How well does the leather hold up?

[cowpen]

First post! I'm thinking seriously about taking advantage of a Laura GMC deal on a new 1500 CCSB 4x4 with the 6.2 and max tow. The engine option pretty much requires leather which I'm not too crazy about. I once had a '93 Tahoe with leather, and it didn't wear well at all. Cracks developed early, spread, and eventually the seams started splitting - and all that happened underneath custom cloth seat covers. My current truck is an '05 Titan with ~200K miles. The cloth seats look nearly as good as they did when I bought it new.

 

I generally keep a vehicle for at least 10 years. Is the GM leather more durable these days?

 

Also kinda wish Laura would offer a little more variety in their interior colors. Everything is jet black - not the optimal choice for a truck that's going to Florida.

[Jmiller11331]

It is a soft leather with quality stitching!! If you condition it every 6-8 months, it should last a loooonnng time!! I love mine


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[Boardmember]

I’m going to say it depends on how badly you slide when getting in and out.  I don’t step on my step rails and in my new Sierra I don’t have the A pillar assist handle (OK to be honest, I seldom used it after putting one in myself in my ‘16).  

 

I found the panel closest to the door shows wear.  Enough that I had the seat bottom replaced under warranty once. 

 

Now the the question is, which panels are real leather?   I’ve read none are.   Only the front seating surfaces are a manufactured-out-of-leather-parts material.   

 

For the record, I regularly use a conditioner - typically Griot’s Garage.  It smells like leather.

[Chev454ss]

I have an 09 Yukon with the leather seats and I have cracks on my console where my elbow rests. Nothing on the seats that doesn't clean off, I use Armor All and have no complaints.

[truckguy82]

The problem with our seats in my opinion is entirely due to the ground clearance. Nobody usless they are over 6’6” can get out by using the ground without sliding down the side of the seat.

 

You have to use the step. If you use the step to get everytime, the seats should last you a really long time.

 

I definitely heavy creasing on my seat within 5k miles of not using the step. Now I have 43k miles and use the step everytime. The seats have shown 0 additional wear since then.

 

 

[duquephart]

1 hour ago, Boardmember said:

I’m going to say it depends on how badly you slide when getting in and out.  I don’t step on my step rails and in my new Sierra I don’t have the A pillar assist handle (OK to be honest, I seldom used it after putting one in myself in my ‘16).  

 

I found the panel closest to the door shows wear.  Enough that I had the seat bottom replaced under warranty once. 

 

Now the the question is, which panels are real leather?   I’ve read none are.   Only the front seating surfaces are a manufactured-out-of-leather-parts material.   

 

For the record, I regularly use a conditioner - typically Griot’s Garage.  It smells like leather.

 

There is no "real" leather anywhere. "Leather" is very loosely defined, especially when it comes to automotive applications. The "leather" is manufactured in a process akin to that used for making paper. The "leather" in these vehicles is as close to being natural animal hides as a piece of paper is to being a tree.

[Donstar]

The "leather" seats hold up very well.  Spills wipe up easily and I find no special treatment is required.  I had the opposite problem from you.  I was looking for the 4.3 and found cloth seats the most common.  

[Boardmember]

1 hour ago, duquephart said:

 

There is no "real" leather anywhere. "Leather" is very loosely defined, especially when it comes to automotive applications. The "leather" is manufactured in a process akin to that used for making paper. The "leather" in these vehicles is as close to being natural animal hides as a piece of paper is to being a tree.

You know, I recall that comment but didn’t recall who made it.   It stuck with me.  

 

I still use Griots.  Did I mention it smells like leather?

 

next question:  are after-market products like Katzskin the same?

[Boardmember]

One more for duck - are you really Si Robertson?

[duquephart]

2 hours ago, Boardmember said:

You know, I recall that comment but didn’t recall who made it.   It stuck with me.  

 

I still use Griots.  Did I mention it smells like leather?

 

next question:  are after-market products like Katzskin the same?

 

They put scent in the "leather" to make it smell like leather.

[Boardmember]

I would love to find a way to perinnially keep that essence.

 

you didn’t answer my other question.

 

did you and I take a picture at a clay shoot in Laurel?   Ha!

[amxguy1970]

19 hours ago, Jmiller11331 said:

It is a soft leather with quality stitching!! If you condition it every 6-8 months, it should last a loooonnng time!! I love mine


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Soft Leather? Have you not been in any other vehicle with a quality leather? Had a Volvo S90as a rental recently, that leather was so much nicer than what is found in any truck. A nice quality leather you find in say a luxury car is completely different than what is found in most trucks which is fake and much lower quality. That is part of the reason I dislike leather in trucks, it is usually chintzy (especially in the lower end leather models) so it feels like a small step up above vinyl, it's cold in the winter, hot in the summer, requires more up keep, looks rough years down the road and adds cost. Never understood the facination with it, it can still stain it just doesn't hold smells.

 

Tyler

[drentlaw1]

I currently have 125k miles on my 14 High Country, and not a single issue with the "leather" on the seats, console, or steering wheel. I've had previous Chevy, Dodge, and Ford pickups that had issues with the seats. I would say this generation of pickups are better than the previous.

[Muddy72]

When my truck was new I bought the Aries Seat Defender covers, front and back. They have a Cordura type top and a textured rubber bottom layer. Water makes a big bead on top. Throw them in the washer to clean. I use 303 Protectant on my seats and the covers do slide just a little until I've been in and out a few times but they adjust easily. My seat still looks great! Worth every penny.

 

 https://www.ariesautomotive.com/category/320/Seat Defender

[adamj2121]

17 hours ago, Boardmember said:

next question:  are after-market products like Katzskin the same?

I don’t know if Katzkin is actually real leather, but I do know the Katzkin in my truck is softer than the leather in an SLT I had as a loaner. It also seems to hold up pretty well.