Even expensive cars have faux leather. They have leather seating surfaces as an option where the bottom and back of the seat are still faux leather, but in general, they look really nice. VW has V-Tex, Mercedes - M-B Tex, bmw - Leatherette, Toyota - Softex, etc...
The proof in the pudding or should I say padding? Will be how "Softex" holds up after 3-8+ years of use. Softex has only what? 2 model years of application in The Prius? I would not only be curious what those owners feel about Softex, now...but in passing years. Don't want to offend anyone, but I'm not such an animal activist type that I'm opposed to leather. I figure once it's wrapped around my steering wheel or stitched as a cover to my seat, it's a little late for me to worry about the lifestyle that was afforded the cow. But I'm also not opposed to " Thermoplastic Polyurethane" or "Softex" , if an environmentally more friendly material can be created and used that offers similar feel and advantage? Then fine. If it can offer attributes BETTER than leather, even finer. I may have to struggle with overcoming a "bit" of a prejudice from my childhood and some 60's, 70's and even 80's automobiles where vinyl seats were the economy offering. I still remember the black vinyl seats in my parents 67 Mustang. Looked Great....but in the summer all the usual negatives about vinyl applied. Infact, I remember my parents buying a 1976 Toyota Corolla Station wagon and actually being happy about the relatively luxurious upgrade to "cloth" seats.
Good point that only time will tell. It's not like leather hasn't proven it will last forever. Acura's leather in the 90's were terrible! Regardless if leather or synthetic, UV protection and care is crucial.
To be honest, SofTex feels a LOT better than MB Tex or BMW's leatherette (which is the worse imo). MB's "Artico Synthetic Leather" is the most convincing and feels more like real leather than SofTex imo. Artico -> SofTex -> all the other "leatherettes" aka vinyl. The only "issue" with SofTex is that there doesn't seem to be a perforated option. Hopefully it's ok in the summer and not "sticky" Edit: Never mind, it states it in the article
