Anyone noticed that the material for the front and back of the seat are different? I believe that material for the back of the seat is actually vinyl, not leather. This is for 2010 RX 350.

 

You are probably right.

 

Most vehicles have leather on the seating surfaces only. The backs and the sides are often vinyl and in some cases cloth.

 

I believe that it is leather, including the arm rest on the door. That's why the large plastic piece on the back of the seat, to cut down on the leather. I will not swear on a stack of bible's about that but, I thought that was a benefit of Lexus vs Toyota.

 

Thank you for your reply! Yes, I can understand for a "regular" car this is the case, but we are talking about a RX. Just wondering what is behind the seat on a BMW, MB, Acura, Infiniti...

Also, inside door panel of 2010 RX was made of plastic, that should be leather covered as well.

 

i do upholstery. dash, doors and back/sides of seats will be vinyl in most vehicles. when you get "leather", you get seating surfaces, sometimes console lids and door inserts will be leather as well but i have seen cloth and vinyl in those applications as well.

ferrari, porsche, bently etc use leather throughout. the bimmers, acuras and infinitis i have worked on had vinyl/leather cant remember MB.

 

Almost 80% of all Mercedes sold in the US are MB Tex: its cheap VINYL. On a $65000 GL its vinyl In the BMW X5 $70,000. Its VINYL also.

Its crazy that people will pay good money for a badge and unreliable electronics.

 

It is a shame that BMW and MB wants to charge up to $1500 to replace vinyl with leather..
IMO, all luxury cars should come with leather standard and high quality leather as premium option..

However, BMW and MB is not just about badge. Lexus for sure is more dependable and cost less to service, but it just doesn't handle like a bmw and doesn't give you the steady as rock feel of a mb..

I am by no meaning knocking on Lexus, I am just trying to point out that there is pro and con, strength and weakness of each car manufacturers..

Here is how I would describe the feeling behind the steering wheel of MB, BMW and Lexus..

MB - Steady
BMW - Aggressive
Lexus - Sophisticated

 

In all fairness, when you pay for leather in a Mercedes, they really go all out in giving you leather on the door panels with nice stitching.