Should the Seat Be Adjusted to See the Hood?

[OSienna]

Seat should be adjusted to see the hood. Extended information is as follows: Manual transmission driving tips: 1. Do not frequently press the clutch: Habitually pressing the clutch is not only bad for the machine but also affects driving safety. When starting, slowly release the clutch, and the clutch should be completely released when the vehicle is moving. 2. Do not blindly pursue high gears: Driving does not require pursuing high gears. Each gear has its own function. First gear for starting, second gear for turning around, third gear for cornering. 3. Gear shifting: Generally, when driving in the city, keep the engine speed at around 2000 rpm. This can fully utilize good power and achieve an economical fuel consumption driving mode.

[VanLucas]

I don't think adjusting the seat necessarily requires seeing the hood. After driving for over a decade, I've found that the most important thing is a comfortable and safe seating position. Adjust the seat so your feet can naturally and firmly press the pedals with knees slightly bent and not touching the steering wheel. When holding the wheel, keep your elbows slightly bent, and the backrest angle should support your spine to prevent back pain during long drives. As for the hood, many sedan designs simply don't allow full visibility. Over-pursuing hood visibility often leads to raising the seat too high, which can actually obstruct your view. Using side markers and backup cameras to judge position is the real key – with time, you'll naturally develop a sense of distance.

[SanMadelyn]

As someone who frequently drives long distances, I prioritize body comfort over seeing the front of the car when adjusting the seat. First, sit all the way back in the seat with your hips fully supported. Then, adjust the backrest to a position that provides complete support for your lower back. Next, extend your arms to set the distance: when your wrists rest on the top of the steering wheel, your shoulder blades should still be in contact with the seat back. After this adjustment, you may barely see the edge of the hood but won't see the front of the car at all. In practice, relying on lane markings and side mirrors for positioning is more accurate. Most importantly, your feet should comfortably reach the brake pedal without strain, and you should be able to drive continuously for three hours without fatigue—that's the correct seating position.

[JudeLynn]

The key to this question depends on the type of vehicle. When driving an SUV, raising the seat higher does allow you to see part of the hood, but it's completely different in a sports car. My advice for beginners is to adjust the seat as follows: first, sit upright with the seatback more vertical, ensuring your feet can fully depress the brake pedal while keeping a slight bend in the knees, and leave at least a fist's width of space between your head and the roof. As for seeing the hood, you can use the wiper nodes as reference points to judge the car's position, which is better than straining to raise the seat and compromising control. After all, blind spots at the front can be compensated for with mirrors and parking sensors.

[MilesDella]

Every time I teach friends how to adjust their seats, I emphasize three key points: when the foot fully presses the brake pedal, the thighs should not be suspended; when holding the steering wheel at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions, the elbows should form a 120-degree angle; and there should be a three-finger distance between the back of the head and the headrest. After meeting these conditions, how much of the car's hood is visible is left to chance. In fact, visibility of the car's hood depends on the curvature of the engine cover, with Japanese cars generally offering better visibility than German cars. If you really need a reference, remember the position where the ridge line of the engine cover aligns with an obstacle. Adjusting the seat too high can obstruct your view and increase the area of fogging on the windshield during rainy days.