Worst Seats Ever

Hmm... maybe the seats are better for tall people? I'm 6'4" and my 2012 Prius 4 power seat is the most comfortable I've ever had. I love the adjustable lumbar support, makes it so easy to customize a perfect fit. Even after 4 days of cross country driving, no back issues (and I've had plenty of lower back problems in the past)

 

I feel your pain! Car travel in any car was a misery for me until I got myself a car seat with a rigid frame that is custom bent to fit your back and has tempurpedic foam. It wasn't cheap but it makes car travel comfortable so it was worth the price. I bought mine in person at a Relax the Back store. You can buy them online, but I would not recommend this as you couldn't get the custom adjustment done. They have a gizmo in the store that the seat inserts into that bends the frame to fit you. Then you try it in your car and they keep making adjustments until it is perfect for you. I needed a little insert added under the back of the seat also so that my hips are not as flexed. I can't recommend this enough and it comes in all the same colors as the Prius interiors.

McCarty's Premium Sacroease Back Support | Relax The Back

 

There are a bunch of other good ergonomic "sport" type seats out there on the market with varying degrees of support and price range. Corbeau and Sparko come to mind. I used Recaro as a generic term... probably not a good idea on my part.

It usually takes me quite a bit of time to explore different seat positions in a car before I eventually find a comfortable setting. Some car interiors are more challenging than others, for sure, but I didn't find that to be the case in our Gen III Prius. The '05 Gen II was one car that I found difficult to get really dialed in to and always ended up fooling around with seat positions in attempts to set up comfortably.

I have found that a way to get somewhat better thigh support in a shorter seat is to lower the back of the seat cushion, if that feature is available (it its in ours), then adjust the seat back to a comfortable angle and finally set up just enough lumbar support. That seems to provide a modicum of good thigh support when a seat cushion is on the short side. Getting the steering wheel distance and height right is also part of a successful set up, and might present a problem in the Prius, since the height and telescoping range is slight.

What adjustments are available on a 2013 Four. Has it changed from the 2011 I have? I haven't tried one out yet.

 

2012 and later 4 and 5 have power adjustable driver's seat which is good because you can change the tilt of seat bottom. In 6-way mechanical adjust seats, you cannot change seat bottom tilt, only height adjust, slide for/aft, and seatback angle.

 

I think the Prius seat bottom is just as long as that in Camry and Accord.

You mentioned 'there is no real leg support'.

So, if you adjust the front of the seat bottom up, it doesn't support your legs enough?

Seems it would be easier to support shorter legs than longer ones. Why don't you go to Toyota service to see what they say about it.

 

For a $32,000 car I would expect a better quality seats

 

I've felt crappy seats in $45k Mercedes Benz S class - hard and narrow. But yeah, base PiP seats are a rip.

 

Toyota should make it an option and let the consumer decide.

 

Sorry, but I have to take exception to the title of your post - the seats in the Gen 3 are far from the worst - just try out the Gen 2.

I'd recommend that you try all sorts of different adjustments, pads and cushions and also give it time in between the changes - at least a few days or you just might skip right over a setting that works for you.

 

I've read in car enthusiast forums that two car brands have the best seats in the business -
Saab and Volvo

Everyone agrees Volvo S60 and Saab 9-5 have the best driver's seat.

 

We just returned today from a 2,400 mile week-long trip. 2012 PiP Advanced model. Two drivers + parrot (yes he drove too ). Total driven miles in the PiP: 21000 since April 2012, incl. two looong trips and multiple day/weekend trips, plus daytime commuting.

PiP Adv. seat has great lumbar support. Per my chiropractor, the lumbar support in any car should (all other things being equal) always be extended (engaged) to its full length. I hadn't known this earlier - usually used the lumbar support only for a while, and only as a relief once I'd get tired. Since Fall 2012, we've left the lumbar in its full extended position. The less-manipulable passenger seat has a Healthy Back curved hangy-thingy I've had since our Gen I Prius.

Over our last 18 hours' driving, we covered 1024 miles at practically all 80+ MPH. We switched six times. We were still walking upright without pain once at home, although I'll confess to being very sleepy.

IMHO, this Pip Advanced seat is equal to the seat of the 1991 BMW 318i we drove into the ground back in the 1990s. The multiple power adjustments, the well-designed Softex surfaces and the lumbar support all work together.

On the other hand, the center console is at least 1.5 inches higher than the door arm rests, and that does drive me crazy on long drives - gotta remember to plop that foam pad on the door rest before the next long road trip. This might be causing the OP's problem - with a long daily commute, a constant everyday "bend" of the spine to the left might induce all kinds of problems. Frankly, I think this is a Toyota ergonomic oversight.

 

Thank you. Just thought I would highlight this making it easier for Toyota to see. Two things noticed in June 2009 - oops, door armrest too low and hard (easy fix)
-ooops, steering wheel doesn't telescope quite enough (not fixable)

 

End of the day, no real solutions to the unergonomic and uncomfortable seats in the 2010-13 Prius. Something to keep in mind when upgrading. Prius could have ameliorated the problem by offering the more adjustable power seats as standard equipment or as an option for all models.

Make more money and have more satisfied customers (what a concept). Just a blind spot for them on the Prius.

It's on my check list for 2015 along with blind spot indicator, auto dimming mirror and auto headlights and DRL as basic safety and comfort items.

 

I find the seats comfortable enough, and am happy paying less not having all that additional tech. The DRL are nice, but I like them more beacuse they complete the look on the front, not so much for their purpose.

 

Have you tried the seats in the Four/Five? A big improvement over the Two/Three seats, primarily due to adjustable seat angle and lumber. Doesn't help the OP, unless perhaps it is a simple matter of adjusting things; The seat height & angle adjustment really helps my legs, and and the lumber adjustment really helps my back. There's really quite good range in these adjustments.

 

My 2006 BMW with the Luxury Package had 18 way adjustable seats. I could open or pinch the sides of the chair thus you felt snug, lumbar was lower in the seat, the bottom of the seat can raise or lower, it had memory so based on which key fob it remembered my settings or my wives thus save time, and after the seats broke in they got more comfortable. You can make the seats hard or soft. Worth the upgrade. Come on Toyota I know you can fix this.

 

I think much more than seats need improvement - controls, steering wheel, armrests, dash materials / design, power, handling, rearview, and the biggies - cost and lifetime / cost of battery replacement

 

I am 5'9" and weigh 225. BTW, I am not fat! My seat kills my butt. I solved the problem by going to Bed Bath and Beyond and bought the "forever comfy" seat pad. works like a charm and for $15 you can't beat it with a stick.

 

double post, sorry.