I've got a question on the leather seating packages for the FX4 and Lariat. The F150 brochure and the Ford web site don't mention whether the rear bench seat is covered in leather or vinyl. As my kids will be in the back a lot, I don't think vinyl seats in the back will work for me (esp. during the summer).

Also, how much of the front seats are actually leather? I can see the back and bottom of the front seats being vinyl, but I'm hoping the whole seating surface is leather.

Thanks for the info.

 

I believe it is only the front seating surfaces in the FX4. Where there is leather in the FX4 and Lariat, it is plastic coated. In fact Ford recommends using a vinyl cleaner on the coated leather.

 

my lariat is leather

 

My FX4 is leather

 

This is the correct answer.

The ford website claims "Leather Trim" and that's exactly what it is, some pieces are leather, the rest is vinyl. Honestly it is nearly impossible to tell the difference. This isn't the vinyl from a 1970 Nova here.

Also as stated above the leather is coated so most of the favorable properties (except spill resistance) are moot. Don't believe me (or the above poster) check your OM for the cleaning recomendations. Platinum and KR (I believe just these two, maybe HD too) recommend real leather treatment, the Lariat and below recommend just wiping down.

All of the above said, I still LOVE the black "leather" interior in my Lariat, especially with the heated/cooled seats..

 

Thanks. I've narrowed my search down to the 2011 FX4 SCrew, either with the Plus package (fabric) or Luxury Package (leather). I'm not thrilled with the vinyl in the back, but I also get the rear camera, power fold mirrors, and a few other extras. The alternative is to stay with the Plus package (Reverse Sensing System but no rear camera) and get a set of Katskins if I really decide to go to leather.

Are the vinyl seats in the back really nasty in the summer? My experience as a kid was that vinyl gets painfully hot in the summer sun, but maybe the modern stuff is a bit better? Thanks again for the info.

 

The seats are very nice, this is what a lot of manufacturers do when they have leather seats. It is like VW but they call it leatherette seating. Your kids will be riding in luxury. And if they are at all like any other kids in the world they are going to spill things and drop them and it is a lot easier to clean then cloth is. I have towells on my cloth for hunting and the little ones that makes me look like a hillbilly but it is the only way to save the seats. Even when we go skiing I put towels down, if I had the extra money I would of got the leather FX4 or lariat