I have searched the forums, but can't find the answer. PETA gave Toyota an award when the car came out (or shortly after) for the car not being offered with leather. And there is an article that quotes "We are sensitive to this," said Paul Daverio, manager for advanced technology vehicle marketing at Toyota. "Prius does represent social responsibility to the environment for many people. And we understand that there are some issues with leather." So the leather option, is it real? I can't find anywhere where it says it is or isn't real! I would assume it is, and say that they would have use the word leatherette or vinyl or something else to describe what they use had it been fake, but I am curious as to whether this is in print somewhere. Is the leather real? Show me proof either way, not just what your dealer said!
"Show me proof" Huh? I actually have cloth seats, but I don't know how you would want me to prove they're cloth. Maybe I could cut out a swatch and send it to you. Of course it's leather. Do you think Toyota would have been able to fake it all these years? And why would they want to?
It may be that leather was not offered as a factory installed option in the first year or two. Does anyone with an '04 or '05 know if leather was a factory option or was it port or dealer installed?
The cars with factory leather are a combination of real leather in the seating areas and vinyl in other areas (e.g. the back of the seat). The leather in the seat bottoms and back is perforated. The steering wheel also has black leather on the rim and spokes. The center console lid and armrests have vinyl. (I have bisque (tan) leather in my car, package #6) The leather is described in the 2007 Prius brochure that I picked up when I bought my car. Some cars are equipped with aftermarket leather; typically they do not have perforations. They also don't have the leather wrapped steering wheel. I believe that the 2004 (2nd gen) Prius did not originally offer leather as an option; it was offered in later years. I think 2006 may have been the first year it was a factory option.
According to this post: http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-m...tion-codes-package-contents-color-combos.html Leather was available with Package #8 for 2006.
Wow, never saw that when I was looking for mine. Maybe, since I didn't need leather I just didn't pay much attention at that package level. Stand corrected
In 2005, when we bought our Prius, leather was not offered. We have a package 6, no leather. It was offered starting in 2006.
No no guys, I'm not asking if and when it was an option. I'm asking if the leather is real (and animal product), or if it's synthetic.
The "seating areas" are real leather. That's the centre seat bottom panel and the centre seat back panel. The side bolsters and sides of the seat bottom are vinyl, as is the seat back. This is common on Japanese cars. In fact, I think the only cars with "all leather" seats are European. Jaguars, for example, and some German cars. You -can- order all leather seat covers aftermarket, but even they supply only the centre panels in real leather unless you pay more. Perforated leather is also usually an extra cost option as well. The comments/commendations you read were for the 2004/2005 models, which didn't offer leather, real or imagined. Why anyone would object to leather used on seats is beyond me. What do they want us meat eaters do, throw the cowhide away?
Thank you for your answer. I think that it would have been more environmentally friendly of them, more conscious of their audience, to offer a leather-ette interior instead of real leather. Why anyone would want to sit on the sking of a once living animal is beyond me. But let's not get into that.
That would have defeated the entire purpose of offering leather. They were responding to a demand, buyers wanted a leather option from the factory. I think the leather really makes the car feel a lot nicer inside, we'd have gotten it had it been available when we bought ours. I love leather seats. Its not like they require you to have leather...its an option.
I picked up my 2008 Classic Silver package 5 with XM and Leather upgrades (done "at the port"). I am very pleased with the perforated leather which I was not expecting. However, I thought that I would also get a leather-wrapped steering wheel based on what I read in the brochure. The dealer said the leather wheel cover was an error in the brochure and that it was not available. Does anyone know if this is baloney? Can you order a leather kit for the wheel? I loke this car and it is getting an unbelieveable amount of attention (+ and -) from neighbors. My only regret is that I did not get mud flaps which I will add later. Thanks!
I understand that the factory-installed leather includes the steering wheel cover; while the port-installed leather does not include the cover. You can order an aftermarket steering wheel cover that laces together; however it might be tough to match the color and grain. Toyota 04-08 Prius Wheelskins Steering Wheel Cover (Euro-Tone 2 Color)|Custom WheelSkins Genuine Leather Steering Wheel Cover
Toyota is trying to expand the potential Prius customer base; hence offers leather-trimmed seating surfaces as an option.
McDonald asked a legitimate question and I don't see the point of all the smart-nice person comments back to her.
