Chevy marks the end to front bench seats in cars

Pictured is the front bench seat in the 1979 Chevrolet Impala wagon. The 2013 Impala is the last North American passenger car to offer a front bench seat.

Photo credit: Chevy

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DETROIT -- Chevrolet has done away with front bench seats in the redesigned 2014 Impala.

The century-long run for front bench seats in passenger cars ends with the 2013 Chevrolet Impala -- the last car in North America to offer them, General Motors said today in a statement.

Chevrolet's first vehicle, the Series C Classic Six of 1911, had a front bench seat. Pickup trucks and SUVs will still offer the option.

Front bucket seats have become the norm, so GM said it doesn't expect consumers to notice that the front bench option is no longer available.

Only one in 10 Impala customers wanted the $195 bench option last year in the LS and LT models, according to the company.

"A lot of people prefer bucket seats because they're sporty, even in models that aren't sports cars," Clay Dean, GM director of design, said in the statement. "Our customers also appreciate having the center console as a convenient place to store their phone and other personal items."

Dean said bench seats carry a nostalgic factor, and he doesn't rule out their return in smaller cars.

"There is certain nostalgia for bench seats, like being able to snuggle up with your date at a drive-in movie, and some customers still like them," Dean said.

The 1963 Chevrolet Impala Sport Sedan with a front bench seat.

Photo credit: Chevrolet

"You never know, we might see bench seats re-emerge someday, possibly in very small cars like the EN-V urban mobility concept vehicle, in which the feeling of open space may be very desirable."

You can reach Vince Bond Jr. at vbond@crain.com. -- Follow Vince on

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