maintaining your leather upholstery isn’t too different from taking care of your hair. Both need regular cleaning and conditioning. Start by vacuuming any dirt, then using a microfiber towel or toothbrush, wipe the seats down with a leather cleaner.
Take care, especially with perforated leather, to put the cleaner on the towel, not directly on the seat. After that, apply a leather cleaner, let it soak into the upholstery away from direct sunlight, and buff it with a cleaning cloth.
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