I have been tossing up about replacing my Ambition Sedan for an Elegance Estate so trotted down to the local dealer to have a look. I was totally surprised to find the back seats don't fold flat and are just the same as the sedan. To get the back seats flat on the sedan I pull the squab out and stand it against the back of the front seats. Surely not having the seat folding flat without having to remove the squab is a major oversight, what do others think?

Edited 23 April, 201115 yr by Ozsko

To be honest, I don't see it as a problem. It would require a fairly major redesign of the rear seat assembly and possibly different seat sections, which could increase the cost of the car.

To be honest, I don't see it as a problem. It would require a fairly major redesign of the rear seat assembly and possibly different seat sections, which could increase the cost of the car.

I have had estates since 93 and the only ones that didn't need the seat cushion lifting had a major slope in them, having just used the Superb to do an exhibition in Dubin, it takes seconds to lift the seat which them act as a small baulkhead. once lifted I had all the stuff for the stand plus luggage for a week for me and the memsaib and we still had space!. Last time with my Jag Xtype it needed a roof box as well.

A friend of mine has recently taken delivery of a Mazda 6 and I do have to admit the rear seats on that are very clever everything folds flat in one go (no where near as much room though)

I don't see it an issue TBH, if you do not need to lift the seat squabs to get a flat load area then either the rear seat squabs have to be quite low down, or the load area quite high.

Personally I prefer the way it is.

To someone who has grown up in a market where station wagons (estates) are a large segment and most if not all seats fold flat it is shortsighted to say the least.

I agree they need to fold flat, it's pretty pointless otherwise IMO, but I prefer to lift the squab up as it provides a front bulkhead as kensym said, it's also dangerous having an area that you cannot secure the load in, the seat squabs help no end in doing this, all you then need to do is stop the load from going sideways and backwards, both are important but not as important as stopping the load from going forwards in an accident or when you are forced to brake sharpish.

Add the false floor and you almost have a flat load space Problem solved

Add the false floor and you almost have a flat load space Problem solved

Ah yes I forgot the std floor is not flat as I have the variable boot floor in mine

Don't laugh, I know someone who had a Kia for 2 years before anyone told him you could lift the seat bases to get the seats flat. He'd been complaining all that time they would stick up.

Mind you I have a Laguna and the rear seat went no where near flat in the hatch, that was a pain.

Does anyone know how to remove the back seat cushions in Suberb II 2011. There are pretty strong hooks keeping the cushion in place. It looks like they are impossible to remove without breaking the hooks. They fold forwards easily but I would like to remove them for having extra flat space. 

You simply push the wire to one side which disengages the hook, with some effort, or you can pull the whole seat squab sideways which will bend one wire allowing the opposite hook to disengage.

 

They get easier after the first time.

 

I am writing that assuming that its the same system as on the Octavia, without a photo its impossible to say.

Thanks J.R, I will give a try for that. Looks like it must be done in certain angle.