Over 80% of car manufacturers over the world are providing faux leather seats, so it’s not that obvious to find a car with real leather seats.
But don’t worry I have got you covered. This article will not only provide you with a list of cars that feature leather seats but will also answer all your questions related to it.
Here is the list of 18 cars that have real leather seats.
1. Rolls Royce Phantom
Rolls Royce Phantom uses almost 18 hides of Bavarian bulls for crafting the most exquisite leather seats. Bull hides are quite superior from cowhides in terms of overall fit and finish.
Also, the cattle are raised in a region of Europe that offers optimum climate conditions for maintaining the shine and health of the skin. Rolls Royce uses a rigorous selection process for selecting the best materials and then puts them through various quality tests.
2. Audi A6
Audi uses real leather for crafting the seats in an A6. The leather is sourced from Southern Europe and is extracted mainly from the skins of male cattle.
According to Audi, vegetable dyes are used to refine the leather for better strength and long-lasting life. Furthermore, 30 different tests are carried out to check various quality aspects of that leather.
In addition to the seats, Audi also gives the option of including the leather upholstery to the rest of the interiors.
3. Bentley Flying Spur
Like Rolls Royce, all Bentley leathers are exclusively sourced from bulls, generally from Southern Germany. Almost 13 bull hides go into the leather production for every Flying Spur.
Do you wonder how much it costs to have a Bentley? You have the answer here.
4. Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne is offered with rich Nappa leather interiors. The leather on the seats is full-grained and is specially acquired from cattle that are reared in moderate climate conditions. This results in good-quality leather with better durability.
Also adding to the delight is the wide range of color options that you can choose from.
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5. Rolls Royce Cullinan
The Rolls Royce Cullinan comes with the finest quality 100% genuine leather sourced from Bulls in Europe.
It is the attention to detail that Rolls Royce nails every time. While inspecting, the leather experts at Rolls Royce eliminate even the slightest of marks or insect bites. A lot of time is spent preparing the interiors of every single car.
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6. Bentley Continental GT
The Nappa leather seats on the Bentley Continental GT are one of the best in business. Bentley boasts that almost 10-11 bull hides go in the making of every Continental GT.
The leather hides are handcrafted with extreme precision and go through multiple inspections to meet the high-quality standards of Bentley.
7. Maserati Quattroporte
The seats on the Maserati Quattroporte are wrapped in full-grain Nappa cowhide; hands down, the best quality covers are chosen for all Maserati vehicles’ leather insides.
The full-grain Nappa leathers are chosen from Swiss cows, the covers are of a lot better quality, significantly thicker. Because of the colder environments, mosquitoes and other bugs aren’t a problem.
How much are Maserati parts? I’ve made an article about it.
8. Audi A8
The seats on the Audi A8 are wrapped in pure Valcona leather.
Valcona is a pure aniline leather made of natural cowhides. Like on the A6, the leather for the A8 also goes through various quality checks and tests. The leatherbacks have a smooth overall texture and are prepared with the best color and super fatting agents.
You also get a host of customizable options for the cabin
9. Porsche Panamera
Higher trims of the Porsche Panamera are offered in full leather upholstery. The quality of the leather is top-notch, just like the one on Porsche Cayenne.
10. Maserati Gran Turismo
The Maserati Gran Turismo models come equipped with exclusive Selva print leather. Selva is Maserati’s exotic print that helps it stand apart from the rest of the car leathers.
It is obtained from the Swiss Cattle; the leather is thicker and stronger due to the cold weather conditions.
11. Volvo XC 90
The Volvo XC 90 Inscription model comes with ventilated Nappa leather seats that are handcrafted by the most skilled craftsmen. Even before that, the process of tanning and curing is well carried out on the animal skin to meet durability, flexibility, and overall resistance standards. With comparatively less surface treatment, the seats are claimed to be softer, more authentic, and reliable by Volvo.
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12. BMW M3
The BMW M3, along with other M models, comes with Merino Leather seats. It is the best leather option that BMW has ever produced.
It uses the finest quality of cowhide and doesn’t include any artificial color dyes or coatings. Apart from being the most premium and exquisite leather option, it is quite expensive and requires good maintenance.
13. Mercedes S-Class
Nappa Leather Upholstery is offered on the premium Mercedes models like the S Class. The seats on the S-Class are supreme in comfort.
Also read: Lexus vs BMW: Here’s What’s Better for You
14. Lexus LX with Luxury Package
The seats on the Lexus LX with Luxury Package are wrapped in quilted-stitch perforated leather upholstery, unlike the base models that feature synthetic Nuluxe Leather seats.
It has high-quality semi-aniline leather that provides pretty good comfort levels.
15. BMW 7 Series
At the expense of some serious cash, BMW gives the option of Merino Leather seats on the BMW 7 series. It takes the cabin of the 7 series to the next level if luxury and comfort is concerned.
Whereas Nappa leather comes as standard on the 7 series. It is not only cheaper when compared to Merino Leather but also easy to maintain. The Nappa leather is full-grain, semi-aniline leather that is un-split and comes with a light and clear coating that enhances reliability.
Read it: 5 Real Reasons why BMW is so Expensive
16. Volvo S90
The Volvo S90 comes with rich, soft Nappa leather-wrapped seats sourced from Elmo in Sweden. Handcrafted with high precision and care, the seats on the S90 are supreme in comfort.
17. Cadillac XTS Platinum Edition
The Platinum edition of the Cadillac XTS features Opus full-leather seats with a special overall treatment that shows some minute hints of purple through the perforated leather seats. Opus leather is the best leather quality to be equipped in a Cadillac.
The aim was to create soft and supple interiors that are comfortable as well as a premium to touch.
Is it worth buying a Cadillac? Are they reliable? Learn more about it in this post.
18. Ford Escape SEL
Bucket seats on the front with genuine leather wrapping are offered in the second top SEL trim of the Ford Escape.
Why do Very Little Cars have 100% Real Leather Seats?
Cost is the main reason why so Little Cars have 100% Real Leather Seats. It comes generally in high-end premium cars like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Porsche. So, it becomes very difficult to equip mass-market cars with 100% real leather seats.
Conscious vegans and many other customers refuse to buy cars with cow skins on the aspect of animal welfare.
Also, the biggest problem with leather seats is that they are hard to maintain and heat up very fast, especially in summers.
Are Cars with Real Leather Seats More Expensive?
Cars with real leather seats are much more expensive. In comparison to faux leather seats, cars with real leather seats are at least $2.000 more expensive.
The models with real leather are generally the high spec premium luxury models. An upgrade to real leather seats on your standard model car requires more than $2,000, but in lots of cases, it’s even over $5.000. This would have given you some perspective about the cost.
More about the pros and cons of leather seats is in this post.
Does Real Leather Demand More Care?
Real leather demands quite a lot of care. Body oil, dust, spills, and dirt collect over the leather surface over time. It behaves like sandpaper and breaks down the protective layers of the leather skin, thus exposing cracks on the surface and also making it look dirty. So, you will be required to use special leather care products more often to keep the leather look good.
Although they don’t get strained by dust and dirt easily and are easy to clean due to their smooth and silky surface, maintaining them over time becomes a hefty task.
Leather is harmed easily with sweat, alcohol, vomits, and even chocolate spots. Also, it is not advisable to have leather seats in your car if you have a pet dog or cat because leather is comparatively easier to scratch.
The quality of leather used also plays a major role. This varies from one manufacturer to the other.
Do Real Leather Seats Warm Up Too Much in the Summer?
Leather seats warm up too much in summers as they absorb tonnes of heat. If your car has been parked in the sun for at least an hour, the temperature in the interiors can reach up to 212 °F (100 °C), enough to give you severe burns. This is why ventilated seats are a must in these cars.
On the contrary, winter seasons make the leathers extremely cold. So, to avoid getting extreme chills, you have to opt for heated seats in your car.
Does Real Leather Crack Overtime?
Yes, real leather can become stiff and crack overtime when sweat, dust, spills, and dirt sweeps into the pores of the leather. To prevent the leather from drying out and cracking, you need to use certain cleaners or conditioners at a regular interval. Also, avoid exposing your car’s interior to humid conditions.
Cracks and peels are generally with poor quality leather, particularly bonded leather. High-quality leathers will not show cracks and will last decades if given the right amount of care.
Is it Easy to Damage Real Leather Seats?
If not given the right care, leather seats can easily be damaged. Exposure to moist conditions, not conditioning, or cleaning at regular intervals can damage the leather.
Is it Worth to Buy a Car with Real Leather Seats?
Seats with 100% premium leather are definitely a class above when it comes to the look and feel. They are quite soft in nature and comfortable. But if you do choose the car with leather seats, you are automatically opting for the hard life if maintenance is a concern.
Overall, they are responsible for the premium and luxury feel of the cabin.
Also, not to forget that the seats on that car can burn your ass on a hot summer day.
Furthermore, if you are a vegan or a bit concerned about animal welfare, then opting for a car with real leather seats wouldn’t count as a very wise decision.