1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Upgrade / Replace Prius Seats? Desperate!!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by tart_green, Feb 25, 2017.

  1. tart_green

    tart_green Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2015
    34
    8
    0
    Location:
    In the interwebs
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I have a 2011 Prius and work for a living in the car.
    I am in the car driving 8 hours a day. I LOVE the car, but the seats are really lacking in comfort and back support. After driving each day my back is incredibly sore. It is a manual seat, not power.

    Is it possible to UPGRADE to a newer model prius seat (from maybe a 2015?) with more comfort and back support?

    I'm not interested in adding pillows, I work out this car and I need a permanent solution. I will pay any price to keep this car and have a better seat.

    Any thoughts?
     
  2. CNYhybrid

    CNYhybrid Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2016
    158
    83
    0
    Location:
    Liverpool, New York
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I have the 2011 Prius Four and I find the leather seats quite comfortable.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  3. tart_green

    tart_green Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2015
    34
    8
    0
    Location:
    In the interwebs
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    OK, I'm glad, but it's killing my back.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,703
    48,946
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    there's no quick fix, but there are threads here from people who have put in power camry seats, volvo seats and etc.
    and also who have had the existing seat reupholstered. all the best!(y)
     
    CNYhybrid likes this.
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,674
    38,214
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    That's the problem. I doubt any seat will help. You need to reduce that somehow.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,703
    48,946
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    run behind the car?
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,674
    38,214
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I do not know, break your day, try to vary your duties, look for another line of work? I'm assuming this is work related.

    I used to be pushing a mouse around and keyboarding, eight-plus hours a day, hit the wall, went at diversifying my work from a lot of different angles.
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,703
    48,946
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    might be easier to trade cars.
     
  9. tonycd

    tonycd Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2016
    80
    56
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I think these posts aren't trying very hard to be helpful, and OP has a right to be peeved with them.

    OP, I'd consider trying to find a leather or Softex seat from a junked high-line Prius of this generation. Those seats have power-adjustable lumbar support, a seat bottom adjustment for angle as well as height, and have been reported to be much better for all-day comfort. It ought to be a bolt-in replacement if you get the whole seat; if it wasn't, they wouldn't be able to build both versions on the same assembly line.
     
  10. NavyLCDR

    NavyLCDR Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2016
    188
    120
    4
    Location:
    Stanwood, WA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,674
    38,214
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    @tart_green If you haven't already, I would check with a doctor too: a back injury could underlying your problems.
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,703
    48,946
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    hopefully the o/p has a sense of humor.
     
  13. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,961
    2,609
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Try this: Remove the headrest. Rotate 180 degrees, and put it back in, so that it points backwards. It helped me a lot.
     
    MexicanChip likes this.
  14. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    5,963
    1,981
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    I suspect the seats in every Prius of close model years are the same framewise. THAT is the problem. Changing the seat cover isn't going to solve anything.
    If it were me, I'd try the Lexus version of the GIII Prius. You might find a used one for a reasonable price.
     
    m.wynn likes this.
  15. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2013
    684
    1,226
    0
    Location:
    Queensbury, NY
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I think David may be on to a possible good solution here. The CT 200 seats are absolutely Lexus-like, at least to my 5'9'' proportions. The problem may be that the CT's body is based on the Matrix and not the Prius. Wouldn't be surprised if modification were needed with regard to mounting. Another thought, which again pertains to my size, is that the Gen 2 driver's seat is far more comfortable and ergonomic than Gen 3. It actually has SOME lumbar built in. Again, cross-compatilbilty is the question. Unfortunately no quick and easy solution, but certainly worth investigating. I personally find the Gen 3 front seats to be laughable with regard to comfort.
     
  16. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,961
    2,609
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Try flipping the headrest. Takes 15 seconds.
     
  17. dmeans2anend

    dmeans2anend Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2015
    8
    4
    0
    Location:
    usa
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    I
    I totally agree that the Prius bucket seats are the most uncomfortable car seats ever made!!!!

    I'm very active ,athletic, and petite but get extremely sore back when I drive for an hour or more in my 2010 Prius.
    Since I'm tiny, the dip in the bucket seat really does a wringer on my back.

    I've recently made my own modification to the seat and it seems to help a lot with no more back pains but I do have to make adjustments regularly which is an inconvenient but well worth it just to be pain free.

    First, I bought the combo PharMeDoc wedge cushion seat and back support cushion on Ebay for only $23 with free shipping.

    Secondly, the 3" wedge cushion wasn't quite enough to take the dip out of the bucket seat where my hip would sink down into so I simply emptied a large bag of popcorn kernels in a large gallon freezer ziplock bag and tuck it under the wedge cushion to elevate me even more so that when I'm seated, my hip is level with me knees and there is no more strain on my back!

    This modification seems to have done the trick to relieving the stress on my lower back.

    The only con is that I constantly have to make minor adjustments to the bag of popcorn kernels so it doesn't slide under the cushion.

    My next change is probably to find a pillow cover for the ziplock bag of popcorn kernels so it doesn't slide around under the wedge cushion.
     
    CR94, edspecR and bisco like this.
  18. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    If you aren't a devout P.E.T.A. advocate, I would install genuine sheepskin seat covers on your seats. They add about 1/2 to 1" inch of conformal padding that significantly improves the comfort level of the Prius seats. That's the first thing I do after buying a new car.
    Mikes Canvas: Sheepskin Seat Covers
     
  19. dmeans2anend

    dmeans2anend Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2015
    8
    4
    0
    Location:
    usa
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    I
    Good to know. Thank you. Seems like a wonderful option in the winter but doesn't it get way too warm in the summer especially if you are in a hot climate zone?
     
  20. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Actually these covers a very comfortable in the hot summer. They are very breathable and prevent sweating. I have never found any better solution for seat comfort ... summer or winter.