The seats are terrible

[jackalopetx]

I get lower back pain every time I drive my C-Max. Why don't the seats have any lumbar support? Of all the cars I've owned, these are the worst seats. The Volvo V70 I had before had the best seats

 

I've tried using an Ikea round cushion, the thin kind you put on a wooden chair or stool, but it's not really the right shape. Can I strap a piece of foam to the lumbar area without interfering with the seat airbags?

[Adrian_L]

Volvo probably have the best seats in the business. 

 

Years ago my wife made me a small cushion about 6X8" and 3" thick.   Foam with a cloth cover.  It was a good lumbar cushion.  Just shove it behind your back or velcro it to the seat.

[Marc Smith]

actually...I find the seats quite comfy.  and I got three lower herniated discs..  the power Leather seats  have the inflatable lumbar support..

 

i used to have to use one of these http://www.sleepnumber.com/sn/en/Bedding/Pillows/p/421837?cm_mmc=Google%20National-_-SHOPPING%20Pillows-_-[product]-_-904366-W4dR9Lbh&c3apimn=W4dR9Lbh&c3=80714987124&gclid=CIWDsonayM0CFUpahgodXtMINg in my chevy.

 

I just wish the seat heaters would heat more of my back rather than my butt...

 

I have not had the chance to find out how well the rear seats are yet...but I think that will change over the holiday weekend when the fam takes a road trip...

[Adrian_L]

Rear seats?  I have sat on park benches that were more comfortable.  

[Marc Smith]

Rear seats?  I have sat on park benches that were more comfortable.  

thats my fear. 

 

so you are saying I should just leave the seats folded down and lay down in the back...

[homestead]

Which seats did you get?  I got the SEL leather which has a lumbar adjustment (for driver only).

I find them comfortable for 4 hr trips which is a lot better than my old explorer leather seats.

[fbov]

FWIW, I came from decades of Volvos to this car, albeit with the power driver's seat of an SEL. I find C-Max seats offer a fine level of comfort for a fairly large person, and a wonderful level of adjustability between seat and steering module. I would expect that adjustability makes for a comfortable driving position for many people, albeit on that may be hard to find (especially after someone else drives your car...).

 

Have fun,
Frank

[Kelleytoons]

I have a really bad back (surgery to repair it 25 years ago but even as I type this I'm sitting in a very nice chair that I have to use a lumbar pillow behind just to be able to sit for more then 20 minutes in) and the seats in the C-Max are fine, at least in front.  They are the most comfortable I've had in ANY car (and that includes about a half-century of car/truck ownership).

But...  I've never had a Volvo and I suspect you get used to certain things and it's hard to adjust.  I have the base SE model and have no problem getting them comfortable for me (but with a bad back you should be aware that in most cases it's very important to have your legs MUCH closer than most people like to drive -- valets are always readjusing them just to be able to get in, since my legs are so bunched up and I sit so very close to the wheel).

 

I think experimentation is in order for you.

[scottwood2]

No complaints here.  I like the seats in my SE.  I think seats like many things are very subjective to the user.  Some will like them one way and others will not.   Having more adjustable helps a lot to make it work for more people.  I had a full size van and many thought the seats were great.  It was like sitting on a couch in your living room.   I hated those seats.  I like a firm seat. 

 

As others have said maybe a piece of foam that can be cut to shape of what works for you.   Once you find the shape then cover it with fabric.   We have a local foam shop that has all kinds of foam.  They will cover it for you too.   Maybe you have a foam store near you? 

 

On my couch I always have a pillow behind my back.  This helps me as I have some lower back issues too.  So far I have not had to do this in the Max.

[jackalopetx]

I have the manual seats with no lumbar support. I thought I would get used to them but it didn't happen! I had an idea to try though... Pot holder hanging from the headrest posts with thin strings. Pillows are too thick and just push you forward

Edited June 28, 2016 by jackalopetx

[ptjones]

I guess you should have gotten the SEL with inflatable Lumbar.  I like my seats and I don't use the Lumbar. :)

 

Paul

[homestead]

Saw this on ebay, they have several colors.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leather-like-Car-Seat-Covers-with-Lumbar-Support-for-Ford-FO-250Black-/171999293922?fits=Model%3AC-Max&hash=item280bf4f1e2:g:dLUAAOSwFNZW1Ct0&vxp=mtr

[jackalopetx]

Seat covers are a good idea. On my Mustang I had Wet Okole ones with some built in lumbar padding. Those eBay ones probably obstruct the side airbags though.

Carhartt makes these ones that only cover the front of the seat, and foam padding could be sewn in, but they ONLY make them for trucks. http://media.marketwire.com/attachments/201107/MOD-1334_carhartbn.jpg

[jackalopetx]

Duluth makes a fire hose material seat cover http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/product/fire-hose-bucket-seat-cover-85516.aspx

 

I wonder if foam sewn to the back would stay in place. I also wonder if that design would obstruct the seat side airbags

 

They come out of the whole side of the seat  http://www.iihs.org/frontend/iihs/ratings/images/api-rating-image.ashx?id=3243&width=800

Edited June 30, 2016 by jackalopetx

[B4804514]

Hi the reason I bought the CMAX was for the seating position. My Chiropractor i have lower back pain as well, says that your knees must be lower than your butt. I am a tall guy and these seats took all that driving back pain away. I drove many miles and could still walk in the CMAX. The Prius seat was a back breaker good for only10 minutes. Try that

[RetAFEng]

My 2016 leather SEL seats are great. I never intend to sit in the back seat. Co-pilot married her chauffeur 46 years ago and doesn't have a dr. lic.

[HGR3inOK]

I am wondering if the front passenger seat for the current Ford Escort Titanium will interchange with the C-Max.  They look very similar, and the tracks seem to both have 16" spacing.  My wife has been critical of the lack of adjustment (especially, no power) for the front passenger's seat.  I might be able to find a near-new Escape seat in a salvage yard.  I doubt the C-Max wiring harness has a connection for a power passenger seat.  But that should not be difficult to deal with.

[Adrian_L]

I laughed when my brother-in-law sat in the front passenger seat in my SEL and exclaimed "Only a power seat for the driver?  Man, that's so Ford!"

 

I installed an Infinity G35 power seat in full-sized van.  Like Scott, I hated sitting on a la-z-boy behind the wheel.   If you're reasonably handy with 12v wiring, it isn't hard to figure out the connections.

 

Only downside is the added weight.

[jackalopetx]

I am wondering if the front passenger seat for the current Ford Escort Titanium will interchange with the C-Max.  They look very similar, and the tracks seem to both have 16" spacing.  My wife has been critical of the lack of adjustment (especially, no power) for the front passenger's seat.  I might be able to find a near-new Escape seat in a salvage yard.  I doubt the C-Max wiring harness has a connection for a power passenger seat.  But that should not be difficult to deal with.

 

Don't forget the seats contains the side airbags which are custom designed for the car. The wrong shape airbag could kill you

[Adrian_L]

Don't be ridiculous.  Even if the seat was the wrong shape, the worst that would happen is the airbag inflates and breaks the side window.  Or you just don't worry about wiring it in when you install the seat.

Edited September 2, 2016 by Adrian_L

[stevedebi]

Don't be ridiculous.  Even if the seat was the wrong shape, the worst that would happen is the airbag inflates and breaks the side window.  Or you just don't worry about wiring it in when you install the seat.

Well, how about this to consider. If the insurance company finds out you had a non-standard seat installed, they may refuse your claim, or not cover part of the repair or personal injury. You could sue them, but the case would not be strong. There are some things I don't mess around with, one of which is the safety systems. I consider the seat, with its custom design for the car, and airbag configuration (especially when they are in the seat itself) and even how the seat belt fits, to be a critical safety system.

 

At a very basic level, to me it isn't worth risking any potential injury, regardless of how small the risk appears to the eye. Ford carefully designs the entire system as a whole, and crash testing is done on only that configuration.

 

I agree it could probably work. But I would not wire up those airbags - and the car most likely will post an airbag alarm if you don't, or perhaps it senses certain characteristics of the airbags. I don't know. But I personally would not risk it.

Edited September 5, 2016 by stevedebi

[markd]

My wife has a pillow that she takes on trips for her feet. I have a question, why would you buy a car if you don't like the seats?

[jackalopetx]

My wife has a pillow that she takes on trips for her feet. I have a question, why would you buy a car if you don't like the seats?

 

There's no other car that gets 40mpg and costs $20k and is quiet on the highway

Edited September 6, 2016 by jackalopetx

[markd]

Like John Prine sings in "Dear Abby" "you have no complaint".

[Adrian_L]

Well, how about this to consider. If the insurance company finds out you had a non-standard seat installed, they may refuse your claim, or not cover part of the repair or personal injury. You could sue them, but the case would not be strong. There are some things I don't mess around with, one of which is the safety systems. I consider the seat, with its custom design for the car, and airbag configuration (especially when they are in the seat itself) and even how the seat belt fits, to be a critical safety system.

 

At a very basic level, to me it isn't worth risking any potential injury, regardless of how small the risk appears to the eye. Ford carefully designs the entire system as a whole, and crash testing is done on only that configuration.

 

I agree it could probably work. But I would not wire up those airbags - and the car most likely will post an airbag alarm if you don't, or perhaps it senses certain characteristics of the airbags. I don't know. But I personally would not risk it.

 

Fair enough.  But there's not a one-size-fits-all philosophy when it comes to these things.  For years I drove a VW van with no airbags where my head was about a foot from the windshield.  I know people who would probably refuse to ride as a passenger, let alone own one of these vehicles.  But it was a hell of a lot of fun.

 

We imprison ourselves with excessive attention to rules and risk, in my opinion.  And we coddle ourselves with a false sense of security.  You think a stupid internet camera on your door gives real protection against burglers?   If they want to get into your house, they will.  It takes a kick to get through the inch of wood that's holding your deadbolt in.