Bench seats in trucks might seem like a thing of the past, reminiscent of classic American pickups and family sedans. Once a standard feature, bucket seats and center consoles have largely taken over, especially as floor-mounted shifters became more common. However, for those needing extra passenger space and a touch of traditional truck functionality, the Truck Bench Seat is far from extinct. While you won’t find bench seats in modern sedans or smaller pickups like the Chevy Colorado or Toyota Tacoma, the bench seat truck remains a viable option in the full-size pickup segment. The key advantage of a truck with bench seat is the added capacity for an extra passenger, making it a practical choice for work crews or larger families. Let’s explore some of the 2016 models that kept this versatile seating arrangement alive.
Ford Truck Bench Seat Options (2016)
Ford continued to offer bench seats in trucks across several trims in 2016. The ever-popular 2016 Ford F-150 provided 40/20/40 split-bench seats in its XL, XLT, and Lariat trim levels. The base XL and XLT models came standard with durable cloth upholstery, with vinyl being an available option for the XL, ideal for work environments. Stepping up to the Lariat trim, drivers enjoyed the comfort of leather upholstery along with 10-way power adjustability for both driver and passenger, memory settings for the driver, and heated and cooled seats – a significant upgrade in comfort and convenience. The F-150 XL started at an MSRP of $26,540, while the XLT began at $31,905, both powered by a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine and available in Regular Cab, SuperCab, and SuperCrew configurations. The Lariat, priced from $40,645, featured a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine and was offered in SuperCab or SuperCrew configurations. It’s worth noting that the luxurious King Ranch and Platinum F-150 trims did not offer bench seat options, focusing instead on individual bucket seating.
Ford’s heavy-duty lineup, the 2016 Ford Super Duty F-250 and F-350, also included truck bench seats. Similar to the F-150, the XL, XLT, and Lariat trims of these robust trucks offered 40/20/40 bench seating. The F-250 and F-350 XL models featured vinyl upholstery as standard, with cloth available as an option, again prioritizing durability for work-focused trucks. XLT models upgraded to cloth upholstery, while the Lariat trim offered a leather-trimmed 40/console/40 split bench as standard, with a full 40/20/40 leather bench available for those needing maximum seating capacity. A practical feature of these Ford truck bench seats was the fold-down center section, transforming into a sizable armrest with integrated storage and cupholders. The Ford F-250 XL started at $32,385, and the F-350 XL at $33,280, making them competitive options for heavy-duty tasks with bench seat functionality.
Chevrolet & GMC Truck Bench Seat Choices (2016)
General Motors also recognized the continued demand for bench seats in pickup trucks. The 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offered 40/20/40 bench seats across a wide range of trims, including the WT, LS, LT, and LTZ. The work-truck focused WT trim featured vinyl upholstery standard, with a cloth option available. The LS and LT trims came with standard cloth upholstery, with heated leather seating available as an option on the LT, blending comfort with practicality. Chevrolet emphasized durability and stain resistance in their cloth materials, catering to truck owners’ needs. Similar to Ford, the center section of the Silverado bench seat folded down to create an armrest with storage and three cupholders. The LTZ trim elevated the truck bench seat experience with a leather-trimmed bench featuring 10-way power adjustment for both driver and passenger, power lumbar support, and driver’s memory settings, usually found in higher-end vehicles. The LT Convenience package further offered 10-way power adjustment, even in lower trims. The 2016 Chevy Silverado 1500 started at a base MSRP of $27,095, making it an accessible option for those wanting a Chevrolet truck bench seat.
For heavier tasks, the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD series also featured 40/20/40 bench seats as standard equipment in the WT, LS, and LTZ models. All three trims included a fold-down center armrest with covered storage and three cupholders, maintaining the practical center console functionality. The WT models used vinyl upholstery, with cloth as an option, while the LS trim came with cloth. The LTZ trim upgraded to standard leather seating and added a lockable storage compartment beneath the seat, enhancing security and storage options. While the top-tier Silverado HD High Country trim did not offer bench seats, the 3500HD started at $34,055 and the 2500HD at $32,955, providing robust Chevy truck bench seat options.
The 2016 GMC Sierra 1500, Chevrolet’s more upscale cousin, also offered 3-passenger 40/20/40 split bench seats in trucks. Upholstery options spanned cloth, vinyl, and leather, depending on the trim and selected options. The fold-down center section again provided storage and cupholders. Cloth seats included manual recline and lumbar adjustment. For premium comfort, the leather-trimmed 3-passenger split bench, available on higher trims like the SLT or as an option on the SLE, featured heated seats, 10-way power adjustment with power recline and lumbar for both driver and passenger, and 2-position driver memory. The 2WD V6 Sierra 1500 started at $28,910, offering a blend of GMC refinement and bench seat truck practicality. However, like the Silverado, the luxurious Sierra 1500 Denali trim was not available with a bench seat.
The 2016 GMC Sierra HD mirrored the Silverado HD in offering 40/20/40 bench seats in vinyl, cloth, and leather, depending on the model and options. Cloth seats included manually adjustable lumbar support. The center seat, as expected, folded down into a console with storage and cupholders. The SLE model added under-seat storage for enhanced organization. The SLT trim came equipped with leather upholstery, 10-way power adjustment for both driver and passenger with power lumbar, and 2-position driver memory, mirroring the luxury features found in the Silverado LTZ. The Sierra 2500HD started at $33,535, and the Sierra 3500HD at $34,635, continuing GMC’s commitment to trucks with bench seats in their HD lineup, although the Denali trim remained exclusively bucket-seat equipped.
Ram Trucks Still Offer Bench Seats (2016)
Ram Trucks stood out in 2016 by offering a wider array of trim levels with bench seat options than its competitors in the half-ton segment. The 2016 RAM 1500 made 40/20/40 split front bench seats available in the Tradesman ($26,145), Express ($27,575), Big Horn ($33,760), and Laramie ($39,655) trims. The Tradesman and Express trims featured durable vinyl upholstery and manual seat adjustment, ideal for basic work truck needs. The Big Horn upgraded to cloth upholstery and added a 10-way power driver seat with power lumbar support. The Laramie trim elevated comfort with leather upholstery and 10-way power adjustment. All Ram 1500 bench seats included a center section that folded down into a console with storage and three cupholders. The Big Horn and Laramie trims further enhanced the console with a 115-volt outlet and under-seat storage in Quad and Crew Cab configurations, adding practical power and storage solutions to their bench seat trucks.
In the heavy-duty segment, the 2016 Ram HD also provided the most bench seating choices among three-quarter-ton trucks. A 40/20/40 split bench was available in the 3500 Tradesman ($32,285), SLT ($36,595), Big Horn ($42,485), and Laramie ($47,520) trims. Extending the bench seat truck availability even further, the RAM 2500 HD offered split bench seats in the Lone Star, Outdoorsman ($46,445), Power Wagon Tradesman ($46,560), and Laramie Power Wagon ($57,680) trims, in addition to the previously mentioned 2500 HD versions of the Tradesman, SLT, Big Horn, and Laramie. Upholstery choices ranged from vinyl in the Tradesman and Power Wagon Tradesman (with work-grade vinyl as an option) to cloth in the SLT and premium cloth in the Big Horn and Lone Star. The Laramie and Laramie Power Wagon trims offered heated and ventilated leather front seats for maximum comfort. All Ram HD bench seats featured a fold-down center armrest with storage and cupholders, and the Laramie, Laramie Power Wagon, Big Horn, and Lone Star consoles included a 115-volt outlet, mirroring the Ram 1500’s thoughtful features.
Nissan & Toyota Bench Seat Trucks (2016)
Rounding out the bench seat truck options for 2016, Nissan and Toyota also offered models with this seating configuration. The 2016 Nissan Titan XD included split bench seats in its S and SV trim levels. The SV trim came with cloth seats, while the base S featured cloth seats with vinyl bolsters for added durability. Both trims offered 4-way manual adjustment for both driver and passenger. An 8-way power driver seat with power lumbar was available as an option on the SV trim. Bucket seats were optional on the SV and standard on the higher-end P4X, SL, and Platinum Reserve trims. The Titan S started at $35,290 with the 5.6-liter V8 gasoline engine and $40,290 with the 5.0-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine, offering a Nissan truck bench seat in its lower trim levels.
Lastly, the 2016 Toyota Tundra provided bench seats in trucks within its SR and SR5 trim levels. The SR trim was available in Regular or Double Cab configurations, while the SR5 offered Double Cab or CrewMax versions, giving buyers flexibility in cab size with Toyota truck bench seats. Both models featured a 40/20/40 split bench with 4-way adjustable driver and passenger seats and cloth upholstery standard. Vinyl upholstery was available as an option on the SR for enhanced durability. The 2016 Toyota Tundra SR started at $29,950, and the SR5 at $30,950, making them competitive options for those seeking a Toyota bench seat truck. Similar to other manufacturers, the higher trim levels like the Tundra TRD Pro, Limited, Platinum, and 1794 Edition were exclusively available with bucket seats.
Conclusion
While bucket seats and center consoles have become increasingly popular in modern vehicles, the truck bench seat remained a functional and available feature in the 2016 full-size pickup truck market. Manufacturers like Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Ram, Nissan, and Toyota continued to offer bench seats in trucks across various trim levels, primarily in their lower to mid-range models. The primary benefit of a bench seat truck remains its ability to accommodate an extra front passenger, a practical advantage for work crews, families, or anyone needing maximum seating capacity. From basic vinyl upholstery in work-oriented trims to comfortable cloth and even leather options in higher trims, the truck bench seat in 2016 catered to a range of needs and budgets, proving its enduring relevance in the pickup truck segment.
