Bench Seat Cars You Can Still Buy Today

Aside from the use of wheels and doors, vehicles today hardly resemble their ancestors of yesteryears. But bench seat cars have not quite disappeared from the market yet!
Written by Kerry Gibson
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Thanks to the rapid pace of technological innovation and buyer preference, vehicles are constantly evolving to accommodate more luxury and convenience. Unfortunately, this has led to the near extinction of bench seat cars.
But if you are
car buying
, fear not. There are still a few options on the car market today, and even more variety if you’re looking at used models. Cuddling with the driver while out for a cruise is mostly a thing of the past, but not impossible.

Classic bench seat cars

Travel back to the depths of American car culture in the ‘50s and the bench seat was everywhere. Derived from the original seating arrangement in horse-drawn carriages, the front-row bench seat allowed for transporting the maximum number of passengers.
There’s a reason that old cars were referred to as “big boats” back then. Their imposing size allowed for large couch seating in the rear, as well as the front.
MORE: A Retro Classic: The 1978 Corvette
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What happened to bench seat cars?

Stricter safety regulations in the ‘70s brought the integration of airbags and seatbelts. Car makers had to redesign their vehicles to properly restrain passengers. This meant no more front seat couch.
There was also a growing demand for the sporty look of bucket seats. It’s no surprise that the Ford Mustang and Chevy Corvette were the earliest adopters. Buyer preference had shifted to bucket-style seats or split benches.
Autotrader
speculates that the disappearance of drive-in movie theaters also played a role in the demise of bench seat cars. As families grow smaller, and the crossover continues to overtake the current car market, bench seat cars have slowly disappeared.
The era of bench seat cars ended with large sedans that would comfortably seat six. The last one being the 2013 Chevrolet Impala, as reported by
Autobytel
.
MORE: GMC Yukon vs. Yukon XL: How Much Bigger is the XL?

Where are they now?

Those seeking bench seat cars today will have to settle for a pickup truck or full-size SUV. The latter is especially handy for those hauling nine passengers and requiring four-wheel drive. Keep in mind that these models are not usually stocked at dealerships, so this one may require a special order.
An added bonus is that bench seat cars tend to be less expensive. This option is limited to base trim levels.
The middle seat back often folds down into a center console with cup holders and armrest when extra seating is not required. However, spaciousness certainly isn’t what it used to be. With the tall driveline hump at the passenger’s feet and climate controls at their knees.
But the rise of electric vehicles may shift the market back to bench seat cars, according to
MotorBiscuit
. Without the need to accomodate a bulky combustion engine, future EVs will have ample cabin space and flat floors to transition back to living room-like comfort. We may witness bench seat cars make a comeback soon!
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