Can anyone explain about seat height

[bonnies mum]

I can understand that sitting higher gives good visibility but can anyone explain why in many US cars (saloons and SUVs), the passengers seat sits lower than drivers
This year we had a Nissan Altima and I could barely see out the window, same last year with a Ford Edge (SUV). Not possible to adjust the height (we checked) though the drivers was electrically operated.. Not too easy getting in and out either so close to the ground. UK cars are not like this.

[grinner82]

Could it not be that the drivers seat is height adjustable so gives the impression? I cant imagine that US cars have this " special" feature and I have never noticed it or ever had a problem getting out.

[bonnies mum]

No,the floor level on drivers side was higher in both these cars. Really puzzled DH & me can't understand what the reason could be.

[Guest]

We have a Hyundai SantaFe at the moment and I feel like I'm sitting in a hole! It's very uncomfortable for the front seat passenger - no lumber support either

[7SeasSailor]

Originally Posted by bonnies mum

I can understand that sitting higher gives good visibility but can anyone explain why in many US cars (saloons and SUVs), the passengers seat sits lower than drivers
This year we had a Nissan Altima and I could barely see out the window, same last year with a Ford Edge (SUV). Not possible to adjust the height (we checked) though the drivers was electrically operated.. Not too easy getting in and out either so close to the ground. UK cars are not like this.

See more...

I am a bit confused about your post. I don't know how tall you are but DW and I have just had a Ford Edge SUV for the last 3 weeks and we both agree that driver and passenger seats are not low down or near the ground. At a rough estimate I would say that ours were about 2.5 feet off the ground, there can't be much on the road that is higher than this.

[bonnies mum]

Well I am only 5'2 (and it was last year we had the Ford Edge), but why is the passenger seat lower than the drivers? It was due to my seat being so low I had probs with seeing out.

[BevS97]

I've never noticed this with our hire cars but Google turned up something interesting.
en.m.wikipedia/wiki/Co-driver

In rally cars the passenger seat is lower for weight distribution.

[bonnies mum]

Not sure if thst means I need to loose weight or DH does

[Rowlf]

The problem is that the rental cars can vary greatly in their specs.

For the same money you could possibly get a basic bottom-of-the-range version car with no height adjustment for either front seats, or if you were lucky a top-of-the-range with electric height, seat position and lumbar adjustments (+ heating!) for both seats. I suspect the middle the range cars just have the driver side height adjustment and people tend to pump them up leaving the passenger sitting down on the floor

The Ford Escape SUV we were given last month by Avis was 'Titanium X' spec, which had so many gadgets that I was checking the manual for the first week. I now know how to start the engine and set the climate control from the villa front door, open the tailgate by kicking my leg beneath the back bumper, and sync the info system to my phone so it can read out my texts to me as I drive

[DIBBadmin]

This thread has been automatically closed as it has not been posted on in 365 days.