‘Connected front seats’ was the official terminology for the front passenger seat extension on the Datsun GO and the GO+ that followed. A handy and clean space for a hand bag, or an easy way to slide across was how it was explained, but the underlying message was a bit obvious, if not safe.

The Mahindra KUV100 looks all set to take this concept a step higher, with a proper middle seating arrangement complete with a seat belt, earning the legal classification of a six-seater – something the Datsun GO does not have. Company sources also indicated a versatile arrangement of a connected seat base but a split backrest, probably foldable into an armrest.

So is a middle front seat a good idea? Safety is a cause for concern, proper seat belts (3 point) are difficult to have for the middle passenger and the protruding gear lever on the dash is not an object you would like to strike in an impact. But there are exceptions, as manufactures internationally have found ways to work around these issues in examples such as the Fiat Multipla and the Honda FRV, thus adding a lot to the versatility of the vehicles.

However, the models haven't seen too much success on the sales front,  possibly due to the fact that the solution wasn’t a very pressing need in those markets to begin with. The case is different in India, as seating maximum people in any vehicle is quite a large need.  Another advantage is with the middle seat the gear lever gets pushed onto the dash, making it easy to slide out of the driver's seats after parking in tight spaces.

So are we ready for the bench seat to make a comeback ? The success of the KUV100 will surely be an indicator to that.

Sergius Barretto