Is it possible to replace these seats with a non sport seat version but the same color? For whatever reason, they kill my wife’s back. I need to come up with something or I may have to get rid of the 4Runner.

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I don't wanna be that guy suggesting the obvious, but is she aware there's a lumbar support bar? I assume so cause many find it to be crap, but there's also plenty that can't get by without it
You could swap in the plush leather seats from a Limited as they'd fit right in, but getting the wiring to work is a bit of a project if I'm not mistaken. Otherwise you could always look into getting the seats reupholstered by a local shop, they can do practically anything you want for the right price. Color isn't a problem so much as the print/design, and even then many people here that have gotten their interior reupholstered were even able to get fabric whose design very closely matched the OEM print, lots of times it almost looks factory. At that point you could even just get the passenger seat done and save some money, though I would personally do the driver as well just so it matches a little better

So this is my 4Runner so she’ll primarily be in the passenger seat which doesn’t have the lumbar support. And FWIW the lumbar in the driver seat doesn’t do much. I was wondering about an upholstery shop and whether they could redo the padding to something more plush. It’s not like mine is worn out though - if anything it’s not broken in as this puppy has 45k miles. I think the discomfort for her is a combination of the orientation/angle of the seats, lack of ability to adjust much especially in the passenger seat, and the firmness of the padding. I think she would get used to a firmer seat but I can’t argue much with back pain.

Are the non-sport cloth seats any more comfortable? I assumed the leather limited seats would be but I don’t think leather up front with the grey cloth in the back will go together good enough for my taste.

The base/SR5 seats should bolt right in. Wow only 45K miles, those seats must be like new. Looks like you've got the light charcoal grey color (2001-02). I've got base/SR5 seats in my 2000, they are so-so comfort-wise. They are slightly softer than the sport seats. You could always just try one, just make sure the foam isn't hammered...

I'll warn you though (at least for me), the base model seats are worse for comfort... They will bolt right in though.... Make sure you get ones with matching cloth, both the seat electronics and cloth basically changed every year (at least every two)

-Charlie

What’s the difference in the base model seats and the sport? Just that the base are more flat where the sport have the higher sides that sort of wrap around you?

That's pretty much it, sport models came with a "bucket seat" as it was called, though it's pretty shallow as far as bucket seats go. Still holds you nicely