Seats compared to 2nd Gen

I did do a search and found lots of unflattering comments about the 3rd gen seats. I'm in the market for a used Tacoma.

Just curious if it's my imagination or are the 2nd Gen seats much better?

I once owned a '07 access cab, 2wd, manual, that I put over 100k on and was always impressed how comfortable it was on long trips.

Recently spent most of a day as a passenger in a friend's 2020 TRD OR and thought the seat was pretty uncomfortable compared to how I remember my '07.

I sold the 07 many years ago, just wondering if I have rose tinted memories or for those that have experience with both if you agree?

 

I had a 2015 Sport and now have a 2019 Off Road. I would rate the 2nd Gen seats as better, feel like they had more lumbar support and slightly more comfortable on your back side.

I ride 13 miles to work and I don’t find the 3rd Gen seats all that comfortable.

I’d occasionally drive my 2015 on longer trips and my ass got pretty numb, but I consider them more comfy than my 2019.

 

The seats were main reason I chose a second gen over the third. Much more comfortable to me. By the time I found out about the transmission woes in the early third gen’s I’d already made up my mind and ruled them out anyway based on the seats alone.

 

I was not a believer, but Seat Jackers make a world of difference on 3rd gens, even on electric seats.

 

I wouldn’t call it terrible but the 3rd gen seats are pretty mediocre. I’m right about 6 foot tall and I always felt like I was falling off the front of the seat or something. My legs had zero support, the seat was low and the bottom pad is so short that 4-5 inches of my legs just hung off the seat. It was only made worse if I cranked up the lumbar which pushed me forward even more. After driving my truck for several years I sat in a second gen and right away I noticed the seat was way better, mainly because you get more extension towards your knees and feel more supported. I installed seat jackers and they are a huge improvement, best bang for the buck for sure. I also added one spacer in the rear. It’s more bucketed than factory but it also allows the rear passengers to put their feet under mine and stretch a little more. The other nice thing is since you sit higher you can also move forward a click or two on the seat slider, that also gives a pinch more knee room in the rear. The only downside is I have to slightly duck my head to miss the A pillar/roof line and my hat sometimes touches the roof. Also, if I’m first at an intersection sometimes I have to tilt my head or lean forward to see the light. It’s all first world problems so I don't have a hard time enjoying the 3rd gen like some folks. Just my 2 cents.

 

It's just another internet perpetuated myth; this one brought to you by the fine folks at Desert Does It! The 3rd Gen seats are fine.

PS: would you really go that far back in technology and engineering just for seats?

 

The only real way to know is to try it out for yourself.

 

I don’t mind the seats in my OR, not the biggest fan of the manual 3rd gen seats though

 

Thanks for all the replies and possible fixes. It wasn't just the position of the 3rd gen seat, though it did feel closer to the floor and shorter front to back. They also felt less padded and stiffer, cheaper foam and fabric basically. Yes I would go back for more comfy seats, less technology is a good thing and 3-5 hours is a typical road trip where I live.