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Uncomfortable front seats

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by larswest, Jan 16, 2016.

  1. larswest

    larswest Junior Member

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    I test drove Gen 4 today and found the front seat very uncomfortable, the middle section of the seat is a lot lower than the side bolsters and it is quite narrow in te back, so the bolsters dig into my hips, and I am not particularly wide, but I do have hip joint replacements on both sides. I am going to have to add a cushion on the mid section in order to be comfortable. I own a 2007 and a 2012 Prius and find the seats in both very comfortable. Disappointed.
     
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    your the first one to report this iirc. most all have said they are amazing. sorry they don't work for you.
     
  3. kgall

    kgall Active Member

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    Preferences for seats and seat backs are pretty individual things. A seat can be great for most folks, but for those who find it bad it can be a deal breaker. I imagine that two artificial hips makes you even more individual (hmmm, is that as bad as saying "more unique"? But you get the idea.)
    I'm going to have to watch for that sort of thing as my knees are not really happy objects.
     
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  4. goldfinger

    goldfinger Active Member

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    Which model? Did it have lumbar support s?
     
  5. Steve5553

    Steve5553 Junior Member

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    I purchased a three touring about one month ago and I have found the seats are very uncomfortable. The problem is I lean to the right, toward the console. No matter how I position myself, adjust the back, or whatever I do I still lean toward the middle. It's beginning to press on a nerve in my hip and cause back and leg pain. My wife, riding in the passenger seat, gets the same feeling of leaning, in this case to the left, toward the console. Otherwise, the Soft-tex feels great. Has anyone else noticed this? I'm taking it to my service dept next week, but I don't expect them to do much.
     
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  6. IAPrius

    IAPrius Active Member

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    I personally love the seats but I do have lumbar support on my 4 so maybe that helps?
     
  7. RCE1

    RCE1 Member

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    Same here. I don't even mind the pleather.
     
  8. gvp1995

    gvp1995 Active Member

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    If you search for "uncomfortable seats" in Gen 4 Main Forum (e.i. this forum), you will find 3 pages - 45 references. So it is not anything new.
     
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  9. gvp1995

    gvp1995 Active Member

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    I can sign below every word. I had 2007 before and never had this issue. I feel uncomfortable every time I sit in my 3 Touring. It is almost two months and my only hope is I will get used to it somehow with time.
     
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  10. gvp1995

    gvp1995 Active Member

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    Maybe hip joint replacement exacerbates the problem, but I feel pretty much the same in 3 T without. Beside possible design problems, seats are much harder than in 2007. And yet another thing in my view which can contribute is the fact that you could move you bottom more freely on the leather 2007. SofTex has some Velcro effect to it. If I cannot adjust in some half year or so, will have to do something. Don't know what. Put a leather cover as some folks described on this forum?!
     
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    avalon.
     
  12. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    The ToyotaNation Avalon site is ripe with seat complaints on the current model. Every seat does not fit every person.
    Personally, I like the seats in both my Prius and my Avalon.
     
  13. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I'm still trying to find a comfortable position for drives longer than ½ hr - keep moving up and down, backrest, adjust lumbar, steering wheel - still don't think as good as my previous (½ the price) FORD, or VOLVOs.

    Putting sheepskin covers helped, but not enough.
     
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  14. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    I would be curious to know from those who are uncomfortable with their Prius seats, which vehicle seat was the last comfortable one you had? Make/model/year?
     
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  15. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Standout seats

    - most comfortable was a 1980 NISSAN 200B, Australian designed and manufactured seats - the Japanese seats on the models which were imported were rubbish. The rest of the NISSAN was quite average, just great seats;

    VW had good seats in 1977 Microbus, partly assisted by the upright seating position and the flat steering wheel which required push/pull action rather than rotate like a vertical wheel;

    I've had several older (1980, 1990, 1992) Mitsubishis - all poor seats;

    3 VOLVOs, (1973, 1980, 1994) excellent seats;

    FORD Focus 2008 diesel, 6sp Manual, average, kept fiddling on longer trips to get it comfortable (but great car - I crave for another great 6spd Manual transmission!!),

    FORD Fiesta 2011, quite good - in 4½ yrs I never changed the seat position after I had it set.

    2016 PRIUS - I'd just say AVERAGE, very AVERAGE.
     
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  16. gvp1995

    gvp1995 Active Member

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    This is the first time I feel uncomfortable with the seats. I was driving several cars starting with Terrell, Corolla, Audi... My last car was Prius 2007. I have to say I cannot compare my previous cars because I simply did not notice the seats. Never paid attention.

    I would ask another question: how skinny are those of us who find the seats in Gen 4 uncomfortable? I suspect this can play a role.

    It would be nice to find some sort of solution to this. In another thread I read the seats can (will?) get softer with time, but I kind of doubt. What else could be done? Any ideas?
     
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  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    upholstery shop?
     
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  18. goldfinger

    goldfinger Active Member

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    I was happy with the seats until reading this thread. I suspect they're designed for younger people as the car's style would suggest. I'm big (6'1", 253 lbs.). The seats fit me fine. The seats in my wife's SUV are more comfortable, but you're not sitting on the floor. It's a different ergonomic.
     
  19. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    I'm also a big & tall guy, so I start squirming after about 30-60 minutes. (But that's because I'm messed up from multiple spine surgeries). The seat is a bit thin/hard, but not too bad. Just average, like Alan said. My Camry felt similar. I have adequate leg room and good head room in the Prius seat. That's most important for me.
     
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  20. gvp1995

    gvp1995 Active Member

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    I hope reading this thread did not make you less happy with your seats :)

    I ordered this from Amazon "Smart Direct Coccyx Care Memory Foam Seat Cushion for Car". I will post how it works for me.