US armrests vs EU non-armrest

[feddomw]

I've noticed it before but only now that I am looking for seat covers, have I really wondered about it: your armrests....

EU 100's don't have them, nor do Middle East vehicles.

So, what are the differences then? I will assume US 100's are not wider. But adding armrests means that:
- your seats are narrower, or
- your center console is narrower, or
- your seats are spaced farther towards the outside of your cars

Which is it?

 

[uHu]

It looks like the box between the seats is narrower.
I think the background for the difference is that "a luxury suv in the US has to have armrest. Period". This little feature probably increased the total sales by 20 %.

 

[feddomw]

Fair enough, I wouldn't mind having armrests. But if the console is narrower, how would that work with (for example) my fridge in the console.

 

[hoser]

Console fridge is not an option in the US.

 

[feddomw]

Console fridge is not an option in the US.

But was it an option on an LX470? Because what the US calls the LX was never sold in EU and most LX options were LC options in EU, such as AHC.
The reason I ask is indeed is it due to armrests that the fridge was not an option?

 

[Josh N]

Also the armrests attach above the height of the console so they don't interfere.

 

[re_guderian]

Also the armrests attach above the height of the console so they don't interfere.

Don't think so. I can adjust my armrests so that the tops of the armrests are the same height as the center console. That means they'd interfere if the console were wider.

 

[nnnnnate]

Our console is wide on the bottom and tapers up where the arm rests are located. We don't have more usable space on the bottom portion of the center console because the CD changer resides in the console, on the driver side.

I've pulled mine about a dozen times this last week while I've been working on a ham radio install. I just took a picture for you...

 

[feddomw]

That's a huge difference in terms of space. Funny, our CD-chager in on the passenger side....

Thanks for the pic, that shows where I can expect a "hole" in US Seat Covers.

Our console is wide on the bottom and tapers up where the arm rests are located. We don't have more usable space on the bottom portion of the center console because the CD changer resides in the console, on the driver side.

I've pulled mine about a dozen times this last week while I've been working on a ham radio install. I just took a picture for you...