Why Did Most Cars Stop Using Bench Seats, And Are They Coming Back?

Classic cars have so many features drivers miss to this day: Tail fins, pop-up headlights, and front bench seats are just some of them. Many of these features are gone forever, while others are making a comeback. Bench seats are one of those returning features. Back when cars first popped up on American roads, most of them had bench seats, inspired by those in horse-drawn carriages. That trend continued well into the 1960s, championed by cars like the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac DeVille. Bench seats made car interiors feel open and social – perfect for drive-in movies and slow cruising.

In the 1970s, though, safety regulations got stricter and seats belts were mandated on both front seat positions in all cars, and automakers added seat belts and headrests to protect drivers in crashes. Bench seats weren’t designed with safety in mind – and they weren’t ideal for sports cars and muscle cars, which were getting smaller and faster. Manufacturers started swapping out bench seats for bucket seats, which offered better support.

When you picture bench seats in modern vehicles, you probably picture large, retro-inspired pickups and SUVs like the Land Rover Defender, which features a third jump seat at the front to form a bench. The practical Chevy Suburban also has an optional bench seat for the front row — as does the Tahoe. Meanwhile, the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado, and GMC Sierra pickup trucks all offer front bench seat options as well. It’s not just American trucks and SUVs, either. Hyundai recently revealed a Palisade concept with a bench, meant to create a roomier interior. But bench seats have been making their return in some pretty unexpected modern vehicles — and it makes so much sense.

REO Industries will feature a front bench in its back-to-basics bare-bones pickup. With fewer buttons, gauges, knobs, and other cabin doodads, there’s more room for this fun, retro feature. VW’s Scout Motors will have a full old-school front bench in its two long-awaited electric truck models,  which also feature minimalist cabins. Smart will have a bench in its upcoming tiny EV as well. Bench seats are still rare, but seeing them pop up in a wide range of new vehicles is quite exciting for fans of this classic car feature.