Deciding whether you’d like cloth or leather car seats in your new vehicle may not seem like a big part of your buying decision. However, your car’s interior can affect both your enjoyment of the car and its resale value down the road.
Here are some things to consider when deciding between cloth and leather.
Price
Cloth seats are often found on lower-end cars, or models that are several years old. Often, on high-end or luxury models, cloth seats aren’t even an option – leather or upgraded leather are the choices offered.
You will always pay more for leather car seats than for cloth, but it’s often up to you as to just how much more. Upgrade features for car interiors can range from several hundred dollars to several thousand. Your local car dealer will be able to compare and contrast the different basic and upgraded leather options for you to help you make your decision.
The bottom line? If you’re on a budget, cloth car seats are the choice for you. If you have a little extra to spend on upgrades, consider the luxury of leather.
Stains and Odors
When it comes to stains and odors, leather is the clear winner. Most leather can be wiped clean and resists absorbing liquids or other stain-causing agents. Odors resulting from spilled food or drinks, pets, or smoke are nearly impossible to remove without some heavy duty cleaning.
If you have small children or are prone to eating on the go, cloth seats might not be the best option for you. The same holds true if you regularly transport your pets or are a smoker. Cloth holds on to stains and smells; leather is much more forgiving.
Maintenance
Leather is luxurious, but it can also be high maintenance. As noted above, it’s better at fighting off stains, but it needs to be cleaned and conditioned every few months. If you don’t clean and condition the leather, it will end up showing signs of wear and will harden and even crack.
Cloth car interiors, on the other hand, do need some maintenance, but it’s less intensive than is necessary for leather interiors. Occasional vacuuming and possible steam cleaning will keep cloth interiors looking nice. Some car owners with cloth seats opt to use a stain guard treatment on their cloth seats. This needs to be applied every few years.
While any car interior will require upkeep and cleaning, leather needs more attention to keep it looking its best.
Resale Value
Leather seats represent more of an upfront expense when purchasing a car. But, they also add value to the vehicle, which helps when you’re ready to sell. Cloth, on the other hand, doesn’t add value upon resale.
Leather seats have been found to retain 53% of their value at five years. This means if you paid $1000 for upgraded leather interiors and sell the vehicle within five years, that upgrade is still worth about $500.
In the end, the decision between cloth or leather seats for your next car, truck or SUV comes down to your personal preference, budget and common sense. You are the only one who knows whether or not you’ll be able to afford the upkeep of either one, your plans for resale, and your personal preferences when it comes to your new vehicle’s interior.
Both cloth and leather have advantages and disadvantages – use this article to help you make an informed choice.
