Mulan vs Napa Leather
 

It is easy to find info on the web about Napa leather (3LT) but nothing about Mulan leather (1LT, 2LT). I've seen the question asked on this forum several times, but not recently and never clearly answered. On previous threads, there has been speculation about Mulan, i.e., it may be bonded, etc., but nothing definitive. So, what is Mulan leather?

On digital page 9 of the 2015 brochure, it says the 3LT seats have "Grade A Napa leather...." On digital page 27, it says it has "Napa leather seat inserts." What are seat inserts? Is it just the center perforated part or the whole seat surface including the side & thigh bolsters?

It is a good question and I tried to get an answer to it myself in the past. My current understanding is that the Nappa leather is on the inserts and on the dash, still not sure of the sides of seats, etc.

It's like the old Chysler commerical for "Corinthian" leather. Mulan is Corinthian type leather.

Actually I do believe the Mulan leather is what is called semi-aniline leather.

Eagle Ottawa is located in Wisconsin and is the largest seller of premium leather products to the automotive industry.

Check them out.....

http://www.eagleottawa.com/

I always see 3LT seating called nappa leather seating surfaces. I'm pretty sure only the perforated portions are different. And that's only the GT seat. I don't think comp seats can be had in nappa leather at all. All the more reason that 3LT cost makes no sense to me at all.

When I was shopping BMW's, their base leather was called "Dakota" leather. Their higher grade leather was "Napa" (several thousand dollars extra). There was quite a difference in feel between the two. Their highest grade of leather was "Merino" & was only offered on 6 & 7 series models.

I thought I saw way back when the C7 was first introduced that "mulan" might actually be/is similar to what is known as bonded leather. Don't hold me to that because it/I could be wrong. But bonded leather is barely leather at all if you look up the definition. And the mulan leather does look like real leather.

Mulan leather is the equivalent of SPAM. They grind up leather scraps and reform it into "leather". It is a bonded leather. Bonded leather is made by shredding leather scraps and leather fiber, then mixing it with bonding materials. The mixture is next extruded onto a fiber cloth, or paper backing, and the surface is usually embossed with a leather-like texture or grain. Color and patterning, if any, are a surface treatment that does not penetrate like a dyeing process would. The natural leather fiber content of bonded leather varies. The manufacturing process is somewhat similar to the production of paper. (from Wiki)

I really like Spam, so I went with the 2LT. :D So, is the Napa leather only on the seating areas or throughout the dash/doors/seats?

The brochure, while not clear on whether the whole seat surface, or just the inserts are Napa, makes no claim that the dash/doors/console are Napa. My guess is the whole seat surface is Napa, but that's all.

I looked at a black 2LT next to a black 3LT in the showroom. Going back & forth, I couldn't tell the difference in either how the seat surfaces looked or felt. The salesman said you can feel the difference after sitting in them for hours. Sounds like a dubious claim, but I don't know.

When you break out the other items included with the 3LT over the 2LT, you are paying about $3000 for the Napa leather on the seats and adding (Mulan?) leather to the dashboard, console & doors instead of the 2LT's Naugahyde or similar material.

Also Curious!!!!
 

:lurk: Would like a definitive answer myself!!

dpb

I have a 2014 Corvette brochure I got when I bought my car. In the back of the brochure, under Corvette Stingray 3LT, it lists, Napa leather inserts. That implies that the rest of the leather is bonded.

I agree with that interpretation but earlier in the brochure, it implies the whole seat surface is Napa. If it is just the insert and you substitute the microfiber insert, does that mean there's no Napa in the 3LT at all?

Upon close inspection of my 3LT interior, it appears to me that all leather surfaces are covered with the same grade leather. At least, the surfaces look the same upon close examination, with each surface having the same soft feel, smooth surface, and color.

The question of what is "Mulan" and what is "Nappa" leather has plagued this forum for quite some time. I don't know if will ever be fully resolved without input from the GM interior designers who seem to have remained intentionally vague.

I do notice that Cadillac advertises their Nappa leather as semi-aniline which sheds some light on the matter as semi-aniline is a standard leather industry term. Furthermore, some research indicates that the term "Nappa" or "Napa" leather has been used since the late 1800's to denote a leather with a smooth, soft feel.

"Mulan" leather however seems to be a marketing term coined to conceal the exact nature of the material. My inspection of 2LT interiors shows the Mulan material to be stiffer than the Nappa and having a heavier embossed texture. Is it indistinguishable from Nappa? No, it is clearly different both in appearance and feel.

Is Nappa worth the price increase over Mulan? This is a question that is endlessly debatable which is the reason the topic arises so frequently in the forum. It is guaranteed to keep the forum hit level high. Each person who entertains buying a Corvette has their own personal value system which applied to the question at hand will yield the proper answer for that specific individual. Don't expect this forum to meaningfully answer the question for you.

It could be that if you substitute the "microfiber insert" in a 3LT, the only thing left that's leather or has leather on it is the steering wheel! :D And the "bonded leather" Mulan.....

Of course, "microfiber" is the former "ultrasuede" now also called "alcantara" in some places and we do know that ultrasuede was never "suede" as in skin from a cow. So, it's microfiber is not leather, either. :cheers:

I have been told from a reliable source that only the seating portion is leather. This applies to mulan and nappa. The seating portion is the center piece that your butt touches. The side bolsters and other areas is mulan. It is also worth noting that all mulan and nappa leather is coated. It is a waste of money to think you can condition your seats because the chemical never gets past the coating. Prove this yourself by droping some water droplets on your seats. The water will bead and still be there the next day.

I have a 3LT Kalahari and I can for sure say that the dash and doors are different looking than any of the 2LTs I've seen. Much smoother leather surface, almost no texture as opposed to the heavy texture on the 2LTs. Seats have the same lack of texture so either they went out of their way to match the look on all surfaces or it is the same "Nappa" leather throughout.

:iagree:

Hey Guys, when I took delivery of my 2015 Corvette at the museum I specifically ask my guide on the plant tour if their was a difference between the leather of the LT2 option and the LT3 option. His answer was ... NO. I had chosen the LT2 on advice of my salesman. It made me feel better. I hope his response was accurate.

My guide on the factory tour in September 2014 knew some stuff but was absolutely spewing BS much of the time. Fact.

Mulan:

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/i...TBSbA99rO6GbgH

Napa:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-T...k-no/photo.jpg