Leatherette seats are covered in a synthetic textile that mimics the look and feel of leather. They lack natural leather seats’ suppleness but are more scratch-resistant and require less maintenance.
Leatherette is synonymous with imitation leather, faux leather, pleather, vegan leather, and synthetic leather. While it is not the same as vinyl, it does include the material in its construction along with other petrochemical ingredients.
It is a nonporous material, so spills and messes are easily wiped away, but leatherette seats don’t breathe like the real deal; think sweaty thighs in the summertime.
Some automakers upholster their interiors with proprietary leatherette-type materials; look for unique “brand names” to describe the seats if they aren’t identified as cloth, leather, or any of the terms above. Alcantara and Ultrasuede are third-party brands of synthetic suede leather used widely in the auto industry. See also leather seats.
