What are quad seats: A Luxury Seating Option Explained
Quad seats also known as captain chairs are car seats that come individually and are not joined together like the regular car seats. You may have heard of quad seats and are researching to know whether you need these in your car or not.
What are quad seats?
Quad seats are considered a luxury seating option because your car becomes more ample and snug when you install them. This seating option is mostly found on luxury cars, airplanes, and advanced trains. This article dives into everything you need to know about quad seats including the benefits, features, popular models, and maintenance.
What are quad seats?
What are quad seats? Quad seats are individual seats that can be found on the second or third rows of cars, and in some vehicles, almost all the rows of seats are quad seats. This kind of seating option is usually found in SUVs, minivans, other luxury cars, airplanes, and trains. Sometimes quad seats can be installed If you prefer it over the traditional car bench.
Quad seats differ from traditional benches because they are supportive. The primary difference between quad seats and traditional car bench is that for the second and third rows of cars, there is space between the seats in the former while the latter has no space between the seats.
Benefits of quad seats
Due to the benefits quad seats offer, they are often preferred to traditional benches.
Comfort
The materials used to make these chairs with their structure provide extreme comfort to passengers, It is known to have taller back seats compared to regular ones and this improves body posture and provides spinal comfort. The seats are also cushioned to allow passengers to enjoy their ride, and for some, the seats can be heated to provide more comfort.
Because of the space between each seat, passengers don’t sway when you round a corner as compared to driving with a car bench.
Accessibility to throw
For quad seats, you get space between each seat and this allows you to access the third row easily without getting into complicated positions or wasting time. This is very beneficial If you have kids in the vehicle as it will be easy to reach them.
Flexibility
In terms of positioning and improved feature, quad seats offer a lot of flexibility. You can adjust these seats for more space to store load and you can also adjust them to create more and easier access to the third row. In terms of features, you can customize your quad seats by making them heated, adding more cushioning, adjustable headrests, and extra storage compartments.
Features of quad seats
Design
Quad seats have a simple and minimalistic design and they feature a headrest, cushioned body, and an adjustable armrest. The body of these seats is designed to fit the shape of the body which helps improve their comfort feature, and the headrest and armrest of some models can be adjusted while on others they can not.
Material
Various materials can be used to make these seats and the materials that are chosen depending on the level of comfort, durability, and aesthetics. Some models use leather which is high-quality and more resistant to wear and tear as compared to other materials, leather can also be cleaned easily but requires a lot of maintenance.
Vinyl is another material that is commonly used to make quad seats. They provide can provide an equal level of comfort and luxury as leather quad seats, however, they are not as durable and long-lasting.
Customizable features
When it comes to quad seats, there are a lot of features you can customize. With storage compartments, you can include additional pockets and if you need entertainment systems, some quad seats have built-in screens for streaming movies or playing games.
There can be a center console or cup holder separating the two seats and these seats can be made fold based on your preferences. Other comfort features that can be included in your comfort quad seats include lumbar support, ventilated or heated seats, and massage options.
Popular quad-seat models
For some car models, quad seats are a stock feature while for others, you will need to purchase and install these chairs. Here are some car models that have quad seats already installed in them.
3 row-SUV
- Chevrolet Suburban
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- Chevrolet Traverse
- Ford Expedition
- Ford Explorer
- GMA Acadia
- GMC Yukon
- Honda Pilot
- Hyundai palisade
- Hyundai Pilot
- Kia Sorento
- Mazda CX-9
- Nissan Pathfinder
- Nissan Armada
- Toyota Highlander
- Toyota Sequoia
Luxury 3-row SUVs
- BMW X7
- Cadillac Escalade
- Cadillac XT6
- Infiniti QX80
- Jeep Wagoneer
- Lexus GX
- Lexus RX L
- Lexus LX
- Lincoln Aviator
- Lincoln Navigator
- Mercedes Benz GLS-Class\
- Volvo XC90
Without quad seats
- Audi Q7
- Genesis GV80
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Land Rover Range Rover Sports
- Land Rover discovery
- Land Rover Defender
- Tesla Model X
- Toyota V runner
- Volkswagen Tiguan
How to maintain quad seats
Maintaining your quad seats is important to make them last for a long time. Here are some maintenance tips you can employ.
Cleaning the seats
There are different cleaning techniques you can use to take care of your quad seats. You can use a soft brush and portable vacuum to get rid of dirt, then you use a cleaner to remove any stains present on the seats. Based on your preference, you can also condition these seats for extra protection.
Use seat covers
Instead of cleaning your quad seat regularly, o]you can use seat covers to prevent stains and dirt from touching the seats. These seat covers can be washed afterward and still be used again. There are different types of seat covers you can choose to match your car’s aesthetic or theme.
Avoid sharp objects
Whether your quad seats are made of leather or vinyl, you need to keep sharp objects away from them as they can damage the material of your seats and make them look unpleasant. If sharp objects must be present in your car, store them in a protective case.
Protect your seats from the sun
When your quad seats are continually exposed to sunlight, they can get damaged because the harsh UV rays make the material brittle. With quad seats, park your cars under shade or in your garage.
Disadvantages of quad seats
While you get comfort, flexibility, and customization with quad seats, you should know that there are also downsides to using them.
One seat short
A traditional car bench gives you room for 3 people in the second row. But installing quad seats gives you space for only 2 which leaves you one seat short.
More expensive
With the features and benefits that come with quad seats, they are very expensive and cost a lot to purchase and install. And if you want your seats made of quality material like leather, you will also need to budge higher.
Loose cargo
Quad seats give you more space and this can be beneficial to some extent. However, if you usually keep loads on the floor of your car, this space means that your cargo gets loose and slides around as you drive. This can cause discomfort to passengers.
Conclusion
Installing quad seats in your car can be considered an upgrade because you get more comfort, customization, and space. This article has answered your question, “what are quad seats?” and provided all you need to know about these seats, from their features, benefits, and downsides.
We have provided a list of car that comes with quad seats and those that don’t, this should help you pick a car model with these seat present so you don’t have to install them.