Real leather ?

[diverdave]

Looking on the youtube videos for the gen 4 Prius which are mostly american, they don't seem to have leather but a faux leather called softex, do we in the UK get real leather or the same softex as in the states?

[kithmo]

My previous car, the Prius plus, had what seemed to be a very thin soft leather or it could have been that Softex stuff, it had a very easy to wrinkle coating. My Gen 4 has a totally different thicker leather which is more like real leather and doesn't wrinkle. So I'm guessing it's real.

[diverdave]

Thanks for the reply Kithmo, it seems strange that the top of the range in one country gets faux leather and we get real leather. Toyotas marketing is a mystery sometimes. Still does it smell like real leather that's the decider, lol. 

[kithmo]

It doesn't smell the same as my leather sofa, it just smells of new car, but maybe that's because of the G3 protection I had put on.

[thecaretaker]

I've got the Excel with what is described as Nakano Black Leather. I was wondering this too. I confess, I've not had all leather car seats before, but looking closely at the grain in the leather, it looks very uniform. I'd say they are either extremely well made using very uniform matching leather skins or they are synthetic. But surely, MrT wouldn't get away with calling something leather if it wasn't actually leather (would they?)

It doesn't smell like leather, I too just have the new car smell. But then wasn't it the tanning in the old days when they soaked the leather for weeks in urine or something horrid that gave leather its unique smell?

I Googled Nakano Leather and found this article http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/02/10/style/japans-leather-industry-almost-as-tough-as-old-boots/#.VwvOn-T2bIU Doesn't say anything about Toyota car seats and I doubt he makes car seats by hand for the Toyota Prius, but you never know :-)

[FROSTYBALLS]

Think most manufacturers, where they fit leather upholstery, use real leather on seat facings and synthetic on the sides and backs. Our previous two Toyotas and our current Auris and Hyundai i20 have all had leather steering wheels - though the Toyota offering seems better than the Hyundai in terms of feel.

[diverdave]

Just got this reply to my question from Toyota UK :-

Toyota UK Hi Dave. Thanks for your message and congratulations on the new car. The whole seat is covered with genuine leather. This is a standard feature for the UK spec Prius Excel. We hope this helps.

[diverdave]

Another reply from Toyota customer services:-

Customer Relations ref: CASE0532611

 

Dear David,

Thank you for your email.

I am pleased to see of your recent purchase of the Prius.

The Prius has Nakano Leather seats, which is actual leather. If you would like to purchase leather seats you will need to speak to your Toyota Centre,who will be able to provide you with a price. 

You can find your nearest Toyota Centre and their contact details on:

https://www.toyota.co.uk/find-your-dealer

If you require any further asistance , please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Kind regards

 

Sophie Gilder
Toyota Customer Services 

 

[AEB-UK]

Nakano Leather does exist :-

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/02/10/style/japans-leather-industry-almost-as-tough-as-old-boots/#.Vw04BUfVthE

The company makes handbags, wallets etc. No mention of car seats of Toyota, but that doesn't mean they don't produce leather for them I suppose.