Have you ever taken the time to properly inspect the bottom of your vehicle’s floor mat? If the floor mat had arrived with the standard equipment, then there is the possibility that it may become worn and torn very easily. The usual material of the floor mat that comes from the factory has a layer which is not very thick and is attached to a polymer which does not allow water to flow through.

One wearing high heels can easily cause the upper layer of the mat to tear away. In winter, dirty slush can easily get into the car and it will not prove easy to make it look clean and presentable once again, even with the use of a carpet cleaner – as the stains may not come off easily without the risk of destroying the floor mat.

The difference between floor mats and floor liners

One way to understand how a floor mat differs from a liner is to view this as the carpet which is present within your home. While the former is meant to be used in sections, floor liners act as overlays from one end to the other. Both come with small grooves as well as flexible spikes that help trap dirt as well to give a better grip. Usually, floor liners come in polymer material while floor mats come in rubber or polymer material. Floor mats come in synthetic rubber, aluminum as well as rubber, whereas floor liners come in various different textures. Typically, floor liners are made of vinyl/polymer and cover more surface area than floor mats. Floor liners have various grooves and ridges as well as ones that come with the material of a tire. Some floor liners also come with elevations in some places to make leg space more comfortable.

Fitting – Custom or universal?

In most cases, floor liners are available in custom-made ways for specific vehicles. On the other hand, floor mats come as universal fits as long as details of the vehicle are not asked. If the vehicle details are required, then it is usually semi-custom fit. Quite often, floor mats are larger than required and thus the excess is cut off by the users. The advantage of custom fitting is that it gets placed in perfectly, giving the right slots for the brakes and gas pedals without any issues.

Smooth surfaces

Some users may require smooth textures as they may be most suitable to their needs. Polymer-based floor mats are very flexible and the smooth texture makes it easier to clean and the textures give a good grip as well. You can even find clear material which allows the good looks of your factory carpet to show, without it getting worn out easily. They also come with robust spikes at the bottom, preventing them from heavy wear and tear.

Personal preference

At the end of the day, your personal preference is what that matters. There is no clear answer as to which is truly better – floor mats or floor liners. Overall wear and tear of the vehicle’s interior, climate, type of passengers in the vehicle, all act as important factors that determine which is more suitable to your specific needs. If you generally travel with more passengers or if the climate is more snowy or muddy, then a liner would be the ideal choice for you.
However, mats also seem to do an adequate job of protecting the carpet. In fact, floor mats are a cheaper alternative to floor liners and are useful when you have a leased car. Thus, you can protect the carpet of the leased car without additional charges by investing in a floor mat. Having said that, make the right choice so as to maximize interior protection when leasing a car, regardless of whether your choice is to invest in a floor mat or a floor liner.