Pacifica driver seat uncomfortable during test drive...is this normal?

4905 Views 31 Replies 21 Participants Last post by Doug D, 3 mo ago

tacolibre

Discussion Starter · Feb 4, 2022

I test drove a 2022 Pacifica Hybrid two weeks ago. My immediate surprise was that I wasn't comfortable in the drivers chair. Made no sense to me. It's a minivan...shouldn't this feel amazing and plush? Anyone else have issues with the drivers chair feeling too firm and unpleasant...even cheap feeling?

I almost walked out of there with the Pacifica if it weren't for the seat being so uncomfortable. I think it was the Limited trim. Do you have to go to a higher trim to get comfy seat?

The insane space of it all, the practicality of what you can load in the back, the low floor height to load things, the automatic doors everywhere...it just such a practical vehicle. Too bad the seat sucked for the 10 min I was in it. Went with a Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV instead as I still want a PHEV.

Reactions: 2

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

ImperialCrown

· #2 · Feb 4, 2022

Welcome to Allpar. There are different interior trim levels with different seats. Was this an 8-way power seat?
Limited should be better than most. Was it too contoured or too hard?
If the dealer had other trim levels on the lot, it may have been worth trying them for fit and comfort?

Reactions: 2

DC-93

· #3 · Feb 4, 2022

The seat has a million adjustments, located on the lower left side.
A firmer seat is a better seat.
Take a trip and you’ll be uncomfortable in a soft, squashy seat.

Sorry to see you wasted your money on a Sante Fe.

Reactions: 5

Elroy the Brave

· #4 · Feb 4, 2022

tacolibre said:
I test drove a 2022 Pacifica Hybrid two weeks ago. My immediate surprise was that I wasn't comfortable in the drivers chair. Made no sense to me. It's a minivan...shouldn't this feel amazing and plush? Anyone else have issues with the drivers chair feeling too firm and unpleasant...even cheap feeling?

I almost walked out of there with the Pacifica if it weren't for the seat being so uncomfortable. I think it was the Limited trim. Do you have to go to a higher trim to get comfy seat?

The insane space of it all, the practicality of what you can load in the back, the low floor height to load things, the automatic doors everywhere...it just such a practical vehicle. Too bad the seat sucked for the 10 min I was in it. Went with a Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV instead as I still want a PHEV.

If the Santa Fe has a better seat, and the Pacifica was unbearable, you probably made the right choice.

Any reason you didn't look at the Jeep MOPAR line? I guess the competitor to the Santa Fe is probably the Cherokee? The Cherokee is getting pretty long in the tooth.

valiant67

· #5 · Feb 4, 2022

Some seats just don't fit some people.
For example, I can't go long distances in a RAV4, I get sore after an hour. My relatives don't have that issue. But I'm quite comfortable in my Gladiator seat despite the rougher ride.

Reactions: 4

Dave Z

· #6 · Feb 4, 2022

Yup. It's highly individual. There are few "bad seats" objectively. I found the Pacifica to be extremely comfortable. My all time favorite remains the 300M.

Reactions: 5

HanksHemi

· #7 · Feb 4, 2022

I have a 2017 Pacifica Limited with leather, heated, vented and 8 power preset seats. Very comfortable, now on long trips after adjusting the daylights out of the seat it can get a little uncomfortable. Now my 2013 Town & Country the seats were nothing special.
If the seats were that uncomfortable, did you question the dealer?

Doug D

· #8 · Feb 4, 2022

The most comfortable seats I had in a vehicle were in a '00 T&C Ltd AWD. I could drive for hours and still be comfortable. I even drove from VA to FL and back with a bad back (pinched nerve). It hurt way more to get out and walk than sit and drive. The worst seats I experienced were in a '19 Camry I rented to drive to FL. After about 90 minutes I had to get out and walk. Most uncomfortable seats ever.

Reactions: 2

Elroy the Brave

· #9 · Feb 4, 2022

I've had a few cars where the seats sort of had to be "broken in" to feel more comfortable.

I wonder how many manufacturers essentially have the same seats, using the same seat frame suppliers....

Supposedly Teslas have amazing front seats, but I've never been in one.

DustDevl340

· #10 · Feb 4, 2022

I always had a sore back. For years in our 2 Mazda 3s. I thought it was just age. Then we bought a 2018 Compass Trailhawk. After a couple of weeks I noticed my back wasn't hurting as much. After a month it was gone completely. I always found that seat supremely comfortable. Our 21 Wrangler is good too. I just have to squirm around a bit first.

Reactions: 2

1999 White C5 Coupe

· #11 · Feb 5, 2022

Doug D said:
The most comfortable seats I had in a vehicle were in a '00 T&C Ltd AWD. I could drive for hours and still be comfortable. I even drove from VA to FL and back with a bad back (pinched nerve). It hurt way more to get out and walk than sit and drive. The worst seats I experienced were in a '19 Camry I rented to drive to FL. After about 90 minutes I had to get out and walk. Most uncomfortable seats ever.

In many years of owning and driving many cars, the two most comfortable driver seats were in my 1989 Dodge Grand Caravan LE (cloth), and my 1998 Dodge Intrepid ES (leather). Both were extremely comfortable on short and long drives. A runner-up was the cloth seat in my 2003 Dodge Durango SLT 4x4.

Reactions: 1

jerseyjoe

· #12 · Feb 5, 2022

My 300s had seats that pinched my fat behind during test drive, it broke in like a baseball glove after a month, fits perfect now. If I use my wallet as a purchasing factor my next car will be an import, but only if my mopars quit. Have 2009 Challenger and a 2015 300s in our household, Only expenditures have been for gas, oil and tires. Oh yes my Challenger battery quit last year.

Reactions: 2

Ian

· #13 · Feb 5, 2022

The few Pacificas I drove had very comfortable seats. My mom’s 2002 Grand Caravan had the most comfortable seats, did beat my 300M and Durango with leather.

Currently own a 2019 Ram Classic SLT (which has an updated interior and sest compared to a Night edition or Express) and a 2015 Dart. The Dart is surprisingly very comfortable, I do about 50,000km a year for work and drive long distance and I never get a sore back. Before the Dart, I was driving a Patriot Limited which was excellent as well.

Worst seats in my experience has been Toyota and Ford.

Reactions: 1

Doug D

· #14 · Feb 5, 2022

Ian said:
Currently own a 2019 Ram Classic SLT (which has an updated interior and sest compared to a Night edition or Express) and a 2015 Dart.

The seats in my 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT are not bad. I have driven to Bristol, VA where my son lives (350 miles one way) and was not sore at all. On the other hand, the Camry I rented after 90 minutes I had to stop and get out. Even my daughters and granddaughter had sore butts. It wasn't just me.

Reactions: 2

Dave Z

· #15 · Feb 5, 2022

I like the Dart seats. The ones that always killed my back were in ANY Nissan.

Reactions: 2

HanksHemi

· #16 · Feb 5, 2022

".........my 1998 Dodge Intrepid ES (leather). Both were extremely comfortable on short and long drive".

I owned 3 Intrepids best seats all around front excellent and rear very good.

Reactions: 2

Player1

· #17 · Feb 5, 2022

tacolibre said:
I test drove a 2022 Pacifica Hybrid two weeks ago. My immediate surprise was that I wasn't comfortable in the drivers chair. Made no sense to me. It's a minivan...shouldn't this feel amazing and plush? Anyone else have issues with the drivers chair feeling too firm and unpleasant...even cheap feeling?

I almost walked out of there with the Pacifica if it weren't for the seat being so uncomfortable. I think it was the Limited trim. Do you have to go to a higher trim to get comfy seat?

The insane space of it all, the practicality of what you can load in the back, the low floor height to load things, the automatic doors everywhere...it just such a practical vehicle. Too bad the seat sucked for the 10 min I was in it. Went with a Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV instead as I still want a PHEV.

The limited has adjustable bolstered front seats, there is a button on the side next to the position buttons, you can go firm or as soft as you want. Yes its for the lower back, but you might be surprised how this can effect the overall feel.
These a are great seats especially for the long hall. But we all have different opinions on that.
Enjoy your new ride.

Reactions: 1

DC-93

· #18 · Feb 5, 2022

Perhaps the OP has hemroids?

Reactions: 1

sickboy

· #19 · Feb 6, 2022

We’ve a limited, 43,000 miles. Seats are fairly comfortable, but relatively flat, at least compared to my daytona. but it’s not a sporty vehicle, and really needs to cater to a “larger” demographic.
I never seem to find the need to adjust the chair when I drive, except to move it back (my wife sits very close). The leather is wearing well, and responds to proper cleaning and conditioning. So far no lumps, dead spots or jabbing. So I’d say decent, but made for longevity.
I’m questioning the original post. Why ask if there’s a better seat available if they’ve already bought something else? Just joined the site only to deride the seats and inform people of the “better choice”, then disappear, not responding to the discussion he started?

Reactions: 1

Cleffy

· #20 · Feb 6, 2022

Were the seats leather? It might be a better idea to try cloth seats first to make sure the foam is good for your tush. A thicker leather needs time to be broken in which will be uncomfortable at first. But if I am buying a car, it's not something I would want to take a chance on.

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