Seating hierarchies

The past weekend I got to sit in the 3rd-row bench seat of a Chevrolet Orlando test unit. We had hired a driver for the day and I thought it would be a good opportunity to try out the other seats in a car besides the driver’s seat for a change. Meager legroom and knees-up sitting position aside, it wasn’t such a bad place to be, at least for short stints. It kind of reminded me of our old Mitsubishi Space Wagon, whose two rows of folding and sliding seats made it one of the roomiest cars of its day.

As with formal dinners and photo ops, where you are positioned is often a good indicator of which rung you occupy in a particular hierarchy. The driver’s seat, traditionally regarded as the most important one in any automobile, can be relegated to a mere employee’s as the Big Boss occupies the backseat. This, of course, begs the question whether all the fancy driver-aids like steering wheel mounted buttons, Bluetooth phone connectivity and 8-way power adjustable seats are really worth the added expense.

Few cars outside of those reserved for the uber-rich exert any effort to make the backseat more comfortable or special than the minimum required. A Maybach may have a champagne cooler and ottoman, but not in an Accord. At the very least, we expect the backseat to have just that right amount of tilt and firmness of cushion to make spending several hours a reasonable proposition.

Few, if any, have ever resolved the challenge of the middle position, traditionally beset with noticeable protrusions like the folded-back armrest and a possible transmission tunnel underneath. All cars claim to seat at least five, but the truth is that four passengers is the most preferred capacity. When push comes to shove, the one who must sit in the middle gets the worst seat in a 5-passenger car, but all must endure the temporary discomfort of physical contact. The advent of extra A/C vents has, however, minimized the discomfort especially during sweltering times.

Until recently, the backseat of a pickup truck was one of the least desirable places to be in. With low seat height, an upright seatback, and placement right over the rear suspension a truck’s backseat could be a very cramped and nauseating place to be in. Improvements in cabin design and softer, kinder suspensions have somewhat tamed the beast, but no one would still pick the back of a truck versus any compact car’s.

In chauffeur-less cars, the driver’s seat is still the place to be, second only to the front passenger or “shotgun” seat. The driver gets access to all the buttons and dials. Whoever happens to also own the car also gets sole command of the music selection. Unless the spouse is very forceful, of course. In which case, whoever is the more dominant personality has the final say in whatever happens in the car, wherever he or she may be seated. The “shotgun” seat can be nearly as much fun as the driver’s. The person gets (limited) access to the controls minus the steering wheel and pedals. Ritzier cars offer equal opportunities to the front passenger too, such as a power adjustable seat and dual-zone climate control. The front passenger, in the married couple context, however, must be reminded of his or her supporting role. The front passenger may be the one assigned to count all those 25-centavo coins to annoy the toll teller, to hold the precious signature bag lest it be soiled on the carpet, to answer the text messages, and to even hold the bag of potato chips for precious road trips.

Meanwhile, the backseat can be the quietest place in a car. Bereft of any things to do, it is all too easy to fall asleep and let the people in front do all the work. Unless, of course, we are talking about a sports car “backseat,” which more often than not is a euphemism for a glorified shelf.

Second- and 3rd-row backseats can be things of beauty, however. For anyone who has ever had to transport large and bulky items, a folding seat can be worth its weight in gold. But some cars do it better than others. It’s not enough that the seatback folds, it must also create a flat(ish) load floor. If the seat bottom can tumble or slide forward then so much the better. We have a 1st-generation Honda Jazz in the family, and it’s frequently called upon to haul items that won’t fit in our compact sedan.

Finally, the 3rd-row is something of a mixed blessing. Basic designs such as those in the Toyota Fortuner employ no creative engineering to conceal them when not in use; they just fold up against the sides of the SUV with straps. More elaborate systems allow the seats to be folded into the floor and, when combined with the folded-down 2nd-row, create a remarkably spacious box in which to transport all manner of items.

The token comfort of the 3rd-row shouldn’t be taken too seriously, either. Used more as a temporary seat for visiting relatives, barkada-mates, and helpers, it’s one of those things that give truth to the saying, “It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.”