In a time when many car brands are switching to fake leather, Jeep has retained the use of real leather in their car upholstery.
Of course, not all models have leather seats, some have cloth fabric. However, if you buy a Jeep and it comes with leather upholstery, you can be 100% sure that the leather in your car is authentic.
If you may have assumed that Jeep uses synthetic leather as is the case with most car manufacturers nowadays, it’s high time you knew the truth.
Jeep, being a renowned company is relied upon by many people from all corners of the world, especially off-roaders. They have retained quality in their vehicle’s performance as well as aesthetics.
Leather has always been the go-to choice for many car buyers. The reason is, that leather is beautiful and has a soft touch. It enhances elegance in the interior and improves comfort on the seats.
Jeep uses leather in several of its cars. We will list them later on. But, if you are buying a Jeep, make sure that you visit their website and find out if that particular model you are interested in has a leather or cloth fabric.
Why Do Some Dealers Say that Jeep Uses Synthetic Leather?
Well, a dealer is always going to tell you anything that is going to favor his/her interests. If they do not have any jeeps with real leather in their showrooms, they may tell you that Jeep uses synthetic leather and only high-end cars have real leather.
Though this may be true to some extent, there are a couple of things you need to know.
Jeep is a reputable company. And there is no way they would risk destroying their brand by conning their buyers by using fake leather.
For you to get a Jeep package with leather trim, you will have to pay more than the standard package. However, you can rest assured that the leather trim is going to be 100% leather.
If leather upholstery is a feature that you highly prefer in a vehicle then be very keen when buying vehicles. First, you need to know what real leather looks, feels or smells like.
Even though you can be assured that the leather you will find in Jeep is authentic, you need to confirm this first before paying for the car and later finding out it was synthetic leather.
Never believe everything your dealer says. Not to discredit all dealers because there are plenty of good ones out there. But, some dealers are only after making sales.
So, they may tell you that Jeep uses synthetic leather or vice versa so that you can buy a car from them. You need to research thoroughly on such matters.
In this case, leather does use real leather. If a dealer tells you otherwise, confirm by yourself whether it’s true.
What Type of Leather Does Jeep Use?
We have already mentioned that Jeep uses real leather. However, if you look at the models that have leather trim, you will realize that the interior is described as having McKinley leather. So, what is this McKinley leather?
McKinley Leather is a leather company that Jeep outsources its interior material. This is another popular company that deals with leather furniture and other fabrics.
They provide high-quality leather to Jeep which fits this material into their cars. Jeep’s McKinley leather is soft and supple and if taken care of, it will make your car’s interior look beautiful for years to come.
What Jeep Models Have Leather?
Jeeps have for years been known to be on their level. Other than their rugged appeal, Jeep cars can conquer all terrains.
They may not have the most appealing interior but we can all agree that Jeep tries to make their car’s interior look great. One of the ways they do this is by incorporating leather interiors.
As mentioned earlier, not all jeeps have a leather interior. Below, we are going to list those that have so that you can cross-check if the model you had in mind has this feature or not.
Before we start our list, know that Jeeps have several customization packages in particular to the trim packages. So, you have the freedom to choose from a cloth to a leather interior.
• Sahara – To get one with a leather trim package, expect to add at least $3,000 over the total cost.
• Rubicon
• Freedom
• Rubicon Recon
• Sahara Altitude
• High Altitude
• North Edition
What Colors Are Jeep Leather Seats Available In?
For both leather and cloth upholstery, Jeep offers two colors. That is a dark saddle and black. However, in models like the Rubicon Recon and Wrangler High Altitude, you can choose from Leather with red and black stitching or Nappa leather.
The latter is often considered softer than McKinley leather. But in terms of durability, both are going to serve you well.
Is Real Leather a Great Upholstery Choice for Jeep?
The choice is entirely up to you because leather and cloth both have their pros and cons, especially in Jeep cars.
If you are a fan of off-roading then leather can be uncomfortable to sit on when the temperatures get extremely hot or cold. On the other hand, the cloth gets dirty easily when you take your jeep off-roading.
Before opting for the leather package, it’s best that you identify the pros and cons of the two materials. And then decide what you should have in your Jeep.
Are Jeep Leather Seats Waterproof?
No, they are not. Even the cloth seats found in Jeep are not waterproof. The only thing you can get from Jeep seats is that they are water-resistant, and this is just to some extent.
Therefore, if you love to remove the top and feel the breeze hit your face as you drive, you need to be very mindful of the weather.
Just because your Jeep leather seats are waterproof, that doesn’t mean you should let your interior get wet.
Leather is a very delicate material and requires gentle use and regular care for it to retain its appearance for the longest time.
Regarding Jeep’s leather seats, you can wipe them off when they get rained on. For cloth seats, just remove the top and let the sun dry them for an hour.
Irrespective of which material you have on your jeep, never let your seats be soaked in the rain. Water can do a lot of damage to your car’s interior.
Jeep allows slight rain to touch the upholstery so that you can get that thrill of driving on an open-top. But if it is raining heavily, attach the top or find a shade and park your car till the rain is gone.
How Can I Take Care of My Jeep’s Leather Seats?
Having confirmed that Jeep indeed uses leather seats, it’s time that we introduce you to how to take care of leather seats. Leather seats can reward you with years of service as long as you take proper care of them.
Here are some of the things you can do to maintain leather seats;
• Vacuum your seats regularly
If you are going to be off-roading most of the time, then you should vacuum your leather seats regularly. When you remove dirt, grime, and buildup, your seats retain their look for the longest time.
• Clean the seats with a specific leather cleaning product
Don’t use that harsh cleaner for your wheels on the leather seats. Instead, get a leather cleaning product that will remove dirt and restore natural oils in the leather.
• Don’t forget to condition your leather seats
Conditioning is a crucial part of maintaining the look and touch of your Jeep’s leather seats. Ensure that you pick a quality conditioner as it will ensure your leather seats retain their look and even smell for longer.
What’s So Wrong with Fake Leather?
The car market is a complex one and you will be surprised at the different preferences car buyers have. Even though Jeep uses real leather, it’s not everyone who loves leather.
This is why Jeep also has cloth instead of fake leather, unlike its counterparts. Many car brands nowadays use faux leather because it is cheaper and requires little maintenance.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with faux leather except for the fact that it doesn’t look as great as real leather.
Faux leather is a top choice for many car buyers who are concerned with animal welfare.
Unlike leather that has to be conditioned and cleaned regularly, with faux leather you just have to wipe the seats when you are washing your car. It lasts long and is very affordable to replace when it starts wearing out.
However, the choice solely lies with the car buyer. If you are shopping for a Jeep, as you consider which model you should get, pay keen attention to the upholstery material.
With Jeep, you can either get real leather or cloth. Ensure that you know what you are signing up for as you get either the leather trim or cloth package because both have their pros and cons.