The Third Seat
Remember when trucks came standard with a big, flat bench up front? These days, it’s mostly high-tech consoles and plush bucket seats. In this roundup, we spotlight 13 trucks that still make room for a third front passenger—and 12 that have kissed the middle seat goodbye for good.
Ford F-150
The base trims of the Ford F-150, like XL and XLT, still feature a 40/20/40 front seat that folds the center section into a console. This flexible setup includes a lap belt and headrest. In the Lariat and higher trims, they swapped in fixed bucket seats.
RL GNZLZ from Chile, Wikimedia Commons
Ram 1500 Tradesman
Utility drives the interior of the Ram 1500 Tradesman. Crew and Quad Cab versions come standard with a front bench. The middle portion folds to reveal cup holders and storage. Trims above the Big Horn prioritize center consoles, effectively removing the possibility of seating three in front.
Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT
Chevy's Work Truck trim keeps things simple. It includes a vinyl bench seat with a fold-down center. Three belts up front come standard unless buyers opt for an upgrade package that adds a fixed console. Higher trims prioritize comfort and sacrifice front-row passenger capacity.
GMC Sierra 1500 Pro
Fleet buyers still find value in the Sierra Pro's three-across bench. A folding center section doubles as an armrest with cup holders. Denali and AT4 trims eliminate the bench in favor of bucket seats and a wide console loaded with storage and controls.
Nissan Titan S
In the base S trim, both King Cab and Crew Cab Titans come with a 40/20/40 bench. The center backrest folds into an armrest or locks into an upright position for seating. As trims rise, this feature disappears, replaced by a wide console and dual front buckets.
Ford Maverick XL
The Ford Maverick XL, the base trim of this compact pickup, offers a rare three-person front seating layout. It uses a rotary shifter to free up console space, allowing a 40/20/40-style bench with a fold-down center. Upper trims replace this with a fixed console.
Ram 2500 Tradesman
Ram's heavy-duty Tradesman line stays true to traditional layouts. Regular and Mega Cab formats come standard with a three-person front bench. Unlike upscale trims like the Laramie, this variant features a foldable center console with three-point belts and integrated under-seat storage compartments.
Ford Super Duty F-250 XL
While the King Ranch and higher trims feature plush bucket seats and a wide console with touchscreen controls, the F-250 XL retains a practical vinyl front bench. Its center backrest folds into an armrest to add comfort and functionality for drivers covering long hours or working on heavy routes.
Chevrolet Colorado WT
In the Extended Cab configuration, the Colorado WT includes a narrow center seat. It shares space with cup holders and lacks a headrest. Higher trims phase it out entirely. While practical in theory, its use is best suited for occasional short-distance passengers rather than daily use.
GMC Canyon Elevation Standard
The Elevation Standard trim of the GMC Canyon is available only with front bench seating in Extended Cab variants. Unlike Crew Cab models, it preserves a fold-down center section that flips into a third seat. Safety regulations require the removal of its headrest, which reduces comfort and visibility for middle passengers.
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD WT
Work Truck trims of the Silverado 2500 HD stick with tradition. A 40/20/40 bench comes standard in Regular and Double Cab variants. The middle seat folds into a console when not needed. LTZ and High Country trims replace it with fixed bucket seats.
2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD WT | Only 51,500 kms! by Royal Chevrolet Cadillac Inc.
Toyota Tacoma SR (Access Cab)
Toyota's Access Cab design still supports three-person seating—if you choose the SR trim. A compact bench stretches across the front row with a foldable center section. Double Cab formats ditch the layout. For 2024, Toyota removed this setup entirely across the refreshed Tacoma lineup.
2022 Toyota Tacoma SR Access Cab | 10 Minute Review by Bros FOURR Speed
Ram 1500 Classic Express
Old habits stick around in the Classic Express. It rides on the previous-generation Ram platform by keeping a three-seat front row intact. The middle section flips up or down as needed. Newer Ram models lean towards luxury, but this version holds tight to its work-truck roots.
Ruben de Rijcke, Wikimedia Commons
Nissan Frontier (2022+)
We're now shifting to trucks that no longer accommodate a third front passenger. The 2022 redesign of the Nissan Frontier marked a clear break from its past. All trims—S, SV, PRO-X, and PRO-4X—now use bucket seats only, which leaves no space for a front bench.
Rivian R1T
Rivian’s R1T features a tech-rich, SUV-style cabin with two front bucket seats and a fixed console that houses both a touchscreen and storage. It was never designed for a front bench seat, which aligns fully with its luxury focus and integrated digital interior layout.
The Rivian R1T is an Incredibly Fun Electric Pickup! By Marques Brownlee
Lincoln Mark LT
Despite sharing bones with the F-150, the Lincoln Mark LT never included a front bench. Every model featured leather bucket seats and a wide console. High-end details, such as wood inlays and chrome trim, filled the space where a third front seat might have been.
DestinationFearFan, Wikimedia Commons
Cadillac Escalade EXT
Comfort and image took top priority in the Escalade EXT's design. Instead of a bench, it came with sculpted leather bucket seats and an oversized console. From the start, it focused on upscale features, which set it apart from the three-across layout typically seen in more utility-driven trucks.
Chevrolet Silverado High Country
Within the Silverado family, the High Country trim distinguishes itself from the utility-focused models. Standard equipment includes ventilated bucket seats and a tech-filled console. Unlike WT or LT trims, there's no front bench—even as an option—reinforcing its role as a premium, comfort-first choice.
RL GNZLZ from Chile, Wikimedia Commons
Jeep Gladiator
From its launch, the Gladiator never supported a front bench. Each trim, including Sport and Rubicon, features bucket seats and a console with controls and a gear shifter. Its Wrangler-derived design leaves no room—or mechanical layout—for a third front-row seat.
Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
Ford F-150 Raptor
Unlike its workhorse sibling, the Raptor trades practicality for performance. Front bucket seats with deep bolsters come standard, along with a fixed console. The cabin prioritizes off-road control and comfort, and the third seat is absent across all current and past Raptor configurations.
Ram 1500 Limited
The Limited trim showcases Ram's shift toward upscale interiors. All models come with wide, ventilated front buckets and a large fixed console between them. While lower trims allow a bench, this flagship version omits it entirely in favor of a luxury-first layout.
MercurySable99, Wikimedia Commons
Toyota Tundra Capstone
Introduced in 2022, the Capstone trim takes the Tundra to its most premium territory. Bucket seats dominate the front row, separated by a tech-filled console. Unlike the SR or SR5 of past years, no bench seat is available here, not even as an option.
2024 Toyota Tundra Capstone - Sound, Interior and Exterior by Race Sport Media
GMC Hummer EV Pickup
Presence and innovation shape every corner of the Hummer EV Pickup's interior. The broad console splits two sculpted front seats and integrates screens and control interfaces. Unlike legacy work trucks, this electric flagship leaves no space—or intention—for a front-row bench seat.
Charles from Port Chester, New York, Wikimedia Commons
Hyundai Santa Cruz
All versions of the Hyundai Santa Cruz feature dual bucket seats up front with no bench seat configuration. The interior's crossover roots are clear and built on the Tucson platform. Even the base SE trim includes a fixed console, which eliminates the possibility of three-across seating.
Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Honda Ridgeline
Since its 2006 debut, the Honda Ridgeline has prioritized cabin comfort over capacity. Every generation includes a wide center console and front bucket seats; never a bench. This unibody pickup adopts SUV design language throughout, including a shift lever in the console where a middle seat would typically be located.
