The Decline of the 3-Seater Front Bench: Why Aren’t Cars Made This Way Anymore?

For those of you from the older generation who remember this—up until the 1980s, you could still get a front bench seat that fit three people comfortably, especially in full-size American cars. I guess that was the peak of American comfort and engineering. You could just sprawl out on those things and ride in style. But a few decades ago, they pretty much vanished. So… why did they go away? Let’s talk about it.

One big reason is design changes. Those three-across front seats don’t work well with floor shifters, so they usually came with column shifters—you know, “three on the tree,” like in the old classics. But nowadays, almost nobody uses that setup anymore, except maybe Ford and Chevy on a couple of their trucks or bigger models. Most modern cars have floor shifters, which don’t really leave room for a third seat in the middle. On top of that, today’s cars are designed to look and feel sportier, and bench seats just don’t fit that vibe. Automakers generally go for bucket seats now, which are seen as more modern, comfortable, and supportive. They might also feel that bench seats just aren’t necessary anymore, especially since regulations and expectations around safety have changed.

Speaking of safety—that’s another major factor. Bench seats don’t hold you in place very well, even with seatbelts, because the seating area is so wide. Bucket seats keep you better positioned and make sure the seatbelt actually works the way it's supposed to in a crash. Plus, with bench seats, there was often that middle spot that didn’t even have a proper seatbelt—or it just had a lap belt, which isn’t great in a wreck. So yeah, from a safety standpoint, it makes sense why most manufacturers have ditched them in favor of individual seats.

Ergonomically speaking, bucket seats are just more comfortable. They sit higher and feel more like an ergonomic chair—you can stretch your back, the seatbelt fits better, and you're less likely to slide around. Since bucket seats are contoured, they’re generally more comfortable than shorter, flatter bench seats, which is why they’re used more often. Plus, people expect more space in their cars these days, so the space left in the middle of the seats can be used for a hand rest or small compartments, as you often see in modern vehicles these days.

Another reason bench seats disappeared is that cars are getting smaller. That middle space in the front cabin is now used for glove compartments, consoles, or other features. It’s mostly due to technology and changing trends—there’s just no real need for bench seats in modern sedans and other cars. Plus, I imagine they're more expensive to make since they’re longer. Honestly, there’s no real push to bring them back.

Also, middle passengers would need a proper three-point seatbelt, airbags, and other safety features. In an accident, getting out of the middle seat would be harder because that person would be squeezed between two others. Car manufacturers probably don’t want to deal with that, and since demand is shrinking, they’ve just phased them out. At least now, we’re not cramming three people into the front row anymore.

But I think the main reason behind all of this is demand. Cars have become more personal rather than communal. People see their cars as personal spaces now, and they don’t need longer seats for passengers anymore. Plus, consumers have realized they’re not as safe. People don’t really want bench seats anymore, and modern car designs have made them unnecessary. If they were still popular, I’m sure manufacturers would’ve kept them around.