Captain’s Chairs vs. Bench Seats: A Comprehensive Guide
I’m just going to say it - I prefer a bench seat 99% of the time.
Captain’s chairs definitely look sleek and offer that "first-class feel," but are they always the most practical option? It depends. Let's delve into the details, and you might just agree with me that the bench seat is the unsung hero of car seating.
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Captain’s Chairs vs Bench Seating: What’s The Difference?
The traditional bench seat is what you’d find in most base-model cars. It’s a continuous second row with three seats across, varying in size depending on the model you’re driving.
But there is an altnernative to the bench seat…captain’s chairs!
If you’ve been car shopping for any length of time - you know that captain’s chairs are all the rage. Instead of a bench which allows three people to sit somewhat comfortably in the second row, with captain’s chairs, two passengers get their own separate seat. These seats are individual chairs with armrests and other amenities, providing that luxury, first-class feel. Captain’s chairs are also designed to give easier access to the third row since the passenger can theoretically walk or climb between the two seats in the second row.
And while that all sounds lovely - what I’ve been experiencing (and hearing from so many other moms), is that captain’s chairs are just not all their cracked up to be for families with young kids.
What I love about captain’s chairs:
I love what everyone loves about captain’s chairs. They look amazing and they can give extra space which is never a bad thing! I get the appeal and understand why they are so desirable.
Luxury Feel: Captain chairs provide a luxurious, spacious seating experience.
Third Row Access: They can offer easier access to the third row, but this isn't always the case, especially with rear-facing car seats.
The Cons of Captain’s Chairs
I’m giving up a valuable seat!
We just can’t ignore what we are giving up when we ditch the bench seat. It’s extremely hard for me to justify giving up a seat in the second row. With three kids of my own, that middle seat is a big deal and almost always utilized when I’m driving a car with a bench.
My kids are young and don’t necessarily experience the benefits of captain chairs because they are in their own car seats anyway. As an adult, I do see how captain’s chairs feel more luxurious and it’s nice to have your own space - but that’s just not my reality in this phase of life.
My oldest still needs help with buckling - and it’s hard to reach him in the third row.
One of the main benefits of captains chairs is more room to access the third row, but when you add a rear-facing car seat into the mix, that’s just not how it actually functions.
If you have more than two kids in your car, you’re automatically going to need to have a child in the third row. My oldest still needs help with buckling into his forward-facing seat and in a captain chair scenario, I have to climb past my daughter’s car seat in the captain chair to reach George in the third row. It’s not the end of the world and while it’s totally doable, it’s not convenient.
Because I’m using my third seat, now my trunk space is limited.
With the third row in use for every ride (because I have three kids) , I’m now very limited in my trunk space.
Yes, you could technically keep one seat in the third row down to get more trunk space, but it’s not simply not safe to have unsecured cargo next to passengers. It’s a major projectile risk and not something I would recommend doing at all, but especially not as an everyday solution to accommodate captain’s chairs.
On top of that, they are more expensive.
Captain chair’s are typically not included in the base trim level, which means you’re going to be paying a premium for this feature. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but something to consider to avoid paying more for a feature you don’t even want.
You could have a hard time finding a bench seat.
Here’s the thing - bench seats can be hard to come by if you’re interested in a higher trim level. Typically, bench seats are only found the base trim level which can be a bummer if you want other features of the higher trim.
Some models can be custom ordered with a bench, but this is a scenario in which I’d recommend connecting with a salesperson to help you track down the model you’re looking for with a bench seat. They are out there, but increasingly hard to find.
Bench Seats I LOVE:
The Honda Odyssey’s Magic Slide - Can’t say enough amazing things about this feature that is ONLY in the Honda Odyssey. The Magic Slide® 2nd-row seats can slide toward the center and makes it so easy to access the third row, even with two rear-facing car seats installed.
The Car Seat Tilt - There are several cars that offer the car seat tilt, another way to make third row access a breeze! I’m such a huge fan of this feature and can’t wait to see it more cars in future models.
Full Size SUVs - Cars with large second rows such as the Expedition, Yukon, Suburban, Tahoe, and Navigator are all great options for spacious second rows, with or without with a bench seat.
Captain’s Chairs vs. Bench Seating- Kelly’s Take
I’m not here to hate on Captain’s chairs because I think they can be great for families with older kids. In some cases, they do provide more room in the second row and that is always something I’m looking for in a mom car.
But if I had to choose? It’s a bench seat for me every single time. And I know I’m not alone!
Do you have a preference between captain’s chairs vs bench seating? Let us know in the comments! And to keep up with the latest and greatest for family vehicles, check out my latest posts:
