2007 Toyota Camry V6: The Case for Cloth.

1. I'll never buy tan/beige seats cloth or leather as both are dirt magnets.
2. Cloth is hot - miserably so. It could be 40 degees and cloth is still sweat-inducing.I detest cloth while I really appreciate the gray leather in our A3 and the black and grey leatherette in our Mini.
3. My next car will definitely have leatherette - easy to clean, stays cool to the touch, lasts forever, no treatment necessary.

Here's one vote for cloth. The only reason we have leather in our car is because it was part of a package required in order to get the other things we wanted. Wish it was a stand alone option.

My past two Audis have had cloth seats, and they've been a huge pain to keep clean. Even cleaning them makes them dirty, if that makes sense -- cleansers and even water leave stains behind. Our next car will definitely have leather seats.

My issues with cloth are a) lint, and b) static electricity shocks when getting out of the car. Not saying I don't have issues with leather or alcantara (my favorite, which probably has the same problems as cloth), just pointing out two complaints.

I disagree completely Mike.
Leather is much better than cloth seats.
They're easier to clean, and they are much more comfortable to sit on.
The leather on the Azera and Q7 are just defective.
Cloth is not better than leather.

I'd rather clean and treat my leather every so often than have cloth. I actually enjoy taking care of my cars. I find it relaxing and get a great sense of accomplishment afterwards. Anyway, leather is much more comfortable and much better looking, IMHO.

I agree with ih8hyundai 100%.

I love the feel, look, and smell of leather. I can't say from experience, but if it is true that it spares you from static shock, that would be another big plus for me. I'm tired of finger-frying shocks when I shut my car door. But they do hit you pretty hard for $$.

The only advantage that leather has is the smell and the availability of seat coolers in some models. Other than that, cloth is almost always better, particularly in the lower-level cars where it's an option. The cloth is almost always of much higher quality than the leather.
 
Beware of leatherette, blueguy - we had a light-gray leatherettte interior in a Beetle that did the same thing.
 
PS - I'd be much more willing to put my money on a pair of jeans that saw butt time in both the Azera & the Q7 than I am on the fact that those very, VERY dissimilar cars are defective. You'd be amazed what isn't "defective" at all, and I doubt taking that tack will get far with either manufacturer. Perhaps someone on Edmunds staff can track down an upholstry person somewhere to shed some light on this?

I prefer cloth. It seems to wear better over time, as it doesn't get too dirty or cracked, and it is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Plus it doesn't squeak as you move around in your seat.

I haven't had cloth upholstery in about five years, and I've never regretted it. It doesn't get any warmer than the cloth did, is much easier to clean, and personally feels better to me.

Well, I'm glad that debate's been resolved.

The only advantage I can see to leather is it smells nice.
 
Disadvantages?...
 
-Cold in the winter, hot in the summer
- you slide around if you drive quickly
- not as comfortable as cloth
-costs too much
-cracks over time
 
For those who like "leatherette"....... It's vinyl folks...think base K-car...

One day in a July parking lot is all it takes to know I won't be buying a car with leather any time soon - or a dark interior, or a dark paint job either.

I agree with Carlisimo about alcantara. I think that'll be the material of the future. It grips well, it doesn't shock you, and it doesn't have the hot/cold disadvantages of leather. Plus it looks pretty good.

There's a reason why serious sports cars have cloth or non-leather sections (think Alcantara inserts) of their seats - they're grippier and hold you in place better.
 
Since the pros and cons of leather vs. cloth have already been beat to death above, I will take the opportunity to say that I absolutely LOVE the Volvo T-Tex material, very comfortable and easy to clean. I'm so smitten by it that I'm actually looking to have an aircraft re-upholstered in the same material.

This stuff about cloth or alcantara (i had a car with that miserable garbage) gripping better is hilarious. Try getting a car with good seats. It's that simple. Leather or e'tte, I've never moved from my seat on track days in my cars. If your seat has proper bolsters and you're not sitting too far back you simply won't move around.
 
Alcantara, in my 3 year experience with it, was junk. It takes the worst of cloth (hot, sticky, retains smells, stains, wears fast, gets dirty fast) and mixes it with leather to produce cloth-like leathery-like stuff that's unbearably crappy and falls apart fast while looking and feeling like garbage within a few weeks.

I can say I have no experience with alcantara. But I know from experience that cloth seats grip better than leather. Compare the same make and model, one with cloth and one with leather, and you'll notice the difference. As far as "proper bolsters" go, I'm not going to purchase aftermarket seats just to get bolsters in a vehicle where large bolsters are not offered. So tally up another vote for cloth.

Green, a car built for driving has seats with good bolsters. We're talking about a dowdy, one-foot-in-the-grave Camry driver here. Camry and spirited driving go together like Lohan and Merlot - sure you can mix them but the results are never good.

My S has significant bolsters on the leather seats. I stll slide around.

For those who aren't too "quick" or in the know, estreka is referring to his S2000. :o)

Pictures on my profile for those that haven't seen it. ;-) (click estreka)
 
Thanks Suby. *thumbs up*