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Absolute Best Aftermarket Seats for Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Seymour Fupas, May 30, 2021.

  1. Seymour Fupas

    Seymour Fupas New Member

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    Hi Prius Family! :D

    Have a 2013 Prius that I love. I drive it 3-4,000 miles per month, and the drivers seat is absolutely killing my back.
    With no limitation on price, what is the best/most premium and most importantly COMFORTABLE Toyota or Aftermarket Seat I can purchase for my prius?
    I have no issue with buying aftermarket seat brackets if there is a Recaro or Sparco seat that would save my body from all these miles I'm now driving.

    Thank you for any help or guidance!
    So Happy to be here....and Oliver says hello (y)
     

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  2. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    money is no object? The latest quick fix is to sell your used car and move up to a new car. Few fellers done this here due to the high demand for used cars.
     
  3. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    You can get a lumbar support pad/pillow. Or a seat pad.
    That seat pads helps me a lot! I've always had a bad lower back and for the first 2+ years
    the Prius seats were fine. But the last several months it was killing my back!
    I put 3 or more thousand miles on it too. The last few months I've used a pad that's about
    2-3 inches thick and it's made it a LOT better.
    And it's a lot more cost effective. :)

    There several types out there but bed-bath-and beyond has a few different types.

     
  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    With that kind of mileage on a 2013 seat, it might be reasonable to suggest that your original seat is simply worn out, and no design change is required.

    In other words, consider buying a new seat from Toyota.

    Alternate: take your car to an upholstery shop. Tell them you want that seat re-stuffed with some higher performance materials. There are experts in the field, they can do amazing things.

    The only reason I'm suggesting those instead of an aftermarket seat is that with an aftermarket you (generally) lose the embedded airbag feature, which may cause the car to show a fault light on the dash- and may cause you some complexity with your insurance.
     
  5. Seymour Fupas

    Seymour Fupas New Member

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    I have two lumbar pillows and im still dying!
    Ready to spend thousands if necessary. MY back is worth it in my opinion
     
    bisco likes this.
  6. Seymour Fupas

    Seymour Fupas New Member

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    Honestly this prius is a fantastic POS Daily Driver. I've had it just over a year now. Bought it with 73k now has 126k. I've done every type of preventative service to ensure I can keep hitting her with 4k miles a month safely.
    It's just my dang back on these 200 mile road trips, the seat feels so un-contoured and unsupportive.
    I do have a local upholstery guy I can ask about making it better.
    Newer generation prius seats dont swap?
     
  7. Samuel Williams Jr

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    The airbags and sensors complicate a swap, having your seat modified would be a better option, if it's done right.
     
    Montgomery likes this.
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  9. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    I agree with Leadfoot. A local upholsterer will fix your need. Wife and I used a local one to do our living room furniture. The wood work was so good, we didn't want to buy new furniture. When we had the upholster look at our furniture, he told us the padding is cheap and not made to last long. His padding made a HUGE difference in comfort. That being said, make sure you specify that you want comfort to be the priority. You will be able to keep the same seat, with the same connectors for the air bags, and, you can splurge on the padding all you want.
     
  10. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    I solved my discomfort by replacing the center console with a pillow... Way more room for my knees, which makes my back happy.
     
  11. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    I sit on mine... Have you tried stretching exercises?
    Like mine, it's probably just time for new cushioning.
    My brother and I replaced his leather seat covers and cushions in his BMW M3.
    Wasn't a hard job, and didn't take too long.
    Maybe you can get new cushions from Toyota or an aftermarket place.

    Or as others have noted you can have a place do it for you.

     
  12. personalityprofile

    personalityprofile New Member

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    Anyone know if a Toyota Matrix seat would fit? I really want that fold forward action for the passenger seat
     
  13. tallprius

    tallprius Member

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  14. tallprius

    tallprius Member

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    I swapped in 2013 LEXUS c 200h drivers seat and love it. but I just drove a 2005 camry 1100 miles and that bigger softer cloth seat might be even better for you (but color or cloth could be wrong for you I would suggest you get a camry seat about same year and color and get welder to make seat legs fit the PRIUS floor the air bag wires should be the same. If you got a manual seat no problem but the floor bolt holes. Again maybe get a welder to modify camry seat legs to fit PRIUS floor.
     
  15. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    I measured the new Avalon TRD seats at a dealership, and they will fit, hoping to find a GSF and measure those seats as they are what I really want!
     
  16. richard1540

    richard1540 Junior Member

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    I don’t like the seat in my gen 3 either. It’s a 2011 with 75k miles. The backrest seems to be reclined too far for my taste. I like it bolt upright in any chair or seat I sit in.
     
  17. 100 free watt hours

    100 free watt hours Junior Member

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    I have a 2019 prime and I drive a 1000/wk. Same problem. I am going to try and swap the passenger seat with the driver seat and see how that works. I have 160k miles on my Prius Prime. Was going to buy a new one but the dealers want 5k additional markup.
    The nearlest Recaro dealer is 300 miles away from me.
     
    #17 100 free watt hours, Sep 22, 2022
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2022
  18. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    but what about your seat belt clip?