I am buying a Subaru Ascent! So excited! But I can't decide on the interior. I have never had leather seats before but I worry how they will hold up with car seats. But it looks so great! Please help me decide
I am buying a Subaru Ascent! So excited! But I can't decide on the interior. I have never had leather seats before but I worry how they will hold up with car seats. But it looks so great! Please help me decide
35 votes
nectarine / 2018 posts
I'd do leather, much easier to wipe down and keep clean with kids. Take the car seats out once a month or so, use a leather conditioner, and put the seats back after at least 12 hours (though longer if you can). It will remove any debts and prevent tears - they will always look great!
grapefruit / 4144 posts
Leather is SOOOOOO easy to clean and looks so luxe in comparison to a traditional fabric; however, it can either get really hot in the summer or freeze a tushy in the winter. My last vehicle had gorgeous leather seats which I found I had to get partial covers for simply due to scorched and frozen buns (especially a complaint with my DD and her friends). I ALSO had a carseat pad under the carseat so it wouldn't "cut" into my seats. It worked out beautifully.
pomelo / 5573 posts
My parents used to have a car with leather seats and it was so miserable in the summer, with sweaty legs sticking to the seats. I would never get leather again.
pear / 1930 posts
@Kaohinani: Which car seat cover did you use?
@erinbaderin: That is one of my biggest worries!
grapefruit / 4144 posts
My husband picked up a bunch from the company "Kool Kushion." They have a bunch of styles and colors. The covers were fairly inexpensive and worked well enough. I would have preferred the look of the leather; however, to save buns (and my ears from listening to the complaints), it was a worthwhile purchase. 🤣
persimmon / 1385 posts
100% leather unless you live in the desert. I will never buy cloth again, especially with a car seat. It gets soooo gross under there.
squash / 13199 posts
@Ms. RV: with kids I go for leather because I can just wipe it down when they make a mess. The only downside to leather is if you live in a warmer area the leather seems to hold heat more
nectarine / 2461 posts
I got a Forester this summer (my first new car!) and got leather per everyone's advice on HB. Already so glad I did. My 2-year-old kicked mud (not on purpose) all over it just this morning, not to mention smears of the jelly from inside cereal bars, chocolate, etc etc. Also our old car is a beater Civic with cloth interior that is permanently dented and fucked up from the car seat, so IMO car seat indentations are prob unavoidable.
grapefruit / 4492 posts
I haven't had issues with the carseats on my leather seats so far in 2 1/2 years. They do sell carseat pads/seat protectors you can put under the seat. Leather is so great for an easy wipe down from any mess.
nectarine / 2951 posts
I have a black cloth interior Forester and I kind of regret not getting the tan. It shows EVERYTHING. My old CRV had gray leather seats, which was nice, but I personally prefer cloth to leather. Leather gets super hot in the summer and freezing in the winter.
pear / 1737 posts
I hate leather seats (though I seem to be a bit of a minority) and when we got our latest vehicle I said to my husband we would absolutely not be getting leather and it was actually hard to find cloth. We bought fabric seat covers for the cloth mid row of our minivan where our car seats currently are. I didn’t want leather because of the temperature issue and the maintenance to keep it looking clean and uncracked. I also don’t support the use of leather if avoidable because I disagree with it. It is much easier to clean though. We have had one leather interior vehicle, purchased used, and two cloth interior vehicles and I love the cloth ones way more for comfort alone.
pear / 1521 posts
I have an outback and severely regret getting the black cloth. I thought it wouldn’t show stains but we have a dog and the hair gets stuck in the fabric and won’t vacuum out. I think the tan would have been better. I wish they had a fake leather option like VW bc like @Mrs. Goose: I’d rather avoid it.
clementine / 920 posts
I live in the South and have never had an issue with my tan leather seats. I agree that they are easier to clean than the cloth in my DH’s truck.
I also have seat protectors under our car seats and they work beautifully. Like this (but I have the tan color). https://www.target.com/p/brica-seat-guardian-car-seat-protector-gray/-/A-14373053?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&CPNG=PLA_Baby%2BShopping&adgroup=SC_Baby&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=m&location=9010792&gclsrc=aw.ds&ds_rl=1241788&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1242884&ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Baby+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Baby&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=m&location=9010792&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlIXfBRCpARIsAKvManyf0j5ANMbC3bPMNBdrmQAWGVlgutK2GdOFlM2vAgqnkebLEjRKhMsaApGSEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
LEATHER. I've had cloth pre-kids and it still sucked. Leather all the way.
pear / 1737 posts
@petitenoisette: I’d consider the fake leather stuff because apparently it holds up really well. It probably doesn’t solve the heat and cold comfort issue on your legs though. I only found out it was an option in some vehicles a few months ago.
honeydew / 7622 posts
Soooo I bought a new car and got leather. But DH just leased a car and we got a great deal on a car with cloth seats that’s mostly for commuting. So we have one of each.
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