[Star11girl]

Help! I just bought a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Limited. I am so excited! However, after sitting in it over an hour, I am realizing that the seats are quite stiff and uncomfortable and I’m having a panic that I just bought a new car that will not be comfortable. I am 5’4 and 120lb. These are things you just don’t notice when you are excited and go on a 3 minute test drive. I later realized I do not have the lumbar support feature, but it’s almost like this seat has a full lumbar support pushing into my lower back and I want it to go back. I go on a lot of long road trips and want to be comfortable. Any suggestions for me?

 

[Bluefoton]

Hard to say, it's very individual. I found that the perceived comfort really depends on the position of the seat (height/proximity/inclination) since it redistributes your weight. What felt OK in your previous car might not apply to this one. Fiddle with the seat and the steering wheel adjustments, and just try finding an equilibrium in between a geriatric front lean with elbows on the steering wheel, a stuck-up executive upright position, or the lowest, beach chair douchebag mode...

If you don't care about heated seats, a seat cover could (maybe) help. Or spinal surgery with bum implants.

 

[77'911]

You might try a cover on the seat...
cover
We like them in the colder winters of the PNW. They are nice on our other cars(have black leather interiors) in the summer to keep things cool.
regards

 

[R P]

Try going back to the dealer and ask them to try and find a seat adjustment that works better for your body. They should be more experienced with having dealt with other customers, so might be able to help you.

My wife has a similar size body, and no complaints from her. And for me, it is very comfortable, much better than most past cars. But everyone is different, so just need to try and find what works for you.

 

[erader]

Help! I just bought a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Limited. I am so excited! However, after sitting in it over an hour, I am realizing that the seats are quite stiff and uncomfortable and I’m having a panic that I just bought a new car that will not be comfortable. I am 5’4 and 120lb. These are things you just don’t notice when you are excited and go on a 3 minute test drive. I later realized I do not have the lumbar support feature, but it’s almost like this seat has a full lumbar support pushing into my lower back and I want it to go back. I go on a lot of long road trips and want to be comfortable. Any suggestions for me?

seats are very individual like shoes and shoes need to be broken in or at least adapted to. I just did a 6.5 day road trip where I drove 2701 miles, and i'm 66 years old. no problem for me. I

 

[sas-XV]

Help! I just bought a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Limited. I am so excited! However, after sitting in it over an hour, I am realizing that the seats are quite stiff and uncomfortable and I’m having a panic that I just bought a new car that will not be comfortable. I am 5’4 and 120lb. These are things you just don’t notice when you are excited and go on a 3 minute test drive. I later realized I do not have the lumbar support feature, but it’s almost like this seat has a full lumbar support pushing into my lower back and I want it to go back. I go on a lot of long road trips and want to be comfortable. Any suggestions for me?

I also have a 2020 Limited and noticed that the seat adjustment is quite different from my 4 last vehicles.
The sear height adjustment does NOT raise the whole seat panel up and down. The front of the seat remains nearly at nearly the same position and the rear of the sear moves up and down which changes the angle/tilt of the seat as well as the height. You just have to play with the settings to get comfortable. Trial and error to see what fits.

 

[Star11girl]

Hard to say, it's very individual. I found that the perceived comfort really depends on the position of the seat (height/proximity/inclination) since it redistributes your weight. What felt OK in your previous car might not apply to this one. Fiddle with the seat and the steering wheel adjustments, and just try finding an equilibrium in between a geriatric front lean with elbows on the steering wheel, a stuck-up executive upright position, or the lowest, beach chair douchebag mode...

If you don't care about heated seats, a seat cover could (maybe) help. Or spinal surgery with bum implants.

Thank you for responding. I appreciate it. I’ll keep messing around with it and see how I feel.

 

[Arthur]

I also have a 2020 Limited and noticed that the seat adjustment is quite different from my 4 last vehicles.
The sear height adjustment does NOT raise the whole seat panel up and down. The front of the seat remains nearly at nearly the same position and the rear of the sear moves up and down which changes the angle/tilt of the seat as well as the height. You just have to play with the settings to get comfortable. Trial and error to see what fits.

I agree. I wish the bottom of the seat moved. Six adjustments isn’t enough in my opinion.

 

[fazzster2]

I have heard the leather seats are firmer than the cloth. We are about the same size and weight so I would like to share my perspective. Not sure it will help. I've been back and forth with Honda and Subaru over the past 30 years. I had 2 WRX's (02 and an 05) where the seats were perfect (cloth). Then I had a 05 Legacy and my wife an 05 Outback. Both cloth. They were absolutely unbearable and had to get rid of the cars early. This kept me away from Subies for years. My dad had got a 2015 Forester XT with leather and he lasted 2 years in it and had to let it go because of the seats. He is short too (and 90!). When I looked into the Crosstrek I had reservation not only for the seats but leaving Honda too. The dealership was super helpful and let me take the car for over an hour knowing that the seats would be a deal breaker. They even let me take overnight. I found the seats to and driving position to be extremely comfortable. I really think its the leather seats that differ a lot from the cloth. Not that this commentary helps but perhaps down the road if you buy another Subie compare cloth to leather and see if you can take the car for an extended drive.

 

[HeyChris]

Welcome to the forums @Star11girl,

Besides the above suggestions. The seats should soften up as they break in from use.

I 2nd @R P 's suggestion of a visit to your favorite dealership and have them take a crack at working for a seat/steering wheel adjustment that works for you. Sometimes being sllightly further back with the wheel pulled towards you changes the angles just enough.

Also, sit in another `trek on their lot and see if it is unique to your seat, or...... ¿

C.

 

[saryant]

I had the same issue with mine recently. Lower back pain after two days of driving. I picked up this seat cushion which made a huge difference: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075DRS4C9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Willow445]

Help! I just bought a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Limited. I am so excited! However, after sitting in it over an hour, I am realizing that the seats are quite stiff and uncomfortable and I’m having a panic that I just bought a new car that will not be comfortable. I am 5’4 and 120lb. These are things you just don’t notice when you are excited and go on a 3 minute test drive. I later realized I do not have the lumbar support feature, but it’s almost like this seat has a full lumbar support pushing into my lower back and I want it to go back. I go on a lot of long road trips and want to be comfortable. Any suggestions for me?

I bought my Crosstrek Limited 10 months ago. I too noticed the seats were quite stiff. Could not do a long ride with out a seat cushion. They do seem to be getting more pliable with wear.

 

[Star11girl]

I have heard the leather seats are firmer than the cloth. We are about the same size and weight so I would like to share my perspective. Not sure it will help. I've been back and forth with Honda and Subaru over the past 30 years. I had 2 WRX's (02 and an 05) where the seats were perfect (cloth). Then I had a 05 Legacy and my wife an 05 Outback. Both cloth. They were absolutely unbearable and had to get rid of the cars early. This kept me away from Subies for years. My dad had got a 2015 Forester XT with leather and he lasted 2 years in it and had to let it go because of the seats. He is short too (and 90!). When I looked into the Crosstrek I had reservation not only for the seats but leaving Honda too. The dealership was super helpful and let me take the car for over an hour knowing that the seats would be a deal breaker. They even let me take overnight. I found the seats to and driving position to be extremely comfortable. I really think its the leather seats that differ a lot from the cloth. Not that this commentary helps but perhaps down the road if you buy another Subie compare cloth to leather and see if you can take the car for an extended drive.

I had the same issue with mine recently. Lower back pain after two days of driving. I picked up this seat cushion which made a huge difference: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075DRS4C9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought my Crosstrek Limited 10 months ago. I too noticed the seats were quite stiff. Could not do a long ride with out a seat cushion. They do seem to be getting more pliable with wear.

Thank you for that feedback. What I actually did was watch a few YouTube videos and decided to pull the seat apart and removed the plastic lumbar piece that was protruding into my back.

I removed the plastic lumbar piece! I was so nervous to do it but I watched a couple of videos on YouTube and pulled the seat apart. It made me nervous but I was even more nervous to drive a car for 5+ years with an uncomfortable seat. I am so proud of myself.

What a difference! The seat transformed and are totally comfortable now.

 

[Star11girl]

You might try a cover on the seat...
cover
We like them in the colder winters of the PNW. They are nice on our other cars(have black leather interiors) in the summer to keep things cool.
regards

Thank you for that feedback. What I actually did was watch a few YouTube videos and decided to pull the seat apart and removed the plastic lumbar piece that was protruding into my back. What a difference! The seat transformed and are totally comfortable now.

 

[Star11girl]

You might try a cover on the seat...
cover
We like them in the colder winters of the PNW. They are nice on our other cars(have black leather interiors) in the summer to keep things cool.
regards

Thank you for responding. I appreciate it. I’ll keep messing around with it and see how I feel.

I ended up pulling the seat apart and removing the plastic lumbar support piece and it made such a difference. I watched a YouTube video on how to do it.

 

[Star11girl]

Welcome to the forums @Star11girl,

Besides the above suggestions. The seats should soften up as they break in from use.

I 2nd @R P 's suggestion of a visit to your favorite dealership and have them take a crack at working for a seat/steering wheel adjustment that works for you. Sometimes being sllightly further back with the wheel pulled towards you changes the angles just enough.

Also, sit in another `trek on their lot and see if it is unique to your seat, or...... ¿

C.

Thanks for the welcome. I ended up pulling the back seat apart and popping out the plastic lumbar support piece. It totally transformed my seat and it 100% more comfortable.

 

[Star11girl]

I have heard the leather seats are firmer than the cloth. We are about the same size and weight so I would like to share my perspective. Not sure it will help. I've been back and forth with Honda and Subaru over the past 30 years. I had 2 WRX's (02 and an 05) where the seats were perfect (cloth). Then I had a 05 Legacy and my wife an 05 Outback. Both cloth. They were absolutely unbearable and had to get rid of the cars early. This kept me away from Subies for years. My dad had got a 2015 Forester XT with leather and he lasted 2 years in it and had to let it go because of the seats. He is short too (and 90!). When I looked into the Crosstrek I had reservation not only for the seats but leaving Honda too. The dealership was super helpful and let me take the car for over an hour knowing that the seats would be a deal breaker. They even let me take overnight. I found the seats to and driving position to be extremely comfortable. I really think its the leather seats that differ a lot from the cloth. Not that this commentary helps but perhaps down the road if you buy another Subie compare cloth to leather and see if you can take the car for an extended drive.

I pulled the seat apart and removed the plastic lumbar support piece. What a difference! It is so much more comfortable and I am so proud of myself for taking action and not letting this ruin my experience. I now totally love my crosstrek.

 

[Star11girl]

Hard to say, it's very individual. I found that the perceived comfort really depends on the position of the seat (height/proximity/inclination) since it redistributes your weight. What felt OK in your previous car might not apply to this one. Fiddle with the seat and the steering wheel adjustments, and just try finding an equilibrium in between a geriatric front lean with elbows on the steering wheel, a stuck-up executive upright position, or the lowest, beach chair douchebag mode...

If you don't care about heated seats, a seat cover could (maybe) help. Or spinal surgery with bum implants.

Thank you for your suggestions. I pulled the seat apart, and popped out the plastic lumbar piece. It has made an amazing difference without a seat cover, without aging myself to a geriatric, or having the responsibility of a stuck-up executive. I can now embrace the beach chair mode and embrace my single lady douchebag self. Lol!

 

[77'911]

I ended up pulling the seat apart and removing the plastic lumbar support piece and it made such a difference. I watched a YouTube video on how to do it.

Good for you! Nice work! The seats are tough in the Subaru on long drives(no wonder, hard plastic bolster on your back). Wished they spent a bit more time on R & D. It's not like there are not great seats out there already developed, even within the company. Glad it work out.
regards

 

[Bluefoton]

I think he alluded to the fact you took the time to reply the same thing to three different people on the forum, stating that you removed the lumbar piece. While it was very kind, we all see the same response thrice... lol

BTW, nice plastic mini Christmas tree in a pot.🎄