Nice 4x4 without leather seats

[JazzyGG]

Right first world problem but also serious... need a new car as daughter keeps being sick, I suspect partly due to leather seats as they used to make me sick at her age. I didn't even want leather seats this time but had no choice! So my Q is is there such a thing as a nice (ideally German) 4 x 4 that does not have leather seats??? Does any one have one?? Do you want to sell me it!

So far I've looked at Auto trader for used as well as trying to spec new on Merc, Volkswagen and Volvo websites - they only offer leather.

Also any travel sickness tips greatly appreciated!

I upgraded my latest Honda CRV to leather. It’s honestly the most comfortable drive ever. DH has an Audi which makes me sick not due to leather but the hard suspension.

I really recommend test driving some Hondas. And that’s before I even start on the absurd satnav supplied with the German build cars.

Sorry, I think I was wrong actually - I looked it up on Audi’s website but looking more closely I think it was the previous model spec (god knows why that’s still there).

It appears from the configuration that it’s only the Q3 you can get with cloth seats.

It might not just be the leather. Many 4x4s are very ‘wallowy’ in the back seats. My brother’s BMW X5 is terrible for it, but I can travel in the back of our XC90 with no problems.

I second the Yeti. Mine, tho a powerful diesel 4x4 for towing, has cloth seats. The marque is owned by VW so you get their engineering, but at a lower price.

I feel your pain OP! I hate leather car seats (even though they’re easier to clean) as the smell makes me feel sick. If you throw in a vanilla air freshener as well it’s worse for me. I thought I was the only one!

A relative has a Skoda Yeti. While it’s not a car I would ever have picked myself I really like it. Roomy inside, the kids love the pull down middle bit with cup holders.

If the 4x4 is an SUV that could also be contributing to car sickness - higher from the ground means slightly more movement, especially side-to-side.

Generally, to combat car sickness you want smooth transitions, predictability, slow and steady acceleration and breaking, slow down before corners and drive through them smoothly, no weaving. I had to change aspects of my driving style significantly when the children were young!

The VW Amarok comes with a cloth interior!

vw.clients.eyefall.com/assets/1/product-guides/commercial/20190214/20190212-the-amarok-product-guide.pdf
Page 3, Cab options!

I third going and looking at a Honda CR-V, I’m on my second one - great cars

Travel sickness caused by leather seats?

It’s the smell. Used to make me more travel sick as a child. I still don’t like leather seats in cars now.

We have an Audi Q5 with fabric seats

@Chocolatehamper I like a big car but that's pushing it even for me. Still needs must so maybe!

You can get a Range Rover evoke with cloth seats

I guess the first thing to consider is what you need the 4x4 for. What weight do you need to tow with it? Or is it simply the location you live requires off road driving? That should sort out the technical requirements for your car. After that you can narrow down your search

Just wanted to pop on to say I have/had this. When I was a child I would get into some cars and the smell of the leather hit me and I felt horrendously nauseous. My Dad bought a brand new car with leather seats and for years I felt ill every time I went in it. I do have a 4X4 car with leather seats now but it was not new and the smell has subsided. If I ever take it to be cleaned inside I ask them not to clean the leather seats other than wiping with a damp cloth as the leather conditioners can have a similar smell.

I have just realised how much this used to effect me and my mum used to tell me off saying I was being rude when I said I didn't like the smell of my dad's car. I hope you find something that works for your family.

Skoda kodiaq and VW touareg come with cloth seats

My mum is a vegan and refused to have a new car with leather seats - she ended up with a Mitsubishi 4 x 4 with fabric seats. If you are buying new, I thought you could specify your choice of seats and that leather were an added extra?

What kind of car are you driving now? A lot of bigger cars (Mercs in particular come to mind) have sort of bouncy suspension which makes it far worse. Opting for a sports model with harder suspension or a jag (I’m not sure about the suvs but the smaller cars have amazing suspension). British roads are really terrible and most German cars I’v driven struggle to find the right balance between a smooth ride with minimal road noise and not bouncing around like a sail boat in a storm.

Hyundai Tucson?

The Range Rover Velar was marketed heavily in the media on the very basis that it was offering luxury cloth interiors as an alternative to the ubiquitous leather. Take a look at one of those if that suits.

Otherwise used Audi Q5s, and BMW X1s all came with full cloth interiors, and are great cars.

Wow the vegan angle is so interesting - I wonder if car manufacturers will take note and start offering more fabric seats.

(Ps I too have suffered nausea from the smell)