covering it ... high density foam - good stuff. I don't know if they added that or if it comes standard, but while I'm sitting in the seat, I can only feel the intended lumbar support shape ... not a single bar or anything. Then again, I've only been using the seats to watch TV and movies since I got them ... you know, furniture. :) I'll be able to give a more accurate critique after a couple 10 hour trips home and back. My girlfriend watched two DVDs back-to-back while I was out at work. Sje sat in the seats the whole time ... she thought they were better than the OEM seats. Then again, my OEM seats were rock hard to start with. I'll report more on this once I get them installed and get to jam my back into them for a few hours. :) You're right though - the back area is held in place on the sides with long velcro strips, so adding more padding would be very easy.