• Deep bucket seats are common in sporty cars.nissan 300zx interior image by MichMac from Fotolia.com
  
  From among all the things drivers look at when selecting a car, one of the most important parts that may go overlooked is the driver's seat. A driver's comfort and safety depend largely on the seat, and different seats are best for certain types of cars. Selecting the best seat requires more than just a first impression from a test drive.
  
  

Bench Seats

• Bench seats are drivers seats that extend into the vehicle and connect to the front passenger's seat, forming a long bench that runs the width of the car. Bench seats usually have thick cushions and plush folding armrests. Some bench seats are wide enough to accommodate a third passenger in the front seat. Bench seats are ideal for luxury cars, where comfort is a priority for drivers.
  
  Bench seats may be upholstered in any material, though cloth and leather are most common. Split bench seats allow the driver and passenger to control their seat adjustments independently, selecting the right angle, height and pitch for maximum visibility or comfort. Most feature a manual reclining lever and manual or motorized controls for other adjustments. Some bench seats even have inflatable lumbar pillows and include heating elements for a warm seat when in cold weather.
  
  

Bucket Seats

• Bucket seats are among the most common types of drivers seats. They include a scooped base and a tall back. Bucket seats are installed and move independently of other seats, giving them a greater range of motion that adjustable bench seats. Some bucket seats have manual control levers for reclining and moving forward and back, while others use multi-point adjustments for motorized control.
  
  Bucket seats are most common in sports cars and small coupes. Some SUVs and minivans even use bucket seats for rear passengers. For vehicles with a manual transmission and floor-mounted shifter, the driver's seat must be a bucket seat to leave space for the shifter between the driver and passenger.
  
  

Racing Seats

• Racing seats resemble bucket seats, only with a much deeper base and additional equipment. One way to identify a racing seat is by the bolsters, which are wide elements on the sides of racing seats that hold the driver in place during sharp turns. Wide bolsters make the seat more difficult to get in and out of, but help secure the driver during racing. Racing seats also include a series of openings for installing a five-point seat belt, which crosses over the driver's torso and attaches between the legs for greater security.