Front facing Vs Rear facing Vs Side facing seats in MUVs/SUVs

ritz830 · 16th March 2009, 12:16

What kinds of seats do you prefer? And what do you think of other seat configurations?

We have got lots of MUV which have different kind of seat configuration.

- Bolero, Tavera have 3rd row side facing seats (..J..JU)

- Innova , Xylo have all 3 row front facing (..J...J..J)

- Omni has Rear facing seats. (..JL....J)

PS:

Bolero, Tavera have utilised the compact dimension to maximum use. No wonder Tavera having smaller dimension than Innova/Xylo can seat 10 people easily.

While the Innova offers ulimate high speed comfort. Very relaxing a recling seats with ample leg room. I bet one can easily sleep through the whole journey.

The Omni has a unique seating position, where passengers face each other. This creates a very sociable environment for travel. Its similar to train travel where we can play cards and be very comfortable .

wanderernomad · 16th March 2009, 12:54

From extensive personal travel experience I can vouch for the following:-
1. Best configuration is when you are facing the same direction as the movement of the vehicle.
2. Side way seats are a big pain in the neck and the other frequently used part especially in mountainous roads.
3. Facing each other (a la omni) is sociable only if you have fairer sex on the opposite bench, otherwise I dont especially like rubbing my legs with another pair of hairy appendages.

kannan666 · 16th March 2009, 13:13

Would always prefer the front facing seats configuration, also it is the most safe as your seat belts can do their job properly in the unfortunate event of a headon crash or a shunt from behind ! Also feels good to sit facing the direction of travel, if you know what I mean !

IMHO, Omni's 8 seater configuration prevents the driver and co passenger from having seats that they can adjust for forward and aft movement (not the co passenger's seat) and adjusting the incline of the backrest. The passengers sitting facing the rear are not comfortable either becuase the backrest is at a 90% angle.

Wanderernomad has already mentioned the other problem of not having enough leg room and having to position one's legs very carefully to avoid making constant contact with the passengers sitting opposite you !

VKJ · 16th March 2009, 16:34

The rear facing seats are bad in the long term, some people might face motion sickness, I have this experience in the shatabdi that moves from bangalore to chennai with the seats in this way!

ritz830 · 16th March 2009, 17:46

Rear facing seats are actually more safer. Rear facing seats seats prevents whiplash injuries.

Check this link...
Rear-Facing Carseats and Safety

kannan666 · 16th March 2009, 18:32

@ ritz830

That is only in the case of a headon collision, isnt it ? I guess the driver and co passengers head restraint will double up as one for the passengers sitting in the rear seat facing the rear of the vehicle if they align themselves properly ! However, you are still at risk of a whiplash injury if you are rear ended ! Especially as the Omni rear seats do not come with head restraints !

Checked out the link too, it refers more to babies and children, dosent it ?

ritz830 · 16th March 2009, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by kannan666

@ ritz830

That is only in the case of a headon collision, isnt it ? I guess the driver and co passengers head restraint will double up as one for the passengers sitting in the rear seat facing the rear of the vehicle if they align themselves properly ! However, you are still at risk of a whiplash injury if you are rear ended ! Especially as the Omni rear seats do not come with head restraints !

Checked out the link too, it refers more to babies and children, dosent it ?

I think its generic. But more detail on children. The first sentence says its for all.

Basically, all baby seats are positioned rear facing. Seems its a universally accepted position.

sudheeshnairs · 17th March 2009, 23:52

Sitting on Side facing seats on the third row creats motion sickness and pain in the neck. I still remember one trip where I was in the third row of a Qualis from Trivandrum to Changanassery (some 150kms) through the twisty and mountainous midlands of Kerala. That day was spoilt.

Rear facing seat is ok in a train, but not in automobiles. In the case of train, if you are not in an a/c compartment, I would prefer the rear facing side seat since I do not like the constant pounding of wind in my face.

envyravi · 27th March 2009, 17:21

J J J is the best seating arrangement. I always wondered why the windows for the third row seats are always of sliding type. Why don't they provide normal windows?

Murugan · 9th July 2009, 03:03

Have seen some modified vehicles/ limousines having side facing seats. Are they comfortable to travel in? Won't the side to side movement due to acceleration and deceleration be disconcerting?

mithun · 9th July 2009, 10:37

Not travelled in limousines. But during my child-days travelled in a Standard van with side seats. Not a big problem from my perspective. It was better than the rear-facing seats in Omni !

And, have you travelled in Mahindra Jeeps ?

kannan666 · 9th July 2009, 13:09

If the driver of such side facing seat vehicles accelerates and decelerates smoothly, then there is not much problem. He should also take the turns quite slowly, else you get literally 'unseated' !

McLaren Rulez · 9th July 2009, 18:07

So why don't manufacturers make rear facing seats especially for the rear passengers? Surely, rear end impacts are less common and happen at slower relative speeds meaning that seatbelts can do the job in case of a rear end impact. Also, frontal impacts will cause far fewer injuries. Same in buses too. Why not? I've wondered about this for a few years now and haven't seen a convincing answer yet. The only thing is the feeling where you can't see the road but surely that won't take long to get used to

LandCruiser · 9th July 2009, 20:26

Only front facing seats please! I cant travel in any seat facing any other direction (in cars, train, tram whatever). I feel very giddy.

muralisk · 9th July 2009, 20:41

front facing seats. they are quite convenient for everyone.

16th March 2009, 12:16	#1
ritz830 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: chennai Posts: 355 Thanked: 4 Times	Front facing Vs Rear facing Vs Side facing seats in MUVs/SUVs What kinds of seats do you prefer? And what do you think of other seat configurations? We have got lots of MUV which have different kind of seat configuration. - Bolero, Tavera have 3rd row side facing seats (..J..JU) - Innova , Xylo have all 3 row front facing (..J...J..J) - Omni has Rear facing seats. (..JL....J) PS: Bolero, Tavera have utilised the compact dimension to maximum use. No wonder Tavera having smaller dimension than Innova/Xylo can seat 10 people easily. While the Innova offers ulimate high speed comfort. Very relaxing a recling seats with ample leg room. I bet one can easily sleep through the whole journey. The Omni has a unique seating position, where passengers face each other. This creates a very sociable environment for travel. Its similar to train travel where we can play cards and be very comfortable .
	() Thanks

16th March 2009, 12:54	#2
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 2,534 Thanked: 1,276 Times View My Garage	From extensive personal travel experience I can vouch for the following:- 1. Best configuration is when you are facing the same direction as the movement of the vehicle. 2. Side way seats are a big pain in the neck and the other frequently used part especially in mountainous roads. 3. Facing each other (a la omni) is sociable only if you have fairer sex on the opposite bench, otherwise I dont especially like rubbing my legs with another pair of hairy appendages.
	(1) Thanks

16th March 2009, 13:13	#3
kannan666 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: KA-02 Posts: 1,002 Thanked: 128 Times View My Garage	Would always prefer the front facing seats configuration, also it is the most safe as your seat belts can do their job properly in the unfortunate event of a headon crash or a shunt from behind ! Also feels good to sit facing the direction of travel, if you know what I mean ! IMHO, Omni's 8 seater configuration prevents the driver and co passenger from having seats that they can adjust for forward and aft movement (not the co passenger's seat) and adjusting the incline of the backrest. The passengers sitting facing the rear are not comfortable either becuase the backrest is at a 90% angle. Wanderernomad has already mentioned the other problem of not having enough leg room and having to position one's legs very carefully to avoid making constant contact with the passengers sitting opposite you !
	() Thanks

16th March 2009, 16:34	#4
VKJ BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 85 Thanked: 2 Times	The rear facing seats are bad in the long term, some people might face motion sickness, I have this experience in the shatabdi that moves from bangalore to chennai with the seats in this way!
	() Thanks

16th March 2009, 17:46	#5
ritz830 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: chennai Posts: 355 Thanked: 4 Times	Rear facing seats are actually more safer. Rear facing seats seats prevents whiplash injuries. Check this link... Rear-Facing Carseats and Safety
	() Thanks

16th March 2009, 18:32	#6
kannan666 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: KA-02 Posts: 1,002 Thanked: 128 Times View My Garage	@ ritz830 That is only in the case of a headon collision, isnt it ? I guess the driver and co passengers head restraint will double up as one for the passengers sitting in the rear seat facing the rear of the vehicle if they align themselves properly ! However, you are still at risk of a whiplash injury if you are rear ended ! Especially as the Omni rear seats do not come with head restraints ! Checked out the link too, it refers more to babies and children, dosent it ?
	() Thanks

17th March 2009, 23:52	#8
sudheeshnairs BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Trivandrum/Bangalore Posts: 146 Thanked: 7 Times	Sitting on Side facing seats on the third row creats motion sickness and pain in the neck. I still remember one trip where I was in the third row of a Qualis from Trivandrum to Changanassery (some 150kms) through the twisty and mountainous midlands of Kerala. That day was spoilt. Rear facing seat is ok in a train, but not in automobiles. In the case of train, if you are not in an a/c compartment, I would prefer the rear facing side seat since I do not like the constant pounding of wind in my face.
	() Thanks

27th March 2009, 17:21	#9
envyravi BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Secunderabad Posts: 75 Thanked: 47 Times	J J J is the best seating arrangement. I always wondered why the windows for the third row seats are always of sliding type. Why don't they provide normal windows?
	() Thanks

9th July 2009, 03:03	#10
Murugan BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 382 Thanked: 261 Times	Side facing seat modifications - are they comfortable? Have seen some modified vehicles/ limousines having side facing seats. Are they comfortable to travel in? Won't the side to side movement due to acceleration and deceleration be disconcerting?
	() Thanks

9th July 2009, 10:37	#11
mithun BANNED Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cochin Posts: 2,195 Thanked: 268 Times	Not travelled in limousines. But during my child-days travelled in a Standard van with side seats. Not a big problem from my perspective. It was better than the rear-facing seats in Omni ! And, have you travelled in Mahindra Jeeps ?
	() Thanks

9th July 2009, 13:09	#12
kannan666 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: KA-02 Posts: 1,002 Thanked: 128 Times View My Garage	If the driver of such side facing seat vehicles accelerates and decelerates smoothly, then there is not much problem. He should also take the turns quite slowly, else you get literally 'unseated' !
	() Thanks

9th July 2009, 18:07	#13
McLaren Rulez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 3,390 Thanked: 5,107 Times	So why don't manufacturers make rear facing seats especially for the rear passengers? Surely, rear end impacts are less common and happen at slower relative speeds meaning that seatbelts can do the job in case of a rear end impact. Also, frontal impacts will cause far fewer injuries. Same in buses too. Why not? I've wondered about this for a few years now and haven't seen a convincing answer yet. The only thing is the feeling where you can't see the road but surely that won't take long to get used to Last edited by McLaren Rulez : 9th July 2009 at 18:08.
	() Thanks

9th July 2009, 20:26	#14
LandCruiser BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 712 Thanked: 51 Times View My Garage	Only front facing seats please! I cant travel in any seat facing any other direction (in cars, train, tram whatever). I feel very giddy.
	() Thanks

9th July 2009, 20:41	#15
muralisk BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hyderabad, Bangalore Posts: 711 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	front facing seats. they are quite convenient for everyone.
	() Thanks