Formentor VZ3 - Leather Dashboard: Real or Faux??

[Deleted member 133697]

Hi Everyone

I took delivery of my VZ3 last Tuesday (1/3/22)…and I have to say that I am really pleased with the car.

My question to you all is with regards to the dashboard.

The UK brochure very clearly states that the trim in this model is leather including a leather dashboard. However, I’m not convinced as the dashboard in my car seems more like a standard mould injected squigy plastic (or faux leather). Checking other Formentor specs in numerous showrooms/dealerships, the same dashboard is in every vehicle.
Speaking to the dealership where I brought the car, they are going by the book and saying that the brochure says it’s leather therefore it is!
I am starting to feel like the little boy in story of the ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’ and seem to be the only one who believes it’s not leather.
Has anyone else a view on this please?
Thank you
Steve

 

[Spivvy]

no sure if this will work

One of the easiest ways to tell if leather is genuine is to place a single drop of water on it. Known as the moisture test, this is intended to check and see if the leather absorbs or repels the water droplet. Assuming the leather is real and genuine, it should absorb the water droplet. Although you can’t see it, leather contains thousands of small pores — like wood — that absorb or release moisture depending on the surrounding environment. When directly exposed to moisture, it will absorb it into these pores. Therefore, you can usually tell if leather is real or fake by placing a single droplet of water on it. If it’s real, the water will quickly absorb into the leather. If it’s fake, the water droplet will repel and roll off the leather.

When performing the moisture test, only use a single droplet of water. You should never saturate genuine leather with excess moisture, as this may damage it. Faux leather, however, generally repels moisture instead of absorbing it. Of course, certain varieties of faux leather may absorb moisture to some degree, so you can’t rely strictly on this test to determine whether leather is real or fake.

 

[Deleted member 133697]

no sure if this will work

One of the easiest ways to tell if leather is genuine is to place a single drop of water on it. Known as the moisture test, this is intended to check and see if the leather absorbs or repels the water droplet. Assuming the leather is real and genuine, it should absorb the water droplet. Although you can’t see it, leather contains thousands of small pores — like wood — that absorb or release moisture depending on the surrounding environment. When directly exposed to moisture, it will absorb it into these pores. Therefore, you can usually tell if leather is real or fake by placing a single droplet of water on it. If it’s real, the water will quickly absorb into the leather. If it’s fake, the water droplet will repel and roll off the leather.

When performing the moisture test, only use a single droplet of water. You should never saturate genuine leather with excess moisture, as this may damage it. Faux leather, however, generally repels moisture instead of absorbing it. Of course, certain varieties of faux leather may absorb moisture to some degree, so you can’t rely strictly on this test to determine whether leather is real or fake.

Thank you Spivvy for your suggestion which I have already tried and is why I am as convinced as I can be that my dashboard is not leather.
I am merely trying understand if any other members have the same opinion because the lack of support and response from Cupra management so far has been poor at best.

 

[andycupra]

even if real leather i'd not expect it to absorb water as surely it would be treated.

 

[Deleted member 133697]

even if real leather i'd not expect it to absorb water as surely it would be treated.

I do agree but this is also another of my concerns - the look and feel of the seats, door handles and side panels are completely different to that of the dashboard. The seams on the seats etc are sewn and the stitching is clearly visible. On the dashboard the ‘seam’ is moulded (see photos attached)

 

[Agnes.Surrey]

I had a few cars with leather dashboards and there was never any doubt about what they are made from. Formentor dash looked to me like some kind of rubber mixed with something, to make it soft.

To be honest, even seats looked to me like leatherette, rather than real leather.

 

[MrChiipz]

I had a few cars with leather dashboards and there was never any doubt about what they are made from. Formentor dash looked to me like some kind of rubber mixed with something, to make it soft.

To be honest, even seats looked to me like leatherette, rather than real leather.

I thought the exact same thing, seats don't feel like leather on my previous passat and golf, they kind of feel slightly soft and stretchy almost.

Dashboard deffo feels like the soft rubber that tops most VAG cars, the touch and squidge is almost identical, but tbh I prefer that as it won't stain or fade in the sunlight, plus easier to clean and it still looks good

 

[Deleted member 133697]

I had a few cars with leather dashboards and there was never any doubt about what they are made from. Formentor dash looked to me like some kind of rubber mixed with something, to make it soft.

To be honest, even seats looked to me like leatherette, rather than real leather.

Likewise which is why I am confident this one is not leather. I don’t know why Cupra state Leather dashboard if they are fitting something else, hence this thread being raised to see what others have to say.

 

[Seriously?]

Doesn't look like leather to me: the grain pattern looks too artificial.
BTW, if those are Petrol Blue buckets, that doesn't look like copper stitching either (as stated in the brochure)

Petrol Blue genuine Nappa leather bucket seats with copper stitching and
embroidered CUPRA logo in headrest

 

[Deleted member 133697]

Doesn't look like leather to me: the grain pattern looks too artificial.
BTW, if those are Petrol Blue buckets, that doesn't look like copper stitching either (as stated in the brochure)

Thanks for your view, appreciated.
Actually Black Nappa (iPhone pic) and yes the stitching is not copper as stated but that issue is for another day. I need to get the dashboard sorted first.

 

[/dev/null]

Thanks for your view, appreciated.
Actually Black Nappa (iPhone pic) and yes the stitching is not copper as stated but that issue is for another day. I need to get the dashboard sorted first.

I thought that only the outer stitching was copper, and the inter-panel stitching on the backrest was colour matched? That was what the one was like that I saw in the dealers anyway.

I think the seats are definitely real leather as they're described as Nappa leather, which is actually a bit more stretchy anyway. However I agree about the rest - definitely looks faux to me, however I'm not sure a claim against them for it would be successful...?

 

[Gordon Blair]

The seats are real leather, well the front facing parts are at least. Nappa leather is softer and stretchy feeling compared to the corrected grain, or top grain leather as used in most generic cars due to the different types of salts used in the specific tanning process. Also the leather used tends to be from younger cows, so is more supple. This gives it a more 'luxurious' feel, but down side is, being softer it then creases more easily. The dash feels more of a basic top grain or faux leather moulded to the carcass. The moisture test as mentioned in a post above isn't really the best way to test leather, as leather used in cars, particularly the dash will be sealed with a polyurethane coating preventing the liquid absorbing to combat staining or water marking.

 

[Big A]

I thought that only the outer stitching was copper, and the inter-panel stitching on the backrest was colour matched? That was what the one was like that I saw in the dealers anyway.

It is only the outer parts of the seats that have the copper stitching. The centre panels are colour matched as you say.

As for the dash being real or faux leather, I'm not 100% sure and TBH not actually bothered. My previous 1 Series had a stitched dash effect as well, and it definitely looked rubber/plastic, whereas the Formentor does look more leather like.

 

[BigJase88]

That dash looks plastic especially with the airbag impression

 

[Cuprakash]

They all look similar,I have the vz1 which is non leather but looks and feels fine.

I shouldn't worry,just get out there and drive it,that's where the pleasure in this car comes from.

 

[Spivvy]

if thet state it is leather and it isn't isn't that false advertising and must contrvene some law
from the website
Complete tactile quality. Petrol blue leather dashboard for a more refined feel.

 

[dvinell]

if thet state it is leather and it isn't isn't that false advertising and must contrvene some law
from the website
Complete tactile quality. Petrol blue leather dashboard for a more refined feel.

There is loads of wiggle room in the T&Cs when you buy a car.
The best you can hope for is an update to the marketing materials to avoid future confusion.
I went through all this many years ago with Vauxhall VXR and their Stainless Steel Pedals that just weren't a thing outside of the brochure.

I've looked at ours, and it definitely is some sort of "moulded thing".
There could be a bit of dead cow in the moulding, but it's clearly not leather in the generally accepted use of the word.

Formentor V2 supposedly leather covered dash:

My other car with an actual leather covered dash:

 

[frmntr]

I just wish there was a dash mat to cover it...it radiates a lot of heat absorbed from the Australian sun!

 

[LetsForment]

I just wish there was a dash mat to cover it...it radiates a lot of heat absorbed from the Australian sun!

Have you considered moving to the UK?

 

[frmntr]

Have you considered moving to the UK?

No sun and warm beer? No thanks