Scott Hinderer

Merino leather seats use Merino sheepskin rather than cowhide to cover seats. Merino leather is a real, full-grain leather considered the finest and softest of all leathers.

Nappa leather seats are covered with premium leather from the skins of calves, kids, or lambs. Nappa leather seats can be constructed of full-grain or top-grain leather. No definitive test exists for Nappa leather, though it’s generally understood to be uncorrected, supple, and high-quality.

Leatherette seats are covered in a synthetic textile that mimics the look and feel of leather. They lack natural leather seats’ suppleness but are more scratch-resistant and require less maintenance.

Automotive leather seats are covered in an upholstery made from animal hides (mostly cowhide) that’s been tanned and coated for color and protection from wear and tear. Leather seats are an optional upgrade in almost every vehicle on the market. Even luxury brands may offer simulated leather upholstery on the seats in base models.

Lane departure warning is an advanced safety assistance system (ADAS) that alerts drivers drifting out of their traffic lane. Alarms can be audible, visual, and haptic (vibration). The technology makes no course correction, and the driver must respond to prevent potential collisions.

Keyless entry is a feature that enables drivers to actuate their cars’ door locks at a distance. The simplest systems require a driver to press a button on their key fob to actuate the locking mechanism. More advanced systems, called “proximity keys,” use near-field communication to detect a matching key fob and automatically unlock the doors when the fob is in a pre-defined proximity.

An in-car PA (personal address) system is a feature that allows drivers to communicate with rear passengers via onboard speakers or headphones. In-car PA systems are typically available in minivans, 3-row SUVs, and other large vehicles preferred by buyers with large families.