10 Cars with Bucket Seats that Look and Feel Great

2017 FIAT 124 Spider bucket seats

Sure, cars with bucket seats are the norm nowadays, with front benches now available mostly for big SUVs, in which the need for seat quantity can override a desire for seat quality. However, although all cars now come with separated seating for the driver and one front-seat passenger, some stand out from the others for comfort and style. That's especially true of sportier and more premium cars, yet as Autobytel experts have discovered—and readers can see for themselves—customers can enjoy those benefits even in some mainstream cars.  

2016 Nissan Altima

The 2016 Nissan Altima is the brand's best selling model, and it certainly helps that it's also one of the most comfortable cars with bucket seats in the midsize sedan segment. For that, credit goes to the brand's exclusive Zero Gravity Seats that are standard in the front row of every Altima. They rely on space-age science to create a well-supported sitting position that "helps to maximize blood flow and keep your energy levels up," according to Nissan. In up-level trims, those seats can be heated, appointed and boast 8-way power adjustability.

Photo by Nissan USA

2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS

It's no surprise that Autobytel experts picked a driver's choice like the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS as one of the top cars with bucket seats. After all, sport buckets are standard, all the better to support enthusiasts who leverage the car's 455-horsepower V8 for hi-po driving manuevers. Yet the Camaro also can satisfy customer demand for amenities such as heating, ventilation and an 8-way power-adjustment control. And those seats are just one part of an award-winning cabin that was named to this year's list of 10 Best Interiors from Wards Auto.

Photo by General Motors

2016 Audi S8 Plus

Providing a perfect example of how the best cars with bucket seats are often found at the top of a brand's range, the 2016 Audi S8 Plus—a sporty version of the A8 flagship sedan—boasts 22-way power-adjustable front seats. Naturally, that includes a power lumbar adjustment as well as further luxury cues like heating, ventilation, massage functionality and high-comfort headrests. For an added touch of sophistication, diamond-stitched details are standard. The same seats also are available on the longer wheelbase 2016 Audi A8 L models, which bring higher comfort levels to rear-seat passengers.

Photo by Audi

2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The all-new 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a luxury leader among cars with bucket seats. It all starts with re-engineered seats that exhibit world-class ergonomics and high-class design, along with opulent leather upholstery with double-stitched seams. The front seats are particularly appealing, since they additionally offer 14 dimensions of adjustability, plus ventilation and heating for climate control. Mercedes also makes it easy for customers in colder climes, with a dedicated Warmth and Comfort package that adds heat for the door armrest, center console and steering wheel, along with a rapid-warming function for the seats.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2017 Volvo S90

Volvo's renewed focus on luxury vehicles continues to pay off with its new range-topping sedan. The 2017 Volvo S90 is a sleek, high-tech entry, with a full slate of the brand's signature safety features and impeccable attention to detail. For instance, while many up-scale cars with bucket seats serve up power adjustability across multiple dimensions, the S90 ups the ante with power-adjustable side bolsters, which keep folks firmly positioned in even dynamic driving situations, and powered seat-cushion extensions for enhanced thigh support. Multi-stage heating and ventilation are in the mix, too.

Photo by Volvo

2017 Buick LaCrosse

Completely redesigned for the new selling season, the 2017 Buick LaCrosse now supplies a premium convenience that distinguishes much more expensive cars with buckets seats: a lumbar-massage system for the driver and front-seat passenger. Also part of the Buick's next-gen upgrade was a revised heating system for the first row, for faster warming, and the seats can be ventilated, too, for when the seasons warm up. Designers additionally developed fresh, "fashion-inspired" color themes for the seats and cabin, including Jet Black, Dark Atmosphere with Shale, and Jet Black set off by Brandy.

Photo by General Motors

2016 Volkswagen Passat

The 2016 Volkswagen Passat presents a high-value alternative if you're shopping for cars with bucket seats: Even the entry-level Passat, with an MSRP of $22,440, furnishes an 8-way adjustable driver's seat, complete with lumbar adjustment. Now, that is a manual setup, but 8-way power-adjustability is available, as is front-seat heating and VW's perforated "V-Tex leatherette" upholstery. That's a man-made leather substitute from the automakers that's both unexpectedly comfortable and, in some trims, set off by contrast-color piping. Real Vienna leather then adorns the seating surfaces in the top-of-the-line Passat SEL grade.

Photo by Volkswagen

2016 Honda Civic

Setting the pace for compact cars with bucket seats is the 2016 Honda Civic. Which, as readers may recall, also set the pace for entries of all sizes as this year's North American Car of the Year. As far as customers of all sizes, Honda notes that the new bucket seats in the Civic's front row were specifically designed to deliver "welcoming support for a wide range of body types." The Civic caters to premium-oriented owners with available heating, leather and perforated-leather seat trim, and black center stripes as an eye-catching style cue.

Photo by Honda

2017 Fiat 124 Spider

The 2017 Fiat 124 shares a lot with the new Mazda MX-5 Miata, and that includes a unique bonus that both those roadsters offer but isn't available in other cars with bucket seats. That would be the Bose audio speakers that are built right into the Spider's—and the Miata's—headrests. The seats themselves also share a notably lightweight construction that helps the roadsters remain light on their feet, while furnishing amenities like multi-stage heating and soft leather surfaces. Fiat further checks in with fashion-forward seats colors such as Nero black and Saddle brown.

Photo by FCA Media

2017 Lincoln MKZ

The 2017 Lincoln MKZ may not have the buzz of some other cars with bucket seats, but it does have the company's multi-contour front seats. They're almost infinitely adjustable, thanks to a series of air cushions that can be controlled by the car's SYNC 3 infotainment system, and they feature Active Motion technology for a soothing massage that keeps occupants feeling fine even on longer trips and in the midst of traffic jams. Lincoln has refreshed the MKZ for 2017 as well, highlighted by supple Bridge of Weir leather seat trim.

Photo by Lincoln