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MG ZS EV perspiration from leather effect upholstery.

Fads54

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Southampton, England
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MG ZS EV
Hi. Does anyone else suffer from a wet back when the weather warms up. The leather effect upholstery does not seem to breathe like normal leather. Has anybody got any experience of this or indeed any possible solution. It really is the only thing I’m not happy with the car. Thanks.
 
Is this a complaint from last Summer or have you experienced a problem more recently?
 
Here is my two pennies worth on this subject.
The “Pleather” seat covering in the Gen1 and the Gen2 ZS EV found in the higher model range, is NOT a fully breathable martial that’s for sure.
This is more noticeable in high summer, when it can get a more than a little sticky at times in the lower back area.
The addition of the PVC / Plastic is the cause of this problem.
I can remember when travelling a distance in our previous Gen1 in the summer time in the U.K. my “T”shirt would become definitely damp at the very bottom area of my back.
Use of the HVAC is great, but it is unable to provide cool air from circulating where the bottom of my back comes into contact with the bottom of the seat back.
I have owned many car with both full cloth, half cloth / half Pleather and full genuine leather, which is more breathable, but it can still produces a similar condition.
Leather seats are very cold in the winter time and that is why they almost certainly include the addition of a heating function !.
Hot in the summer time can be uncomfortable, so high end models have ventilated the leather seats ventilated.
The best combination of seat material I ever experienced, was a VW Golf that had Pleather side bolsters cushions and a breathable alcantara material in the centre section of the seats.
It was never cold in the winter ( unlike leather or Pleather ) and never became hot and sticky in the really hot summer weather.
So, I can concur that in the height of summer, the Pleather seats can get a bit sticky in the lower back area, on a longer journey.
Any other times, they are fine and the heating function is in daily use in these colder conditions right now.
When we use my wife’s car ( full cloth ) she constantly complains that is has no heated seat option !.
So, would I switch out the Pleather for the material fabric ??.
NO - The Pro’s out weight the Con’s IMO.
I am about average size and weight.
My wife is slightly smaller ( in all size respects ) and loves the heat provided by the heated seats in the winter time.
But has made a commitment that if she wears shorts in height of summer, the backs of her legs will stick slightly to the base of the seat cushion.
Which does prove the point I guess ?.
Pre cooling of the cabin is a must or the seats are really hot to the touch of bare skin if the car has been parked in strong sun light of course.



 
Last edited:
I've always used seat cushions in my cars to protect the upholstery and keep the seats decent if I ever decide to sell the car.
 
A mate of mine used to use sheepskin style seat covers, warm in Winter and cool in Summer he said.
 
Just one of the reasons I chose to comfort model with the fabric seats and we don't like sun roofs, too hot. Luckily here in Europe both seats come with heating.
 

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Here is my two pennies worth on this subject.
The “Pleather” seat covering in the Gen1 and the Gen2 ZS EV found in the higher model range, is NOT a fully breathable martial that’s for sure.
This is more noticeable in high summer, when it can get a more than a little sticky at times in the lower back area.
The addition of the PVC / Plastic is the cause of this problem.
I can remember when travelling a distance in our previous Gen1 in the summer time in the U.K. my “T”shirt would become definitely damp at the very bottom area of my back.
Use of the HVAC is great, but it is unable to provide cool air from circulating where the bottom of my back comes into contact with the bottom of the seat back.
I have owned many car with both full cloth, half cloth / half Pleather and full genuine leather, which is more breathable, but it can still produces a similar condition.
Leather seats are very cold in the winter time and that is why they almost certainly include the addition of a heating function !.
Hot in the summer time can be uncomfortable, so high end models have ventilated the leather seats ventilated.
The best combination of seat material I ever experienced, was a VW Golf that had Pleather side bolsters cushions and a breathable alcantara material in the centre section of the seats.
It was never cold in the winter ( unlike leather or Pleather ) and never became hot and sticky in the really hot summer weather.
So, I can concur that in the height of summer, the Pleather seats can get a bit sticky in the lower back area, on a longer journey.
Any other times, they are fine and the heating function is in daily use in these colder conditions right now.
When we use my wife’s car ( full cloth ) she constantly complains that is has no heated seat option !.
So, would I switch out the Pleather for the material fabric ??.
NO - The Pro’s out weight the Con’s IMO.
I am about average size and weight.
My wife is slightly smaller ( in all size respects ) and loves the heat provided by the heated seats in the winter time.
But has made a commitment that if she wears shorts in height of summer, the backs of her legs will stick slightly to the base of the seat cushion.
Which does prove the point I guess ?.
Pre cooling of the cabin is a must or the seats are really hot to the touch of bare skin if the car has been parked in strong sun light of course.



I concur. The Alcantara I had on the seats of my Honda CR-V Nav was brilliant. Never cold in winter or too hot in summer and after 5 years when I sold the car they looked as good as new.
 
Here is my two pennies worth on this subject.
The “Pleather” seat covering in the Gen1 and the Gen2 ZS EV found in the higher model range, is NOT a fully breathable martial that’s for sure.
This is more noticeable in high summer, when it can get a more than a little sticky at times in the lower back area.
The addition of the PVC / Plastic is the cause of this problem.
I can remember when travelling a distance in our previous Gen1 in the summer time in the U.K. my “T”shirt would become definitely damp at the very bottom area of my back.
Use of the HVAC is great, but it is unable to provide cool air from circulating where the bottom of my back comes into contact with the bottom of the seat back.
I have owned many car with both full cloth, half cloth / half Pleather and full genuine leather, which is more breathable, but it can still produces a similar condition.
Leather seats are very cold in the winter time and that is why they almost certainly include the addition of a heating function !.
Hot in the summer time can be uncomfortable, so high end models have ventilated the leather seats ventilated.
The best combination of seat material I ever experienced, was a VW Golf that had Pleather side bolsters cushions and a breathable alcantara material in the centre section of the seats.
It was never cold in the winter ( unlike leather or Pleather ) and never became hot and sticky in the really hot summer weather.
So, I can concur that in the height of summer, the Pleather seats can get a bit sticky in the lower back area, on a longer journey.
Any other times, they are fine and the heating function is in daily use in these colder conditions right now.
When we use my wife’s car ( full cloth ) she constantly complains that is has no heated seat option !.
So, would I switch out the Pleather for the material fabric ??.
NO - The Pro’s out weight the Con’s IMO.
I am about average size and weight.
My wife is slightly smaller ( in all size respects ) and loves the heat provided by the heated seats in the winter time.
But has made a commitment that if she wears shorts in height of summer, the backs of her legs will stick slightly to the base of the seat cushion.
Which does prove the point I guess ?.
Pre cooling of the cabin is a must or the seats are really hot to the touch of bare skin if the car has been parked in strong sun light of course.



Thanks for this. I would have gone for the SE version with cloth trim had I known about it. Ive had a few cars with genuine leather trim and never experienced this problem before. I'll certainly be pre-cooling the cabin in future on warm days.
 
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