Photo: Chevrolet
In the time before health and safety, kids used to ride in the front, right between mom and dad. The bench seat was also a desirable thing if you wanted to cuddle up to your significant other. But in the era of bucket seats, that’s no longer a desirable thing to have on a car.
The current Chevrolet Impala, the 2013 model year, is the last passenger car still made in North America that’s offered with a three-across bench seat. The 2014 model year Impreza that will follow will not have this option at all.
Even though it’s a very cheap option, costing $195 on the LS and LT Impalas, very few people still buy a bench, so Chevrolet is giving up.
“A lot of people prefer bucket seats because they’re sporty, even in models that aren’t sports cars,” said Clay Dean, GM director of design. “Our customers also appreciate having the center console as a convenient place to store their phone and other personal items.”
“There is certain nostalgia for bench seats, like being able to snuggle up with your date at a drive-in movie, and some customers still like them,” Dean said. “You never know, we might see bench seats re-emerge someday, possibly in very small cars like the EN-V urban mobility concept vehicle, in which the feeling of open space may be very desirable.”
Even though it’s a very cheap option, costing $195 on the LS and LT Impalas, very few people still buy a bench, so Chevrolet is giving up.
“A lot of people prefer bucket seats because they’re sporty, even in models that aren’t sports cars,” said Clay Dean, GM director of design. “Our customers also appreciate having the center console as a convenient place to store their phone and other personal items.”
“There is certain nostalgia for bench seats, like being able to snuggle up with your date at a drive-in movie, and some customers still like them,” Dean said. “You never know, we might see bench seats re-emerge someday, possibly in very small cars like the EN-V urban mobility concept vehicle, in which the feeling of open space may be very desirable.”
Google News