Sports seats are a feature present on many new cars on the market right now, offered either as an option or as part of the standard kit.
They are treated as a more premium option than ‘regular’ car seats, but how do they actually compare in terms of comfort? Some car buyers may assume they will be less comfortable to sit in, because they associate them with sports cars, which tend to have firmer rides than other types of vehicles.
Sports seats in cars can offer several advantages though which make them worth considering if you don’t already have them or are considering getting them as standard in your next car.
Advantages of sports seats
Like regular car seats, sports seats can be made out of various materials including leather and alcantara. What matters more though is the way sports seats are shaped.
They are more anatomical, which means they are better at adjusting to your body shape than regular car seats. Once you’re in them, sports seats can prove more comfortable than regular car seats on both short and long drives.
Sports seats are also more supportive than regular car seats, especially if you get ones with extra safety harnesses attached. They do a great job of keeping you tightly secure in your seat even when travelling through a fast corner on a country lane or race track.
Disadvantages of sports seats
Although we’ve mentioned above that sports seats can be easier on the body than regular car seats, this potential advantage could effectively be wiped out if the car they’re fitted to has a really aggressive, sporty suspension set-up.
On a sports car or hardcore hot hatch, sports seats can still provide a decent level of comfort for short trips but could prove a little tiresome on longer journeys.
Also, because of their large side bolsters, sports seats are not as easy to get in as regular car seats and can even be a somewhat tiresome task if the car has a small cabin.
Another potential problem for you is that manufacturers have different ways of moulding the sports seats which can perfectly suit people of a certain build. However, someone who has a broader profile may struggle getting comfortable in the same seat.
Should I buy sports seats?
Provided you can properly fit yourself into the sports seat, having it will benefit you particularly when driving on faster road sections. They’re not necessarily something that are worth going out of your way to get though, unless you plan to do a lot of driving on fast lanes or at track days.
If the car you’re looking at has sports seats as standard and this still concerns you, consider going to a dealer that has the car you’re interested in so you can try sitting in the car. This will give you best understanding on how well the car’s sports seats suit your physique.
