So I am close to making the purchase of a 2013 5th Gen White Limited but cannot decide on the color of leather. I live in a hot climate (Florida) and have heard that darker color leathers can crack and age poorly. Can anyone hear comment on any pro's/con's of each of the colors toyota offers in leather? Thanks alot!
Leather Color Decision
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scanny
Senior Member
I'm far from Florida so I' don't know if my opinion counts. I have black leather in my truck, it saw some extreme hot weather but it didn't crack or age poorly in the last 3 years. However black leather gets very hot in summer so if I lived in Florida I probably would go for beige leather.
LandCruiser
New member
Leather wears out where the driver slides in and out of the truck (kind of like an alligator does into the water) shorter and heavier drivers will cause accelerated wear of the left side of the seat cushion.
Black leather hides stains. All it takes is one jackass tech from the dealership to drive your truck without plastic seat covers and all the grease and grit on his pants will essentially ruin a tan/cream chair.
Black leather will heat up immensely in the sun and scorch your junk.
Choose wisely, or get a black neoprene-ish cloth interior like I did.
Black leather hides stains. All it takes is one jackass tech from the dealership to drive your truck without plastic seat covers and all the grease and grit on his pants will essentially ruin a tan/cream chair.
Black leather will heat up immensely in the sun and scorch your junk.
Choose wisely, or get a black neoprene-ish cloth interior like I did.
FL_URB_RNR08
New member
+1
I had a Lexus with tan leather, pain in the ass to keep clean, esp with wife's clothes always seeming to leave a blueish hue on the pass seat (within 3 weeks after cleaning!) and she barely rode in it. Got her a car with black leather and problem solved. (and got myself the UR in the deal with the alcantara seats, she doesnt like riding in SUV's so another problem solved
)She has been out of town for last week and I've been driving her car and I don't notice difference in heat from previous car, current car is black on black, previous was white/tan. Both have 20% tint.
Just make sure when getting in you try to sit 'on' the seat vs sliding in to it reduce wear on the bolster.
FL_URB_RNR08
New member
Oh and make sure to clean and condition it often with whatever color you end up getting, and use stuff that absorbs in, I've had good results with Blue Magic, stay away from silicone products that make it look glossy.
4RnrGurl
New member
Agreed... the tan leather is a PITA to keep clean. I LOVE my black leather interior on my 2013. Tint the windows, it really helps with the heat, and to protect the interior.
Same problem here. Wife's GX470 has the tan interior and it's GARBAGE! Gets the same blueish marks you're experiencing and it only stays clean briefly.
My 4th Gen has the gray leather and I absolutely LOVED IT! Showed zero wear, stayed clean and looked new at 94K miles when it was totaled. Had the 5th Gen came with the gray option, I would have gotten that. Between black and tan, it was a no-brainer for me. Just not a fan of tan leather. I haven't had my 5th Gen long enough to comment on it's leather yet however but I looked at a few with tan and decided black looked much better.
Too each his own I guess.
KS4RUNNER
New member
Go with black leather. I just advised my brother on the same topic a few months ago. He purchased a 2013 limited. Tan leather shows everything, especially the lower back part of the seat and the edges exiting the vehicle, change color from your clothing constantly rubbing on it.
I have 100k on my 4 runner with the factory black leather interior and it still looks great. I clean it/ condition it maybe twice a year.
I have 100k on my 4 runner with the factory black leather interior and it still looks great. I clean it/ condition it maybe twice a year.
Bay33saw
New member
I agree, my wife has Tan leather and it's a Biatch to keep clean, I live in Las Vegas where it get's hot as hell and I have black leather in my LE, but I have good tinted windows too. Go with the black and get your windows tinted.
eddiebx
New member
+1
I had a Lexus with tan leather, pain in the ass to keep clean, esp with wife's clothes always seeming to leave a blueish hue on the pass seat (within 3 weeks after cleaning!) and she barely rode in it. Got her a car with black leather and problem solved. (and got myself the UR in the deal with the alcantara seats, she doesnt like riding in SUV's so another problem solved
That's probably blue jean dye transfer, I've read that it's very common problem on the lighter color leathers. Well I mean it's probably a problem on black leather too, but you can't see it, lol.
nevans2005
New member
I went with the tan leather on my black limited and love the color. It is a bear to keep clean but I am one of the few that actually enjoy cleaning my car regularly. I guess if you don't want to have to keep up with your leather as much stick to the darker colors, I will say it doesn't get nearly as hot with the tan leather.
Black leather. I live in GA and I have black. It's hot here but with tinted windows I doubt seat color affects interior and seat temp that much. Black looks better for much, much longer than lighter colors. It might be a decision based on the color of your interior, is it gray or tan?
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Canazes9
New member
I've got the Katzkin grey leather on my Tacomas and I like it a lot. The drivers seat is showing a little wear on the '07 with ~145,000miles, but its not too bad.
My wife got the black leather on her '13 4Runner and like others have said - with windows tinted as dark as legal, hot seats have not been a problem.
David
