Bench seating for front

[FlyHappy]

I dont think bench seats are safe or comfortable, maybe on a golfcart?

well, not comfortable (they never truly were for 3 adults), but objectively far, far safer then decades of yore, when front benches were ubiquitious in all manner of vehicles.

 

[Driven5]

The crazy thing about the decades of yore, is they're not all as far back as most would expect in that regard.

While 3-point belts have been mandatory for front outboard positions since 1968, rear outboard since 1990, and even rear center since 2007, and despite how shockingly bad 2-point belts perform, AFAIK the front center position still does not have a 3-point belt legal mandate even today. Toyota and Nissan added it for 2007, but Ram 1500 Classic was sold through 2024 with a lap-only belt in the front center position. Ford added front center 3-point in 2015, while GM and (non-Classic) Ram 1500 only did so in 2019. Personally, I would not put anyone I cared about in a front seat with only a lap belt.

Despite all still lacking an center airbag, the 3-point belts make front center seats acceptably (IMO) safe (and thus actually useful) to me for the limited speeds and distances I need it for... Not that anybody wants to be there for more than that anyways, even in a full-size truck.

 

[enigma9o7]

As far as I'm concerned, front bench effectively died when shoulder belts became mandatory.

They're not required for front center position. All others, including rear center, are required. Besides, the seatbelt isn't the issue, that's built into the seat design, and afaik all vehicles that still offer bench seat do have shoulder belt. But side airbags for the front center passenger are the complication, and that affects crash the crash rating even more than shoulder vs lapbelt.

As far as width goes, it's wider than my '93 ranger that had a 3 person bench seat, so there's certainly enough room.

As to having to use a split bench so you can have a fold-down center console and slide one side forward for back seat access, yeah I can see that, but the reason I want a front bench seat is so I don't need a back seat, so non-issue for me.

 

[FlyHappy]

They're not required for front center position. All others, including rear center, are required. Besides, the seatbelt isn't the issue, that's built into the seat design, and afaik all vehicles that still offer bench seat do have shoulder belt. But side airbags for the front center passenger are the complication, and that affects crash the crash rating even more than shoulder vs lapbelt.

As far as width goes, it's wider than my '93 ranger that had a 3 person bench seat, so there's certainly enough room.

As to having to use a split bench so you can have a fold-down center console and slide one side forward for back seat access, yeah I can see that, but the reason I want a front bench seat is so I don't need a back seat, so non-issue for me.

A) folks, even kids are bigger then the were in the past. They are also more demanding of personal space and comfort.
B) just anecdote, but most people (again including kids) that I know, wouldn't be comfortable w/o a shoulder belt. they've grown up with them (I didn't).
C) the center position of a fold down console is awkward and uncomfortable, just like it is in the back.

I get why you and others want it, I even liked them very much in the past... but the past as in, before we necessarily improved safety (for all) and increased comfort (for fewer)... if that makes sense.

 

[Trace26]

I would like to point out the back seat is 3 position with a shoulder belt and it appears to be the same width as the front if not narrower.

Would be interesting to see someone try mounting the back seat up front. You would have to add some brackets to catch the upper latches.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I would like to point out the back seat is 3 position with a shoulder belt and it appears to be the same width as the front if not narrower.

Would be interesting to see someone try mounting the back seat up front. You would have to add some brackets to catch the upper latches.

That’s why would be good except the roll bar has the airbags, not the rear bench.

 

[Trace26]

That’s why would be good except the roll bar has the airbags, not the rear bench.

Good point, you would loose the hip airbags.

 

[Trace26]

I guess this is probably why we're not getting a bench seat. 💲💲💲💲

 

[FlyHappy]

I guess this is probably why we're not getting a bench seat. 💲💲💲💲

this is one of the better Munro vids I've seen. Really interesting details on an easily overlooked aspect of auto manufacture.