[islandvan]

i have a 2010 le and generally love the car but am very unhappy with the drivers seat.

this is the most uncomfortable car seat i have ever sat in.

i have tried every position i can and i constantly get a pain where my right leg meets my butt cheek.

has anyone else had this experience and if so did anything work to fix your problem?

 

[topspy]

Sorry the seat is not fitting you well. Perhaps a cushion or something might help alleviate your pain??

Careful though.....back in 2004ish a former member of the old site just couldn't somehow adapt or "live with it" and he traded his new Sienna in for a new Ody after just a few weeks. That seat "cost" him $8K.

Of course, no seat is going to fit 100% of all people. It's going to vary from person-to-person. For me the driver's seat is ok. It's the 2nd row seats that are idiotic. There is no way to sit or lean comfortably or be in a reclined position because whichever engineer designed the articulating joint in the seat FORGOT that that is NOT how the human anatomy works....AND there is NO room under the seat in front of you for your feet....it almost feels worse than many commercial airline seats as far as legroom if you try to lie back in the 2nd-row seat. Your head has no comfortable place, your back/waist have no support, and there is no place for your feet. I really hope they learned something and improved the design/ergonomics in the upcoming 3rdGeneration Sienna.... ??? :

YMMV.
Good Luck!! 8)

 

[happycamper]

Do some research and find a good upholstery shop in your area. They should be able to add/subtract foam as needed to make the seat comfortable for you. This is very common with motorcycle seats. It seems like they are uncomfortable for everyone straight from the factory.

 

[wegngis]

Yea, I hate the seat. There's just not enough leg room for me.

Anyway, this is not medical advice, but just a tip. Do a Google search for the "Piriformis muscle stretch." It's done wonders for me, and it sounds like you're suffering in that same area. Simple cushions might not be the answer.

 

[tbalon]

Not a big fan of the seat either. Comming from an old Plymoth Grand Voyager the difference is quite noticeable. It has taken me a while to get used to it and now I don't notice it as much and have accepted it. I am 6' 2" and it seems a little high and not long enough under the thigh. Is it just me or is the passenger seat longer in length than the driver's seat?

 

[wegngis]

Is it just me or is the passenger seat longer in length than the driver's seat?

I thought so too! I was thinking I was just crazy as I keep asking my wife to drive when I don't want to jam into that seat. Now I've got some creedence to that hypothesis.

 

[samilcar]

Maybe the drivers seat is optimized for "not so tall" people? I'm 5'9" and find the drivers seat the most comfortable of any vehicle I've ever owned. How tall is everybody?

 

[wegngis]

I've heard that the "world" is designed for a 5'9" man, and I believe it. I'm 6'2", 270lbs. I'm not a little guy, but I'm not huge. People think I'm only 200-210, so I guess I hide it well. I don't have extra long legs, just normally proportionate. I'm also the shortest guy in my family.

 

[robaer]

I'm 5'10" and I also find the seat very comfortable. Not as nice as some sportier cars I have owned, but as good as any minivan I have driven in.

I don't want to imply anything by this next comment... but my personal experience is that I have found most Japanese cars to be very well suited in terms of "support" for smaller people and most north american cars tend on the larger support. I just did a wiki on average heights based on nationality and it shows the average Japanese man is 5'7" (5'2" for women) and average north american is 5'9"-5'10" (5'4-5'5" for woman). Just a suggestion that maybe there is an influence on design there...

 

[wegngis]

Someday I want to go to Japan so I can be a giant.

 

[brian_bp]

Yea, I hate the seat. There's just not enough leg room for me.

If I understand this correctly, what is lacking is seat base cushion length - it's not long enough for the upper leg length of some of us.

I like the power-adjustable seat in our 2004 LE... except for this lack of length.

Is it just me or is the passenger seat longer in length than the driver's seat?

While the power-adjustable driver's seat and manual front passenger seat in our 2004 LE look the same, they're obviously different underneath, and I wouldn't be surprised if there is a bit of difference in the base cushion length. I have not really noticed this myself, and have not measured to confirm, but it's an interesting possibility.

 

[brian_bp]

I'm 5'10" and I also find the seat very comfortable...

I just did a wiki on average heights based on nationality and it shows the average Japanese man is 5'7" (5'2" for women) and average north american is 5'9"-5'10" (5'4-5'5" for woman). Just a suggestion that maybe there is an influence on design there...

The Sienna is specific to the North American market, but perhaps there is still some connection.

It makes sense that if the seat fits well for robaer and not for those of us a couple of inches taller, perhaps we're outside of the target range. That might be a significant miscalculation by Toyota.

 

[brian_bp]

I just did a wiki on average heights based on nationality and it shows the average Japanese man is 5'7" (5'2" for women) and average north american is 5'9"-5'10" (5'4-5'5" for woman).

Someday I want to go to Japan so I can be a giant.

Good theory, but average heights (and weights) are on their way up in many countries which we have thought of as having short (or small) people. A big issue for the Sumo wrestlers...

 

[topspy]

I'm 5'9" 170lbs. I consider myself to be of "average" height/weight/build.

It's not simple overall height that matters. It is "how" all of our body-parts combine.....lengths of fingers, upper/lower arms, feet, upper/lower legs, torso, neck, individual dexterity levels, muscle-tone, etc, and the unique variations in angles and distances that affect our perception of whether or not something "fits".

My genes have coded my body to develop so that I appear to be approx 1" inch "short" for most pants and dress shirts. In other words, when buying clothes "off-the-rack", pants are usually 1" too long for me (standard seems to be 32" inseam...I am 31"), and shirt sleeves are also 1" inch too long (standard seems to also be 32", and I am again 31"....IIRC). Or, if Iget the next size "down", then pants/shirt sleeves become too short. I am one of those odd, "in-between" sizes. I just can't win. ??? :'( ;D 8)

For many cars (foreign/domestic), I can more or less get comfortable and adapt, but many controls also "feel" like they are also approx 1-2" out of easy reach for me....I have to "stretch" or re-position myself to reach them. IME, I have found most Hondas that I have driven to have the best "fit" and ergonomics for my particular body. 20+ years ago, my old '85 Prelude always felt like it was molded to my body and was an "extension" of it....every thing was within easy reach and "comfortable".....but maybe that perception is because I was much younger and more flexible and adaptable....and less prone to various aches and pains.

We are all unique. We are also humans, and our greatest strength is our ability to learn, adapt, and/or change either ourselves or our environment.

YMMV.
Good Luck!! 8)

 

[brian_bp]

We are all unique. We are also humans, and our greatest strength is our ability to learn, adapt, and/or change either ourselves or our environment.

Well said!

Now... how do I adapt the environment under my rear end to have a longer cushion?
Actually, I'll just live with it, but I would interested to hear of any good ideas.

 

[roopakrahul]

I have the same problem with me '10 XLE. During my 2 hours drive to NJ, I have to change my sitting posture at least 10 times and most of the time I am busy playing the power seat...I am not comfortable..

 

[topspy]

We are all unique. We are also humans, and our greatest strength is our ability to learn, adapt, and/or change either ourselves or our environment.

Well said!

Now... how do I adapt the environment under my rear end to have a longer cushion?
Actually, I'll just live with it, but I would interested to hear of any good ideas.

Hmmmm......maybe MacGyver a cushioned board that is longer than the existing seat bottom, put the board on top and secure it somehow (and then sit and adjust)......??? ??? ;D ;D ;D 8)

I'm thinkin' some of that cool NASA memory-foam would be great....

 

[samilcar]

Topspy, sounds like you and I are the same body type. I've always said I have 5'7" legs on a 5'11" body, and it averages out to a 5'9" total body height.

It sounds like people with long upper legs have trouble getting comfortable in the current Sienna seat. I wonder if the new 2011 will have a different seat?

 

[Texastrooper]

I am 6'5" and I also don't like the seat. I actually hate it. Mainly because there is not enough leg room and the seat cushion is way too short.
It's my wife's car and I only drive it when necessary.
In my car I replaced the driver seat with an aftermarket orthopedic seat which has length adjustable seat cushion and extra long backrest. I actually got it shipped from Europe. I had this in two cars now but this company does not offer an adapter for the Sienna.
Also Recaro has some great aftermarket seats but they also do not offer an adapter for the Sienna. Only for cars mainly sold in Europe. I would even sacrifice the side airbags for an aftermarket orthopedic seat that offers enough leg room and better leg support.
But Recaro also offers aftermarket seats with side airbags.... Just not for the Sienna....
Since my back problems have become worse a great seat with enough leg room is number 1 buying criteria for me meanwhile.
Friend of mine has a Dodge Caravan and the seats are better (firmer) with better support than the Sienna seats. In addition more leg room. If our Sienna needs to be replaced one time it will NOT be another Sienna of this generation. Yes for a good seat I would even buy a Chrysler......
Or even turn away from minivans and go for a Volvo V70 or Mercedes E-class wagon....

By the way, the car with most leg room and most head room I have even driven was the VW New Beetle. But you can't really use it as family car. ;D

 

[topspy]

What was that movie (Police Academy??) where one of the characters (a real life former NFL player....and VERY tall/big...can't remember his name right now...Bubba Smith???) ripped out the front driver's seat of an OLD-OLD Honda Civic and sat in the back to drive??? That was hilarious. I couldn't stop laughing for a looooong time. My cheeks still hurt even right now (from muscle memory) as I think of it.

Now that's creative leg-room.... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

YMMV.
Good Luck!! 8)