2015 EVO X Recaro Swap — What You Need to Know Before Buying a 2015 Model
I was actually comfortable with the stock Lancer seats in my 2015 MR Touring. They sit higher, have better visibility, and are good for daily driving. The problem was the synthetic leather on mine had been badly sun-damaged—it became hard, cracked, and started flaking. That pushed me to look for OEM Recaros.
Finding a clean set is harder than it sounds, especially if you want heated Recaros. Several older posts helped me transfer the rails, sensors, and other components without triggering an SRS light, but I couldn't find much information on the heated-seat setup.
If your 2015 already has heated seats and you want to keep them, check underneath the Recaro before buying. Look for the heater label and four electrical plugs, not three.
The Recaros sit noticeably lower and hold you tighter, almost like sitting in a 2-door sports car. I do miss the higher seating position and visibility of the Lancer seats, but the Recaros feel much more appropriate for the EVO and the suede/leather upholstery feels much better quality.
For anyone thinking about buying a 2015 EVO X (US Model), I also recommend looking at 2014 and older models. There isn't a huge difference between them, and the earlier cars already came with Recaros depending on the trim, which can save you the hassle and cost of swapping later. If you really want a 2015, though, the seat swap is completely doable.
It was a pain in the ass, but worth it. Hopefully this helps another 2015 owner—or someone deciding between a 2014 and 2015.