Are Prius seats that uncomfortable????????

Was convinced a 2012 prius 3 was all I wanted/needed but have been reading about the uncomfortable seats in the prius. Wondering if going up to a 4 with power seats/lumbar/soft tex will really make a significant difference? it seems awfully steep to go up and not too interested in the better navigation (though HUD seems useful). But this is mostly about comfort. Most of my friends who drive Prius's (Priui?) have ones a few years old and find the seats to be fine. I have two dogs and don't know which materials is better for them in terms of dog hair and sharp nails.

I saw at the dealer that the 3 has a height adjustment, just not a power one. Are the seats in the 3 an different except they are not power and are missing the lumbar adjustment that is available on the 4? Seems like a lumbar pillow could work instead for a lot less money, but don't know if the seats themselves are any more comfortable, shaped differently, ect. Any feedback welcome.

i find the seats in my 2012 II very comfy. there is a height adjustment as well as fore and aft . i am 5ft 10 170 lbs. the seats in my c, on the other hand, took a long time to either break in or get used to.

If you don't take care of your body with regular exercise or you have a back injury that you were unable to rehabilitate/recover yourself from you have alot of opportunities in life to blame whatever you sit on for not being comfortable enough. I was worried about all the complaints I read on here about how uncomfortable Prius seats are before I got a GenII. But in truth 8 hours of driving isn't any more uncomfortable than any other car I've driven in. And the newest Prius seats are way more comfortable than the old GenII seats are on account of so many complaints. Truth is: seat comfort is not a Toyota problem, it's a person with an unhealthy back problem....

I do not feel comfortable on long drives with my 2011 cloth seats.

lumbar, legs, and neck. Where I put my seat to fit in the car, is where it needs to be and in that position it's one of the worst seats I've ever had to sit in. I've owned more cars than most people so take it for what it's worth.

Instead of purchasing a more expensive Prius, simply purchase a small cushion to place behind your lower back.

Perhaps the person above me is correct, it may be due to underlying back issues, but what ever the case it's discomfort no matter how you spell it.

2011 Prius II. Owned for 1 month. Just finished a 600 mile R/T trip this weekend comfortably. I'm 6'1" (185lbs) with 32" inseam, so I do best with seats that have high backs, steering wheel closer than average to chest, and pedals closer to front wheels than average. Most cars don't fit me very well.

I'm able to get very comfortable in the prius II, despite having the base seats. I find the dimensions acceptable and there is a setup that can keep me totally comfortable for 4 hours at a time, although it took some trial-and-error to find the sweet spot. The first part that usually begins hurting is the posterior.

There are a lot of cars that I can't get comfortable in. My wife and I were looking seriously at getting a Honda Fit but I ruled it out because the seats weren't comfortable for me. The Prius is working well so far, and seems to be getting more comfortable as time passes.

The majority of the owners on here do not have a problem with the seats. I take 4 hour trips regularly to see the grandkids and have never had an issue with the seats. I think they are as comfortable as any I have had. So does my wife.

The few that have problems with the seats are very vocal about them. So you have to take these threads with a grain of salt and research enough to realize that the majority of the people do not have any issues with the seats. IMO, those that have issues with the seats probably have back or other health issues.

The seats in my 2012 Gen III, trim 2 feel very comfortable to me. My wife and kids also tell me that the Prius seats are the most comfortable we have owned so far. I have genetic back issues, but I have no problem with comfort in my Prius. I used a lumbar support in my previous car, but find it unnecessary in the Prius. Hope this helps.

They're not the most comfortable seats in the world but they aren't the worst either.

My longest trip has only been about 50 minutes though so I'm not sure. I have lower back problems so I'm a bit oversensitive. My wife hasn't complained at all.

A few thoughts to consider when weighing peoples opinions on the seats in any car not just the Prius.

- They are just opinions which reflect personal comfort / discomfort and personal preference
- Some Prius owners have or have owned luxury vehicles with much more supportive seats and thus may be more likely to have complaints.
- Some Prius owners have owned much older vehicles, or never owned a new car and this may tend to sway their opinion towards the seats being the best they ever sat in, because for them that very well may be true.
- Age is a factor. It is very common for the younger crowd to say any chair is comfortable. They have not yet experienced a back trauma, arthritis, or any other form disc degeneration which would contribute to discomfort.
- Seat material preference plays a role in how people feel the seats perform, weather they are comfortable or not some people prefer the feel of a leather / leatherette seat over that of a cloth seat and may complain about that.
- Height and weight of the driver certainly make a difference. If a person tends to be on the heavier side they may create pressure points which would not be noticed by a more slender driver. If a driver is 5 foot 5 they are going to fit in the car better than someone who is 6 foot 5.

The best way to base your opinion on the relative comfort of a seat, is to sit in it for yourself and recall your previous vehicles.

- Are you able to find a comfortable seating position relatively quickly in the Prius?
- Do you notice any unusual or awkward sensations that you are not accustomed to?
- Did you know the base Prius seats adjust up, down, back, forwards, and tilt?

Rent one for a weekend and put a lot of miles on it, that should tell your back how it feels. No other persons opinion matters on this issue, just your own.

I was going to suggest renting one, so you could let your back and bum really try it out, but someone else beat me to it. And to add some more data; I have never owned a luxury car, so to me the Prius is a luxury car.

On my 2012 III, it varies, one thing that gets me is where the arm rest is on the door, if I bring my leg back to the seat, my knee or legt hits the door handle. Thats very hard on the bones, so I have a soft towel stuffed in the door handle pocket and hung over it, so my leg lays up against it for long drives. I just came off a 1400 mile drive in 4 days, if I keep the seat up high it was fine and only issue is getting in and out after 8 hours of driving, but thats any car.

I have a 2012 III and I have done a few long driving trips and neither my husband (the passenger) or myself (the driver) have had any issues with the seats. We also own a Lexus SUV and still choose to take the Prius on long trips, due to the amazing gas mileage vs. the Lexus SUV

Again I find myself in agreement with Brett! Lots of factors go in to driver comfort.

For me at 5'11" and about 215 pounds, I find the Prius to be as comfortable in driving for general travel as my old Baja. In longer trips I have noted some hip/leg pain. But I attribute that to not using cruise control on long trips now in order to get the best mpg's. Also it has taken me a bit to find the best seat position for the longer drives, and I may have found it! Will let you all know after my next road trip this Wednesday after a day trip to the beach...

To clarify, I am 5'5, 130 lbs, currently driving a 98 Honda civic with fabric seats no power adjust. Just not sure if the 3 or 4 is so different in terms of comfort. Will rent this week for a few days test and report back.

I have a 2011 Four and find the seats very comfortable. I can drive 800 miles without stopping (except for gas) and feel fine. Lumbar support is great.

Back in the '80's I did a trip in a LeMans from the Boston area to just north of Baltimore nonstop. This was in my youth, not something I would do today....

In the end for me the back support is great..leg support maybe not as much...l

If the problem is back pain, that may be true. But the Gen II issues are more than just a lack of lumbar support or overly firm (to some people) seat cushions. The car physically doesn't fit drivers over about 6 feet. The geometry is just wrong, and the car didn't come stock with adequate adjustment. This is typically blamed on "the seats" but it's really more than that.

Gen 3 seems to have resolved this with greater range of seat adjustment and a telescopic steering wheel. The one I sat in was much better for a 6'2" fram than my own car.

Nevermind...double post.

For someone your size in a GenII you'd hugely appreciate the removal of your center console/armrest and replacing it with a pillow that matches the upholstery... Not only does it make the inside of the car look much bigger, but it allows way more room for your right knee and right arm... And on long trips when using cruise control I can stretch my right leg out in the passenger area... Best mod I ever did to the car...