I am about to purchase a Prius 4. The price for leather and Softex is exactly the same. For those of you who have Softex, how does it compare to leather in regard to (1) comfort in the summer as far as sweating compared to leather and (2) how does it wear as compared to leather? How does factory leather compare to after market leather such as Katzkins? Is there anything else about leather vs. Softex I should be aware of? Thanks.
Softex is better than leather in many respects, especially for cooling/sweating. See this article for details: New artificial leather gains increasing Toyota acceptance - SAE International "
Softex is quite grippy compared to leather. So far looking like it is going to wear very well. No heat or sweating issues that I've noticed. Still doesn't have that natural feel though.
I am a bit confused. SofTex is a standard feature on Prius Four. The dealer is actually removing SofTex and replace it with leather at no extra cost? Or are you comparing Prius Four (with SofTex) and Prius Three with aftermarket leather? If so, I would personally get Prius Four as it has few additional niceties that Three lacks (e.g., power driver's seat with heat (and heat on passenger side), better audio, and auto dimming mirrors). I have Prius Four with Deluxe Solar Roof Package and while SofTex seats are not quite as supple as my wife's car with leather seats, I find it to be quite good still.
I had the Katzkins leather on my '05 car because they did not offer leather at all back then. It wore quite well and always looked good. I sold the car at 190K after 7 years. At that time the driver's bolster was showing wear but that is to be expected after all those miles of getting in and out of the car. I am presently awaiting the '14 PIP Advanced with the technology package to arrive. It comes with the Softtex which will be a new experience for me. I will see how it feels and wears.
My experience, SofTex is better than leather in all respects based on leather I had in previous vehicles. But none of us can compare stock leather to SofTex in a GIII Prius over a long term. We each have one or the other (or neither). At least when you get SofTex it's covering the -entire- seat. Not just the two panels you touch when sitting.
I have a 4 with solar and softex. I have had leather in other cars and my wife's car has a leather interior. As I live in Minnesota with a wide range of temperatures, the softex (much to my surprise) is cooler in summer (up to 100 degrees) and does not take as long a time to warm up in winter (down to -25 degrees). I am impressed so far, but be ware as there are no long term SoftTex history to rely on for reliability.
I bought mine with softex and got a leather installation as part of the deal. But I was a Friday and the installation was scheduled for the next Tuesday so I drove it with Softex for few days. All I can say about it is that I'm glad I got the leather.
The best leather I touched is in my Lexus LS400 1998. It's amazing that after 15 years, it is still soft, especially on back seat. It's a little hard in winter before interior warms up. But hey, it's 15 years old! I checked the Softex on Prius, as well as real leather on other cars including Lexus IS model, they are not top grade in my view. I like the fabric on Prius and Camry better, vs. those leather options.
Or just a few moments at 70F, no clouds or rain, no pollen in the air, winds less than 3 kts with relative humidity at or below 25%, driven on roads that have a very smooth surface devoid of any debris or broken asphalt and able to follow traffic at a distance of several hundred feet
I have a 'genuine' leather seat cover that is not perforated. Even in 70F + sunny afternoon commutes home with some A/C on, the sweaty feel between my pant legs and the seat was a drag.... I was not going to BLAST the A/C just to minimize that sweaty feel. Never had a car before with leather. Not sure that's what I'd want in hot, sunny weather.
The problem with leather is any that you can get and afford is pretty much junk. At least that has been my experience. Holes punched in it from a passenger with something in his pocket! Colour on the surface only! Two panels of real leather only - the rest is whatever (many Naugas died for those coverings?). It's hard and cold in winter and hot and sticky in summer, even when perforated. It needs to be cared for as well, with questionable creams etc. SofTex is always soft, is not hot, has not torn or perforated, and covers the entire seat. Oh, and it "smells like" leather and feels like very expensive leather, for those elitists. Pearl has microfibre coverings. It was fine. Pearl S has SofTex. It is everything I've expected from leather, (and more), in my innocent days.
