How to make Prius more comfortable?

Dear Rondocap:

After 30 years in a BMW with custom seats and leather, I too found the ride in my new Prius a wee bit on the bumpy side during a recent trip from Seattle to San Francisco. Yes, you can swap out the seats, and get some high-end tires (Cooper?) that may mitigate the "hard ride" feel.

That being said, it's about the experience, and the elegance of form and function. Toyota had to make sacrifices in their design to achieve maximum gas efficiency, so it's a trade off. With a 50% savings in fuel each month, I tend to find myself enjoying the trade offs more and more.

Welcome to the Prius generation!

 

many here got the leather seat covers and found them quite comfortable.

 

Try a set of Clazzio leather seat covers with lumbar support inserts. They are great quality for such a low price.

Swap tires to a set of Energy Saver A/S tires. They are more comfortable than the OE tires and they offer better mpg and tread life.

 

I went with real sheepskin covers;

My $35 Sam's Club "genuine" sheepskin seat covers. | PriusChat

I know about sheepskin, becase I had a daughter born with a bad heart in 1983. She lived for two weeks. They laid her on a real sheepskin pad when she was in the neonaito intensive care unit.

I'm sold on sheepskin. Even BMW offers high end sheepskin seat covers.

Prior to installing the sheepskin covers, I took two 800 mile tound trips and was less than compfortable.

The last 1000 mile Thanksgiving trip was absolutely wonderful in comparison.

 

I put in a $1 lumbar support from the dollar store. I think it helps.

SGH-T999 ? 2

 

At my local dealer they just install the Katzin kits. I don't think they do after market softex

SGH-T999 ? 2

 

Sure but it's expensive. The Clazzio covers looked good enough to me for $1000 less than the dealer option. The dealer uses Katskins right?

 

I think some dealers do Clazzio as well. But will leather make the seat more comfortable? I think it is more about the shape and cushion level. Even drivers with the leather complain about the seat being uncomfortable.

SGH-T999 ? 2

 

The first thi

ng I did was installed High

The first thing I did when I got may car was to install good, high quality sheepskin covers. They make a significant difference in the seat comfort. They are great in the winter and very comfortable in the summer.

 

But they look like you're sitting on a farm animal!

 

Cow hides or leather, NOT pleather, are farm animal, too, although with the hair removed.

 

There is a big difference between smooth leather and a white afro!

 

Decades ago I reupholstered my BMW motorcycle seat with New Zealand sheepskin. That seat was awesome - held me in place, was comfortable in high Summer and on icy Winter mornings, and lasted until I wrecked the bike two years later. Based on that experience, I also recommend a good-quality sheepskin cover for the seat. The natural lanolin in the sheepskin fur sheds dirt and keeps the seat surface plush for a long time.

...or you can swap out the seat for the OEM Prius Softex pleather seat. I have that in my Advanced Pip and the seat is pretty good after eight months and almost 14,000 miles.

 

This is a much cheaper option...

 

Solution: Put the Prius on a Yacht and sun bathe on the deck = more comfortable. If there happens to be a fishing pole that is just a bonus.

 

Just a word of caution to any/all who put on seat covers that you don't defeat the SRS seam on the pillar side of the front seat.