Almond Interior - Long Term Wear

[littlebear]

Parchment/White Leather Interior - Long Term Wear

Most of the interiors are black leather. I really like the look of the white parchment interior but I am worried about its long term upkeep and wear. I assume the almond is harder to keep clean since it's off-white and will it color fade with time?

Anyone with the parchment interior please chime in.

 

[DBLXX]

Do you mean parchment?

My wife has tan leather in her Cross Trek. I use armor all leather wipes every once in a blue moon and they still look new - 50,000 miles later.

My CX5 only has 150 miles on it

 

[mazdadude]

Most of the interiors are black leather. I really like the look of the white almond interior but I am worried about its long term upkeep and wear. I assume the almond is harder to keep clean since it's off-white and will it color fade with time?

Anyone with the almond interior please chime in.

For sake of clarity, as used by Mazda in the US,

When referring to Leather interiors:

Almond is tan/beige color
Parchment is near vanilla/antique white

Almond was used up to and including 2015 models
Parchment is new for 2016 models

 

[yrwei52]

Parchment Interior - Long Term Wear

For sake of clarity, as used by Mazda in the US,

Almond is tan/beige color
Parchment is near vanilla/antique white

Almond was used up to and including 2015 models
Parchment is new for 2016 models

It's called Sand interior color on and before MY 2015 and on MY 2016's Sport and Touring cloth interior. Parchment is new for MY 2016 but only in GT trim with leather interior.

To OP, all the concerns you have toward Parchment leather interior are true. You just have to keep up the protection and maintenance on this Parchment leather and there is no other way. That's why I so wish Mazda can offer more colors than just black and white, such as gray like ALL competitors do. All BLACK interior is just too much for me. Not to mention it's too hot!

 

[mazdadude]

It's called Sand interior color on and before MY 2015 and on MY 2016's Sport and Touring cloth interior. Parchment is new for MY 2016 but only in GT trim with leather interior.

SAND is for CLOTH

ALMOND / PARCHMENT is for LEATHER

 

[yrwei52]

It's called Sand interior color on and before MY 2015 and on MY 2016's Sport and Touring cloth interior. Parchment is new for MY 2016 but only in GT trim with leather interior.

SAND is for CLOTH
ALMOND / PARCHMENT IS FOR LEATHER

Yeah, my bad. You're absolutely right!

 

[mazdadude]

You are right too!

 

[chckboy5]

I just got the parchment leather. Any tips on how to maintain it? Any specific products?

 

[limleong]

I just got the parchment leather. Any tips on how to maintain it? Any specific products?

I am used to black leather and yes the white leather is a lot more work as it soils easily. Looks much better than black though.

Mothers or Meguiar leather cleaner and conditioner will do the trick. In the U.S. Other people have mentioned Lexol leather cleaner.

 

[ocinsomniac]

+1 for Lexol.....I also use Zaino's Leather In A Bottle as a conditioner - besides softening and protecting from UV rays, has the fragrant aroma of leather.

http://www.zainostore.com/product/Z-10.html

 

[littlebear]

No doubt but the parchment/white leather looks so much nicer and is going to be cooler to the touch in summer if it's been sitting in the sun. Drawback is that it requires more cleaning.

Is it REAL leather or more of a vinyl/synthetic type of material?

 

[limleong]

No doubt but the parchment/white leather looks so much nicer and is going to be cooler to the touch in summer if it's been sitting in the sun. Drawback is that it requires more cleaning.

Is it REAL leather or more of a vinyl/synthetic type of material?

Only the real high end cars have "real" leather these days. The CX-5 leather is a type bonded leather like most other leather in cars. ie Vinyl on top of leather for durability.

Only time will tell if this material will last. It does look "durable" on the suface though soiling easily if you have the white colour.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

+1 for Lexol.....I also use Zaino's Leather In A Bottle as a conditioner - besides softening and protecting from UV rays, has the fragrant aroma of leather.

http://www.zainostore.com/product/Z-10.html

I've used the Lexol cleaner & conditioner wipes for years. I may have try that Zaino as well.

 

[SayNoToPistons]

They're fine as long as you clean and condition/protect regularly. 35k miles and nearly 3 years on my CX-5 with Sand Leather. Still no cracks or fades, and very little wrinkles (if any). They look practically new.

 

[littlebear]

Zaino does make some awesome car protection products. I always use the Z5 car wax. It's synthetic polymers with no carnuba wax.

 

[Unobtanium]

Most of the interiors are black leather. I really like the look of the white parchment interior but I am worried about its long term upkeep and wear. I assume the almond is harder to keep clean since it's off-white and will it color fade with time?

Anyone with the parchment interior please chime in.

I used to work for Ford. Saw some higher mileage stuff. My Grand Jeep Cherokee was beige/linen interior, as well. IMO, Black is the way to go, but the lighter colors also aren't the great satan that one might think, either. My advice is to buy what you want, it's not THAT big of a deal, IMO/IME

Most leather is fake crap now days except for Porsche, Ferrari, and a few others. It's just thin leather stripping faced onto cloth seats. I am rather certain the Mazda is as such. As such, I never condition "leather". I just clean with microfiber damped with water. My 1995 Trans Am was sold by me in 2004-ish and the "leather" was fine. My 2001 Trans Am, in 2010, and it's "leather" was fine, too. I for one don't buy into armor-all or leather-conditioning or any other such interior products.

 

[SayNoToPistons]

I agree that conditioning for automotive leather will not make much of a difference. Automotive leather is urethane coated so the conditioner being high viscosity won't saturate the leather beneath the coating.

However, the leather (or coating I should say) needs to be frequently cleaned and protected. UV will damage the coating and dry the leather beneath. Dirt is also abrasive and acidic, which eats away the coating. Having a protectant will form a barrier against such elements. Frequent light cleaning with water and a light leather safe solution will actually benefit the leather by hydrating it. I mentioned "conditioned/protected" before as most automotive leather "conditioners" are actually protectants.

Take note that the sides and back of the seat (all parts that do not contact the body) are vinyl. These need to be cleaned and protected. A bit of care goes a long way. The leather and plastics of all my cars have gone through such TLC and still looked and feel practically new. I've had no plastic or leather cracking, but many others have for my previous cars and RX-8. None of my cars are garaged.

 

[minnesotaart]

Almond is tan/beige color

Almond was used up to and including 2015 models

SAND is for CLOTH

ALMOND / PARCHMENT is for LEATHER

Going to have to disagree, at least for my 2014 GT

 

[yrwei52]

For sake of clarity, as used by Mazda in the US,
When referring to Leather interiors:
Almond is tan/beige color
Parchment is near vanilla/antique white
Almond was used up to and including 2015 models
Parchment is new for 2016 models

It's called Sand interior color on and before MY 2015 and on MY 2016's Sport and Touring cloth interior. Parchment is new for MY 2016 but only in GT trim with leather interior.

SAND is for CLOTH
ALMOND / PARCHMENT is for LEATHER

Yeah, my bad. You're absolutely right!

Almond is tan/beige color
Almond was used up to and including 2015 models

SAND is for CLOTH
ALMOND / PARCHMENT is for LEATHER

Going to have to disagree, at least for my 2014 GT

For sake of clarity, I went back to double check all 2013~2015 CX-5 new car brochures and found it's called Sand all along even on GT with leather interior!

minnesotaart is correct! And I thought my memory was fading away but sorry mazdadude now I have to take my apology back!

 

[mazdadude]

For sake of clarity, I went back to double check all 2013~2015 CX-5 new car brochures and found it's called Sand all along even on GT with leather interior!

minnesotaart is correct! And I thought my memory was fading away but sorry mazdadude now I have to take my apology back!

I cannot argue with that! (cheers2)

So where then did the ALMOND come from?? (wink)

I recall seeing ALMOND when referring to the Leather in the 2014 and 2015 Mazda3 and Mazda6.
Maybe they used SAND for the SUV's?