Most comfortable generation for seats?

B

BoulderGTI

New member
Hey all, I'm looking for input from folks who've gone from one generation to the next that might be able to give subjective opinions on which generation has more comfortable seats for long road trips. My 2004 Forester is not great seat-wise, and I hear the 1996-2004 Tacoma seats are terrible, so I'm wondering if the Gen3 4Runner is in a similar boat and I should be looking at upper-trim-level Gen4 instead.

Thanks!
 
Register to hide this ad
BoulderGTI said:
Hey all, I'm looking for input from folks who've gone from one generation to the next that might be able to give subjective opinions on which generation has more comfortable seats for long road trips. My 2004 Forester is not great seat-wise, and I hear the 1996-2004 Tacoma seats are terrible, so I'm wondering if the Gen3 4Runner is in a similar boat and I should be looking at upper-trim-level Gen4 instead.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

For sure, Gen4 is more comfortable in pretty much every aspect than Gen3.
 
Last edited:
My 3rd Gen seat was more supportive than my 4th, but had fewer amenities. The 4th one seems flatter on the sides....that's just me though.
 
FZRunner said:
My 3rd Gen seat was more supportive than my 4th, but had fewer amenities. The 4th one seems flatter on the sides....that's just me though.
Click to expand...

I agree with this, seems like a wider seat too. But I also had covers on my gen3 and have the leather on my gen4...
 
Even on a brand new truck Tacoma seats and general ergonomics are still terrible.

I have limited experience inside a 3rd gen, at least no long road trips...

3rd vs 4th, I prefer the 4th.

4th vs 5th, I prefer the 5th.

I do have a preference towards leather seats in general, and that may be coloring my opinion, but the leather 5th gen seats are a lot more comfortable to me than my cloth 4th gen seats.

That said, I am pretty happy it (4th gen) had lumbar support, height adjustment, and the overall comfort of the 4th gen is pretty decent. It really could be worse. I've spent hours in those seats on long road trips and discomfort could very well just be my own body getting mad at me. Maybe I am getting old.
 
BoulderGTI said:
Hey all, I'm looking for input from folks who've gone from one generation to the next that might be able to give subjective opinions on which generation has more comfortable seats for long road trips. My 2004 Forester is not great seat-wise, and I hear the 1996-2004 Tacoma seats are terrible, so I'm wondering if the Gen3 4Runner is in a similar boat and I should be looking at upper-trim-level Gen4 instead.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Oddly, my 5th Gen 2019 (TRDP) seats are noticeably more comfortable than my 5th Gen 2016 4Runner seats... Maybe the Softex is more comfortable than the fabric... And I was reluctant about the Softex TRDP seats as I love my wife's 2015 LE cooled seats.

I've spent around 12 hours interstate driving in January, and with them being heated, the adjustable lumbar, and power everything, I love these 2019 seats...
 
My 3rd gen Limited had leather seats with no heat. Not all that uncomfortable but cold as a witches areola in the winter. Much prefer my 18 SR5 Premium with softex and heat!
 
I'm a long time 4th gen owner who is now in a 5th gen. The only annoyance I had with the 4th gen seat was a lack of thigh support. The seat cushion design kind of rolls down at the front, effectivly making the cushion shorter than it is. I much prefer the 5th gen seat. It has been too long since I have been in a 3rd gen to really compare, but recall it felt much narrower than the 4th gen seat.
 
In general Toyota seats kinda suck when compared to other makes. I have owned a truck or SUV from most generations and can honestly say that they get better every generation with the 5th Gens in Softex by far being the best. That said, they still suck IMHO lol.
 
Prado said:
I'm a long time 4th gen owner who is now in a 5th gen. The only annoyance I had with the 4th gen seat was a lack of thigh support. The seat cushion design kind of rolls down at the front, effectivly making the cushion shorter than it is. I much prefer the 5th gen seat. It has been too long since I have been in a 3rd gen to really compare, but recall it felt much narrower than the 4th gen seat.
Click to expand...
That's kind of what I was alluding to in my post, but you said it much better. I liked my 3rd gen seat for support, not comfort. My back does not allow any seat to feel that great, but my 4th gen seat gives no support where I like it....do I have to buy a 5th gen now? The wife would love that logic.
 
Only gripe I have about my 4th gen is headroom. I'm 6'2" and unless the sunroof shade is back my head touches the headliner.
 
Had a 2001 for 14 years and drove a lot of 1000 mile trips with no comfort issues, Have driven one or two 1000 mile trips in my 2016 and again no issues. I am lucky in that I am average height and weight which may make a difference
 
cspicer said:
Only gripe I have about my 4th gen is headroom. I'm 6'2" and unless the sunroof shade is back my head touches the headliner.
Click to expand...

Primetime4370 said:
It must depend on how the seat is adjusted. I am 6'1" and have plenty of headroom. Yes, I have a sunroof as well.
Click to expand...

I agree with Primetime, must be the seat adjustment, I'm 6' 3" and I seem to have adequate headroom, not so much getting in or out but still not too bad, but my head is about 2" at least from the headliner and I also have a sunroof.

Maybe cspicer has short legs and a long torso. :noidea:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 417 (members: 3, guests: 414)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,307
Messages
3,554,054
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top