What if rear seats face backwards? Understanding its merits & demerits

It solves the headroom problem, particularly for Coupe-SUVs that are in rage these days.

BHPian electric_eel recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Crazy idea and many would not like it but want to know the merits/demerits of it.

I believe (not sure) but it can make for some interesting design

1. I think better space utilisation is possible with better rear seat leg space and/or boot space.

2. It solves the head room problem particularly for coupe suvs that is in rage these days.

3. A family car might not like this because of the disconnect between the front and back seats but for taxis it might be a boon.

4. If one has a full sized windshield it would make the view to the outside world better (for the rear passengers)

5. I think it would be slightly better design for safety of the back seat passenger.

I put this in the EV thread because lately we have been seeing cars (Curvv/BE6e etc) where I can do with better rear seat ergonomics. Also head room and leg space has been a problem in EVs in general due to the battery pack.

Here's what BHPian shankar.balan replied:

It is a Commonplace design on the iconic London Taxi for years and years.

Also, in the EU region Ive sat in Mercedes Viano/ V Class vans with this configuration.

Same with some Toyota HiAces in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Africa.

All of these were tourist vehicles and meant to take families around in comfort and some were configured for Safari use.

Im not sure about the Toyota Alphard and Hiace, they are certainly supremely comfortable but I dont think they have a rear facing seating configuration.

However, with the newer safety norms and all I dont think normal private passenger vehicles will be allowed to have this.

Here's what BHPian saket77 replied:

I feel nauseous seating that way. Also staring and back staring by the occupants of the trailing vehicle is something many would not look forward to.

Here's what BHPian Shresth_EV replied:

I was actually wondering the same thing after seeing recent Ioniq 9 swivel seats configuration. Not sure about coupe SUVs but 3rd rows in smaller MPVs and Crossovers will become better for sure.

If you see the rear facing configuration on Ioniq 9, the 3rd row has more legroom with middle row backwards.

One more thing I see advantageous for using this configuration for 2nd row on 3 row SUVs and MPVs is ability to just stretch legs on the second row while sitting in the third like on the side berth in 3AC

Here's what BHPian Samurai replied:

Some of us older folks remember taking a ride on horse carts (tanga), and they always had rear facing passenger seats.

Rest of you may remember seeing it in the movie Sholey...

Here's what BHPian saisree replied:

I see people will get motion sickness. I had a chance of travelling some 90 KMS in the Railway guard coach which has a window facing backwards. Whenever you start looking at the window it was nauseating and had a severe headache later due to the view change.

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