Why leather? Isn't cloth better?

Wondering why so many people choose to get leather seats or even get leather seat covers for their cloth seats. One of the reasons we sold our Taco Pro to get a OR was because of the leather seats. Leather is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It doesn't grip so you slide around on it when off roading. Cloth is more comfortable (who sleeps on leather sheets?). I've heard the argument that its easier to clean if you spill something on it. I've never haven't been able to clean up cloth with a good carpet cleaner so I don't see that being a big bonus. Plus leather cracks and looks weathered after several years so makes your interior look a lot older than it actually is. Can't clean that up! And the leather Toyota uses in the Tacoma is more like a leatherette. A very cheap poor quality leather. So what is the benefit of leather over cloth?

 

I like cloth too.
Unless you get a high end vehicle, the leather seems to be fake or very poor quality.

 

Ever seen even a “clean” appearing cloth interior steam vac’d. You’d be amazed what cloth absorbs, smells included, then there’s resale, ease of cleaning, less likely to rip/tear and leather isn’t hard to maintain.

 

It's preference. I hate leather interior and it's a deal breaker. I stick with cloth seats and even hate rubber floor mats. Everyone has a preference I guess.

 

I don't have leather in my Taco, but have it on my other vehicle. I like it because of dog hair. I have a German Sheppard and a Husky; cloth is a PITA to clean compared to leather even though I have a $350 vacuum and $300 carpet cleaner.
The leather on my other vehicle doesn't get hot, but then again; the other vehicle is off white and the leather is light grayish color. I live in Louisiana where it gets up to 105 degrees outside and never really had a problem with the leather.
I also get my Taco interior steamed/conditioned at least twice a year and you should see the water that comes out of that thing... pretty nasty even when I use a carpet cleaner on it once a month or every other month.

 

Leather seems out of place in a truck to me. Its somethimg Id expect in my grandmothers Buick, not my truck that I climb into every day covered in grease, sweat and metal shavings.

I throw a bath towel over my cloth seats. Easy to take out and wash versus removing a form fitted seat cover every few weeks.

 

I don't like carpet or leather. Carhartt seat covers and rubber floor mats and lets roll.

 

Leather is "luxury", the shine and overall look is generally more expensive looking.

I personally hate leather for the reasons you said. Its freezing cold here, below zero regularly, so its not comfortable. Gets in the 90s in summer and burning hot leather is no fun either.

I picked out some seat covers that are mostly vinyl, but the center where your butt and back are is a mesh like cloth. I still need to order the covers, but they should be real nice.

 

Cloth can hold in odor. I’ve got two small kids who spill a lot. Also when my Czech Shepherd gets in his hair gets everywhere. Cloth is a bitch to get hair off of. Leather is super easy to clean. If you spill liquid on cloth is soaks in. Leatherette or leather you just wipe off. Guess its personal preference and everyone’s lifestyle is different. I’ve had leather in every car I’ve owned except my 98’ Prerunner. Hell even my classic cars have leather or vinyl. I work in the San Fernando Valley sometimes and my truck will sit in 115 degree weather for 8 hours before I get in. Granted I use a sunshade and have tinted windows but the leather isn’t that hot and with the AC blasting it cools down fast.

 

I run my seats bone stock

 

I hate cloth, my seats in my truck looks gross, stained and well worn, my leather seats In my lexus still look new, no tears or stretch marks. Way easier to maintain leather imo.

 

Also, I bought a steamer. My wife’s Tahoe has leather and it gets the wrinkles out and makes it look new again. Just have to be careful.

 

.....is this allowed on TW?

 

you better post that up in the dog forum! https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lets-see-your-dogs.2844/

i'm not big on leather either, although it is stain and odor resistant.

 

I prefer heated cloth over heated leather, but to get heated seats meant leather, pleather as it were, and being that I was ordering the truck as close as possible to how I wanted it, so be it. The sunroof requirement roped in leather as well.

Edit: I was corrected about the heated requiring leather

 

I did like the cloth heated seats on my 17 better.

 

I love the "leather" seats in my 2020 OR. Way less maintenance. Looks better. Better resale (if I ever sell).

The cloth seats in Tacomas look like they're from a 2001 Honda Civic.

 

Do you have the new leather with the orange stitching? I saw it on their builder and was interested in seeing some actual pictures.

 

I had a 19 OR that was totaled with cloth and when I got a replacement I opted for leather (it was available and the entire package was cheaper due to it being right around when 20's were being released) and I prefer the leather due to the ability to clean and the overall durability. I would be okay with either option but if all things were equal and it was a choice...leather.

 

I always end up with cloth. Leather is easier to clean or just wipe off but it's hot as HELL especially where I live. Leather seems too fancy for truck in my opinion. My wife has leather in her infinity where it belongs.