How Vinyl Upholstery Is Taking Over Car Interiors

Many automakers are transitioning away from animal-based leathers.

Andrew Ganz | 

May 6, 2024 | 4 min read

Volvo

It's no secret vinyl records are making a comeback. But vinyl is also making a triumphant return to another aspect of daily life, via the modern vehicle interior. Today, synthetic leather — essentially vinyl — is now available on a large number of vehicles.

Notably, Volvo doesn't offer a leather interior on its electric vehicles, and instead features its Nordico imitation leather. Even German luxury titans such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Porsche no longer make animal-hide seating surfaces standard on many models.

Here's why synthetic leather may very well cover your next vehicle's seats.

Ford

Vinyl Upholstery Has Gone Upmarket

On low-end models, basic vinyl was long a cheaper alternative to the snazzier fabrics — like the Volkswagen GTI's plaid option — that were once common. On higher-end models, synthetic leather is now marketed as a more affordable and durable leather alternative, as it's an increasingly close facsimile of the real thing.

Most cars advertised as having leather upholstery only have leather seating surfaces. The seats' sides and backs are likely covered in vinyl, as it's both cheaper and less prone to showing cracks and scuffs than the actual leather.

What makes the material so appealing is its engineered composition. Vinyl upholstery consists of layers of synthetic material over a fabric base, which is then embossed with a pattern typically reminiscent of real leather.

"These synthetic upholsteries are so believable that many shoppers may be fooled into thinking they're the real stuff," Ed Kim, president and chief analyst at Auto Pacific, said. "There is a wide variance in the feel of synthetic leather, so some are more convincing than others. However, the best ones have a very soft texture and they even crinkle convincingly when weight is applied — just like real leather."

Subaru

Many Automakers Now Offer Synthetic Leather

Marketed under proprietary names such as StarTex (Subaru), Sensafin (BMW), H-Tex (Hyundai), SynTex (Kia), or, perhaps most famously, MB-Tex (Mercedes-Benz), faux leather can be found across a wide swath of vehicles.

MB-Tex has earned a reputation for being durable and easy to clean. Also notable for its distinctive printed pattern, MB-Tex from the 1970s has even been repurposed for guitar straps and wallets by Southern California-based Couch Guitar Straps.

Today, Mercedes fits many of its models with standard MB-Tex, including its $112,000-plus AMG EQE SUV. To be fair, shoppers can still specify leather as an option even on the automaker's cheapest GLA. But the point remains: MB-Tex is good enough for the luxury brand to offer across much of its lineup.

Other brands have followed suit. A decade after it introduced NuLuxe synthetic leather trim, Lexus offers the material standard on many of its vehicles, though range-topping models such as the LC coupe and LS sedan come with leather. Porsche also equips the cheapest versions of models such as the Macan and the all-electric Taycan with artificial leather.

Some automakers use synthetic leather trim — often with bright contrasting accents and playful inserts — on models with added off-road capabilities. For instance, the Ford Explorer Timberline's seats are wrapped in ActiveXsynthetic leather, and the Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness features StarTex.

Volvo

Synthetic Leather Isn't Necessarily Vegan Leather

Because it is sometimes touted as a cruelty-free material, synthetic leather may hold appeal for shoppers looking to reduce their animal impact. According to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the term vegan leather can encompass a wide variety of material sourcing — so long as animals aren't involved at any step of the process.

Vinyl doesn't always mean vegan, however, as some synthetic leathers use animal-derived additives. Consumers should look for vegan certification logos from groups such as The Vegan Society or regional nonprofit organizations such as Certified Vegan USA.

Automakers sometimes market their vinyl options as vegan, though Toyota, for example, stops short of using the term when describing its SofTex trim. It states instead that the upholstery "does not include any animal-based material."

That's likely of minimal consequence for a typical Toyota RAV4 shopper. While there are leather-wrapped steering wheels on many versions of the 2024 RAV4, even the top XLE Premium trim forgoes real hides for SofTex when it comes to seats and upholstery.

Andrew Ganz

Andrew Ganz has had cars in his blood ever since he gnawed the paint off of a diecast model as a toddler. After growing up in Dallas, Texas, he earned a journalism degree, worked in public relations for two manufacturers, and served as an editor for a luxury-lifestyle print publication and several well-known automotive websites. In his free time, Andrew loves exploring the Rocky Mountains' best back roads—when he’s not browsing ads for his next car purchase.