Denali seats

[crafferty]

This is from the GMC Sierra Denali website:

 

"Perforated Nuance leather-appointed seating designed to provide comfort and ventilation"

 

If it's not real leather, then we can start a class action lawsuit against GM and get our money back because they claim it's leather.

I just did a quick google and it looks like you are correct. In your previous post you mentioned the part our butts sit on is leather. It looks like that is true and the reason its called Nuance is because Nuance is some special way GM treats the leather so it permeates a leather smell for multiple years. Those two points keep being brought up over and over again on different forums and searches. But at the end of the day there is no concrete proof and its basically speculation or a wide spread rumor.

[morrislee]

 

Not true at all. The Denali seats are a completely different pattern. I can't speak to the quality of the leather, but the stitching, pattern, and headrest are all different in the Denali.

 

I am pretty sure they are the same pattern unless you dont have lane departure...

[CounterMeasure]

GM's marketing wording is very careful, and that's very much on purpose. The use of "appointed" is the key, which denotes that leather is used on only certain parts of the seat. Although there are so many different types and qualities of leather based on process that "leather" becomes a stretch in my opinion. Think about going furniture shopping for leather couches. You find all kinds of looks and feels, and different prices to match. In my Denali, it looks like their Nuance process for their leather uses a heavy topcoat to get that nice smooth black pigment, which gets you closer to a more vinyl like feel. That's why you don't see any grain or scars in the leather, which such scar free leather is REALLY expensive. In my opinion, there's no way they'd skimp like they do in other build components in the vehicle, but then shell out big money for high quality leather when there are cheaper processes to get you the coveted "it has leather!" marketing point that would stand up to a legality test.

 

Its not unique to GM either (although you can get some much better leather types/process in certain Cadillac models). My wife's Charger is the same way. The front seats are a mix of vinyl and leather so heavily processed it feels like vinyl.

[Payton34]

GM markets the trucks as front leather seating surfaces which is just what you touch when sitting in the seat. The headrest, sides and back of the seat are vinyl. If it is the All Terrain model the carbon fiber looking parts are also vinyl. The worst part is the entire rear seat is all vinyl on the SLT crew and ext cabs. The Denali has leather in the middle inserts on the rear seat. I was ticked when I first noticed the rear is all vinyl while conditioning the seat. The manger at my dealer who order my truck admitted yes the full rear seat is vinyl on trucks. SUVs get leather on the rear seats but only the center sections.

[SMiller]

 

I am pretty sure they are the same pattern unless you dont have lane departure...

No the Danali has a lot more stitching then the SLT, not that it matters, just for looks.

[morrislee]

No the Danali has a lot more stitching then the SLT, not that it matters, just for looks.

Ohh, I see it now.

[redwngr]

This is from the GMC Sierra Denali website:

 

"Perforated Nuance leather-appointed seating designed to provide comfort and ventilation"

 

If it's not real leather, then we can start a class action lawsuit against GM and get our money back because they claim it's leather.

Order guide says ' leather-appointed' as well. Whatever that means.

[Gmcant33]

Order guide says ' leather-appointed' as well. Whatever that means.

Pretty much wat we been talking about " bs leather "lol

[Spurshot]

Is the leather we have even good leather genuine I heard from some shops and professional detailers that our leather will crack and won't last even taken care of not sure ilif that's true and they also said bmw is an example of genuine leather kind of disappointed if this is true.

 

My 2008 is in pretty good shape, with 150,000+ miles on it now. The front seats look a little scratched in some places, from my dogs. The back seat is perfect, because I kept it covered with a moving quilt. Overall, I'd say they did much better than my wife's Infinity. My truck sat outside all it's life and never had a sunshade in the windshield. I had some Wet Okale covers on the front for maybe half the life, off and on. Mainly during hunting seasons.

 

I cleaned them occasionally with Tuff Stuff (not made for leather products) and probably only used a real leather product like Lexol a few times. I'm wrestling with this now, because I'm going to get my front seats redone with real leather on the bolsters to get rid of the "carbon fiber" plastic crap the AT comes with. I gave some thought to having the whole seat redone with the perforated leather. But with the dogs and the hunting I do, I don't think so. The OEM leather seems durable, if not luxurious. I like the course grain. None of that smooth soft stuff for me. That belongs in a Lexus .

[Bill_F]

Well ill add that to my disappointment list....wat katskins leather is there genuine??? If so those well SLE gmc who upgaraded theirs should consider themselves lucky

 

Katzkin says their leather is genuine. I redid my Golf TDI with Katzkin within a month of buying it, because the only way to get leather on a diesel was golf, was to buy an Audi A3, which was more station wagon-ish, and I didn't like it (it also meant no manual - on the Audi it was Automatic only - and the diesel was too slow to not at least have a manual for some fun in it). I loved the Katzkin, most people had not idea it wasn't factory, most VW people knew it was aftermarket, and all said it looked great (I picked a black that matched my plastics color, not one of the crazy colors that are available). It was complimented all the time, and still looked great when I sold it (but I sold the car at 2 years and 4 months).

 

It was very good quality, and very plush and thick (at least feeling) leather. I think the guy at the install shop I went to said that their Suedeskinz are not genuine leather, it is some leather like product (I assume an off-brand cheaper version of Alcantara).

[mdrew]

 

 

 

Auto manufactures do not use "real" leather, as we understand that terminology. Some of the euro imports use a better grade, or thicker bonded leather product, but "real" leather wouldn't last very long in an automobile. The seats in the Denali trucks prior to 07 were different. Different color pattern, softer, nicer. Not anymore. Ram trucks have a premium leather in their Longhorn and Limited packages. The seats are still about as comfortable as a park bench, but the leather is nicer, and it’s even on the back side of the seats. GM seats are way more comfortable that Ram or Ford though.

 

This might be helpful.

 

link: http://detailingwiki.com/index.php5?title=Basic_Automotive_Leather_Care

 

Basically, the leather is dyed and spray painted with a thin polyurethane coating. Conventional oil based leather cleaners like saddle soap, etc do nothing to help it since the oil in the cleaner can't penetrate the coating. Water's molecues can penetrate the coating so water based cleaners are the ones to use. The water hydrates the leather (which is necessary). Recommendation is to treat seats at least 4 times per year.

 

The coating improves the durability of the leather and though some manufacturers still use uncoated leather it is less durable.

 

Excerpted from the linked article:

All cowhides are naturally oily, unfortunately, these natural oils are stripped away in the tanning process (tanning is a process using a water vat and chromium salts to preserve hides and prepare them to absorb dyes) and some equivalent oils must be re-introduced after tanning (See fat liquoring).

 

These fat liquoring formulas are closely held secrets, passed down through generations; this is the origin of the new car ‘leather smell’. This is one reason why one company's leather can have a totally different feel, fragrance, texture and softness from another company's product. Modern leather tanning methods; chrome tanning, seals the hides ‘locking in’ the necessary fats and oils. It is then pigmented, by spraying a colored polymer resin to the hide to provide uniform finish. Leather is hygroscopic (it naturally absorbs and retains water), meaning it’s also susceptible to losing the moisture necessary to keep it pliant and soft. All that is required is re-hydration of the leather hide to avoid it drying out.

 

Depending on the desired product, the hides then go through a water-based dyeing process, which also involves adding moisture back into the skin. Automotive leather is then pigmented with a water-based color and finished. Most leather then has a water-based polyurethane protective coating applied. Since the denaturing process of leather tanning removes moisture from the hide, introducing water-based products restores the lost moisture of the hide to maintain its natural flexibility.

 

Protective coatings are applied by spraying water-based acrylic polyurethane, which is porous, so it does not completely seal leather, per se. It’s also thermoplastic and therefore remains pliable to follow the flexing of the leather upholstery. The coating is less than 1-millionth of an inch thick, and is water permeable, thus allowing the leather hide to breathe and to allow hydration. Under normal conditions, the polyvinyl coating and the split leather hide will last the lifetime of the vehicle, but only if proper care is provided. Hydration is important to ensure that the leather hide does not dry out as this would make the leather more likely to absorb stains / spillages; as once these are absorbed they can be almost impossible to remove. While leather that is polyurethane-coated is relatively easy to care for by virtue of its protective plastic surface, it is also inaccessible for purposes of maintenance. Meaning, of course, there is absolutely no point to using leather oil-based conditioners on plastic coated leather.

 

Water-based products are able to permeate deep into the hide, unlike oil, water molecules are smaller then the molecules of polyurethane, which enables water-based products to permeate, which is essential for suppleness recovery. Upholstery leather should be routinely cleaned with a pH balanced, non-alkaline cleaner to loosen and lift grease, dirt and dust without overly drying the leather or affecting the hides natural pH. In addition to regular cleaning to remove abrasive debris and oils, leather requires regular replacement of its moisture (re-hydration)

 

Many people are unaware of the fact that since the late ‘80s early ‘90s, many of the newer domestic cars and some imports (US) do not use natural leather hides anymore. Approximately 90% of vehicle manufacturers have used (thermoplastic) polyurethane covered split hide leather for their interior upholstery. Vehicle leather upholstery is made from natural hides, chrome tanned and uniquely treated with a light pigmented water-based polyurethane coating or a vinyl covering to make it more viable for automotive seating. It retains the softness of natural top-grain leather but resists fading in direct sunlight, which besides body oil / salt, is leathers worst enemy.