355F1

If you take the time to take care of your leather the proper way it will last for many many years. Point proven on my 170,000 Mile seats in my post above.

BradTank

Well I usually buy used, so the previous owner usually isn't as fastidious about caring for the leather over the life of the vehicle.

I like though that the vinyl is pretty much maintenance free.

Kijug

I got the UL mostly because I wanted the semi-aniline leather. Not only is it softer, etc., as other posts mention, but it is died all the way through. Scratches, etc., do not show up as easily. My previous car had "regular" leather (not a Lexus) and cracks showed up and you'd see white underneath. I think it was rather inexpensive leather, granted, but the I heard that semi-aniline leather is died through, that tripped my trigger (among other UL goodies). I rub conditioner over the seats about once every two months...doesn't take long.

lesz

I find the two statements quoted above to be somewhat contradictory. Having had a 2013 ES with the standard leather and a 2017 ES with the semi-aniline leather, I'm not sure which, if either, I would agree with.

My experience is that either, if you are careless, can show scratches, and both, if well-maintained, can maintain good appearance for the long term. I'm careful not to drag boxes or packages across the seating surfaces, and the feet/paws of my golden retriever are never going to touch the seating surfaces. With that care and with periodic gentle cleaning, I've found that either the regular leather or the semi-aniline leather wear well over time.

LexBob2

It looks like the OP hasn't been back to weigh in on the comments. I wonder how he or she is leaning?

chromedome

If you have kids, it's Nuluxe all the way. The stuff is so easy to clean - milk, vomit, ketchup, you name it - and it shrugs off wear and color transfer. Lexus normal leather and semi-aniline leather are pretty good but they don't tolerate rough handling.