Cloth Vs. Leather: What Material Should Your New Automobile Have?

For some people, nothing is more desirable than the look, smell, and feel of a leather interior. For other people, the thought of their skin sticking to leather interior that has been roasting in the sun makes cloth interior much more appealing. Truthfully, there are pros and cons regardless of if your vehicle has a leather or cloth interior. While deciding whether you want a car with a cloth or leather interior is largely a matter of personal preference, it certainly doesn't hurt to learn more about how you may or may not benefit from each option.

A Closer Look at Leather Interiors

Cost is the biggest downside to selecting an automobile with a leather interior. You can expect to pay at least $300 more for a used vehicle with leather interior and as much as $2,500 more for a new vehicle. The price difference does vary slightly depending on the quality of the leather used within the vehicle.

Leather conforms to your shape better, so you may find it more comfortable than cloth. Leather is a feature that tends to go hand-in-hand with luxury vehicles. So, it is normal for you to feel like you are driving a classier vehicle. While leather is certainly comfortable to sit on, it gets very hot when left to soak up the sun. Fortunately, this problem is easy to avoid if you use a windshield cover or avoid parking in direct sunlight. As an added bonus, leather is more waterproof than cloth. This will make it easy for you to clean up any spills.

A Closer Look at Cloth Interiors

A cloth interior does not soak up the sun the way leather does. For this reason, you will not have to worry about a "butt burn". Cloth interiors, however, may not be the best idea if you have children or pets as they tend to absorb smells and spills. If you (or someone who rides with you in your vehicle) smokes, you are going to want to be aware of the fact that the cloth interior will absorb the smoke smell as well. On the other hand,  you would be able to wipe the smell off of the leather interior. Cloth is also more difficult to clean and easier to stain. Given the fact that leather is more expensive, however, you probably won't be as mad at your child for tearing up the cloth interior as opposed to tearing up the leather option.

In the end, it comes down to your budget and what you'd prefer in your car. There are several perks to both cloth and leather so weigh the pros and cons and make your own decision. Decide whether you want to go for luxury or convenience. Contact a business, such as the Autobank of Kansas City, for more information.