Subaru BRZ/Scion FRS/Toyota 86 seats swap in Gen3 Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Prius DIY nut, Nov 4, 2025.

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  1. Prius DIY nut

    Prius DIY nut Member

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    Anyone done these seats swap and care to share the lessons learned here? I am looking to buy these seats to improve on comfort as there are reports that these seats can be fitted into Gen 3 Prius with not much modification required.
     
    #1 Prius DIY nut, Nov 4, 2025
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    You can fabricate any kind of mounts to use any kind of seats you want. The main challenge is there's side airbags in the seats and no one has tested which other airbags are compatible with the airbag system in your car.

    If I were you I'd study up on youtube to see if anyone has swapped air bags in the seats of Toyotas so your new seats are still using same air bags as the car came with.
     
    #2 PriusCamper, Nov 5, 2025
  3. Prius DIY nut

    Prius DIY nut Member

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    According to internet search, these BRZ/FRS/86 seats have the same airbag and connectors as Prius does. Except BRZ have heated seats that my Prius does not have. There should be no need to fabricate adapting brackets. Prius seat rails are expected to fit BRZ seats and then fit to Prius floor without modifications. That is why I am asking this forum if anyone did the swap and can share the experience here. Reportedly these seats are made by Toyota.

    Internet link: BRZ seats in a 3rd gen Prius : r/prius
     
    #3 Prius DIY nut, Nov 5, 2025
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2025
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  4. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    Love where you’re going with this.

    As much as I’d like to think this forum is full of brave souls, by now you’ve probably noticed most folks would rather shoot ideas down than help push them forward. Lots of hot air to pump post counts—little real value.

    Action items on my side: I’m pinging my dismantlers to call me when a BRZ/FRS/86 comes in with seats and alignment still to spec. I’ll pull the seats, 3D-scan the floor, and register that mesh to my Prius scan so I can reverse-engineer the rails, sliders, mounts, and any trim that needs clearance. I wish my new AI supercomputer was already online with the wiring/service manuals ingested—then it could auto-map connectors, pinouts, and the plug-to-plug adapters we’ll need across models. TBC.

    Also—why drop in a lower-end sport seat when Avalon or Lexus seats exist? Avalons are some of the most comfortable sedan seats ever made; Lexus options add heat/ventilation. From what I’ve seen, yard pricing is similar. I’d take higher-quality seats + a clean custom bracket over BRZ seats and “bolt-in” any day.
     
    #4 black_jmyntrn, Nov 7, 2025
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  5. Prius DIY nut

    Prius DIY nut Member

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    This is great. I am buying two used BRZ seats tomorrow and will see what can be done to fit them in my Prius. I am also looking into aftermarket lumbar supports that can be fitted in these seats to further improve them. As far as Lexus seats, I personally like fabric seats, so it is BRZ seats for this modification.
     
    #5 Prius DIY nut, Nov 7, 2025
  6. Prius DIY nut

    Prius DIY nut Member

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    Well... this is not exactly what I was hoping for, but at the same time was not surprised.

    I got both BRZ seats yesterday and took the rails from BRZ passenger seat first. Today I pulled my Prius passenger seat and put them side by side to compare. AND...The seats have different connectors, harness and sensors/electronics, except side airbag, the connector is the same. This means that in order for the swap to work I need to transfer passenger seat occupancy sensor into BRZ seat along with all other harness. Prius rails appear to have two electronic modules attached on the console side, which again means that those should be transferred together with the whole harness to the BRZ seat.
    After not too long deliberation, I have selected NOT to proceed with ripping Prius seat apart and try to transfer the harness and all the seat sensors to the BRZ seat. The BRZ seats will be going back on FB marketplace for sale. These seats fell really nice when sitting in them, but SRS safety is definitely more important than my wish for better comfort. Hope this information will help others considering this modification.

    What are the modest budget options to address Prius seat comfort, what are your thoughts, people?
    - Lexus Ct200h seats should be mostly a direct replacement since it is the same Toyota platform as Gen 3 Prius.
    - Ask a car seat upholstery specialist and see what can be done to ergonomically improve the seats.
    - DIY seat improvements
     
    #6 Prius DIY nut, Nov 9, 2025
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2025
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