When faced with cracked and faded leather seats in our OVR LC100 project vehicle, we discovered a cost-effective alternative to expensive reupholstery or replacement seats. Here’s how custom-fit seat covers transformed our interior for a fraction of the price.
If you own an older rig, chances are your seats have seen better days. That was definitely the case for our 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series. After 26 years, the factory leather was cracked, faded, and worn. It was time to do something about it.
We started looking into options for restoring the interior of the OVR LC100—keeping in mind that this is a budget-minded project vehicle. Full aftermarket seats were quickly ruled out due to cost.
While seats from companies like Scheel-mann and Recaro offer great ergonomics, they come with price tags that can easily hit four figures, not to mention the loss of factory seat functions like power adjustment, heaters, and airbags.
We also considered getting the seats professionally reupholstered. While that would have restored them to like-new condition, it would’ve cost well into the thousands. That’s when we heard about EKR Cover.
Custom Covers That Look Factory
EKR offers custom-fit seat covers tailored for a wide range of vehicles, making them a much more affordable alternative to reupholstering or replacing seats.
Incredibly, prices start at under $200 for a full two-row set of seat covers and can range up to about $500 depending on material and options. That’s a small fraction of what other interior restoration options would cost.
For our LC100, we paid $299 for the front seat covers, which also included covers for the headrests, armrests, and center console. We also paid an additional $100 for a one-time 3D scanning session, since EKR didn’t yet have a pattern for the Land Cruiser 100 Series. The good news? Now that the 100 Series is on file (the front seats, anyway), future owners won’t need to pay for or go through the scanning process. (You’re welcome.)
These aren’t the typical generic seat covers you find hanging in a chain auto parts store. EKR’s covers are designed to fit like a second skin, going right over the original upholstery and closely replicating the look and feel of factory trim. They’re also DIY-install friendly and fully removable without any permanent modifications done to your stock seats.
A Custom Fit for the LC100
Since EKR didn’t have the LC100 in their system, they invited us to bring the truck in for a 3D scanning session. Being local to their facility, we took them up on the offer. The scan took about an hour. With that data, they were able to create a set of custom-fit seat covers specifically for our truck.
If they do have your vehicle application in their system, your order can be placed online or over the phone and shipped directly to you.
Inside their showroom, we were able to browse a wide variety of materials, colors, and stitch patterns. While we initially planned to stick with an OEM-style look, we were drawn to their diamond-stitched “Nappa Leather” upgrade. The design reminded us of the interior of our OVR G63, and since there was no extra charge for it, we went for it.
Note: when EKR says “leather,” they mean leatherette—a synthetic material designed to replicate the look and feel of leather. Their “Nappa” variant is smoother and more supple than the standard offering.
Aside from bespoke seat covers, the company also offers made-to-order floormats, steering wheel covers and pet-specific seat protection as well. We found them to be willing to configure their products in any combination of material and design – even ones that weren’t listed on their website, so if you have a specific style in mind, it’s worth asking if they can make it for you.
Installation and Fit
About a month after we placed or order, we got the call—our custom covers were ready. Installation took just over an hour and didn’t require seat removal. Using a set of plastic trim tools, we tucked and tightened everything down.
The covers secure using a combination of Velcro, buckled straps, and pass-through flaps. Fresh out of the bag, the covers had some wrinkles, but they smoothed out in a few days.
Fitment overall was solid. The headrest covers were perfect. Some other areas were a bit snug, but nothing deal-breaking.
Both of our armrest covers were sewn a little off-center, but again, not a big deal. Once installed, the covers looked great and didn’t shift around thanks to their snug fit.
Retaining Factory Features
One concern we had was whether the seat heaters would still work with the new covers installed. EKR confirmed that the seat cushions use a perforated polyester material that allows heating and cooling functions to pass through. We tested the seat heaters, and they still worked just fine.
The seat covers are also compatible with side airbags thanks to specialized stitching using Dürkopp 867 sewing tech and airbag-safe thread. So no safety features are compromised.
Why Seat Covers?
Aside from cost, seat covers give you the flexibility to change the interior look or switch materials—like going from leather to cloth, cloth to leather, or choosing a water-resistant option like Neoprene.
EKR offers a wide variety of configurations to match your taste and needs. Their leatherette material is made to be breathable, durable, easy to clean, and designed to work with heated and ventilated seat functions.
The covers feature a full 360-degree wraparound fit with precise openings for seat controls and side airbags. Installation is DIY-friendly, thanks to included video tutorials and tools. EKR offers both custom-made and pre-made fitments, and all seat covers come with a 2-year after-sales support program.
Some More Details
Final Thoughts
Combined with our previously refreshed steering wheel, the cockpit of our LC100 looks almost new. While we didn’t cover the rear seats, the color and design match closely enough that it’s not a visual issue. For $400 and some elbow grease, we significantly upgraded the look and comfort of the interior.
We’ll be watching how they hold up to trail dust, spills, and sun exposure, but so far, the EKR seat covers have proven to be a smart upgrade for our budget-minded build.
Discover more at: EKR Cover
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