So, are the seats not an issue if one is not a fat-a$$?

One thing I give Nissan credit for is the effort they put into designing comfortable seats, which shows in their CR rating for seat comfort. Why don't all manufacturers feel this is essential? My 2011 ES seat comfort is OK, but I couldn't live with anything less comfortable. My 2001 Tundra's seats are more comfortable than my ES, which, other than the gas mileage, makes it more conducive to long trips (and the Tundra is sprung tight with 4x4 suspension/Bilstein shocks)!

 

Theres some truth to that!

 

I agree 100%. I've noticed that with Nissans, even in the lower end cars. The Lincoln Continental also had amazing seats. I didn't have the ES loaner long enough to pass judgement on long trip comfort, but I agree that most manufacturers don't put enough emphasis on seat comfort.

 

In general, that is correct. Most seats have padding that is too firm for optimum comfort.....though seats can vary quite a bit on how well the shape of the seatbacks/bolsters fit the curve of your spine, torso, and general build of your frame. Another weak point in a lot of seats is adequate lower-cushion length/support for long legs. Older, Swedish-designed Saabs (before the GM takeover) were one of the few brands that were very good in that area....they had plenty of thigh-support. Some luxury vehicles today (the classic 30-way seats in the Lincoln Continental are a good example) are also addressing that issue.

And, as for padding, I've sampled some seats that are very comfortable and fit my shape almost exactly, in spite of rather firm padding. It depends on how wide the designers want to make them...many of them are patterned after the standard height/build of the average American 175-pound adult male.

 

OK folks I think this thread has run its course and has meandered into random-comment-land.