Storm Bert is on its way this weekend to cap off an utterly freezing week in the UK. As a smattering of towns have enjoy their first glimpse of snow this winter, Brits have been clambering into their icy cold vehicles hoping the chill swiftly subsides.
For many Brits, their motor’s heating capabilities are falling short and are carrying out their morning commute and school run not feeling particularly toasty at all.
Auto Trader has seen searches for key heating features in cars increase ahead of winter, including heated seats increase by 20% since September this year as well as doubling year on year in October.
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It’s not just warm bums that they’re looking for, drivers are also on the hunt for a heated steering wheel to keep their hands toasty in the driver’s seat, with Auto Trader seeing searches rise by 78% year on year and by a quarter since September 2024.
(Image: Alex Tapley – actcreative)
Auto Trader’s Editorial Director, Erin Baker said: “There’s nothing worse than getting into your car in the winter and feeling cold immediately. It can totally change the enjoyment of your journey and the efficiency of your driving.
The UK’s largest automotive platform has compiled a list of some of the best cars available to help people feel more comfortable while driving this winter.
For heated seats
- BMW X7 – with heated seats available on all 7 seats of the car, you won’t have any back-seat drivers complaining about the cold.
- Suzuki Swift – as a standard feature, heated seats are available for the driver and front seat passenger.
(Image: @actcreative)
For a heated steering wheel
- Mercedes-Benz SL – not only does this car feature a heated steering wheel, heated seats and heated front armrest but also AIRSCARF neck-level heating – this system blows warm air from the headrests to create a virtual scarf around your neck for ultimate warmth on your car journeys.
- Land Rover Range Rover – multiple Range Rover models come with both heated steering wheels and seats, from a Range Rover Sport to Velar there are plenty of options to keep you toasty if you’re after this particular car brand. At the top of the tree the optional Executive Class Comfort-Plus rear seats on the Range Rover include Hot Stone Massage plus heating for the armrests and for your heels and calves when stretched out in the reclined position for the ultimate in first class luxury.
For heated cup holders
- BMW X7 – in addition to heated seats, heated cup holders in the impressive X7 mean you won’t need to worry about your coffee going cold on the drive to school.
Going electric
For those who needed an extra reason to consider purchasing an electric vehicle this year, most modern vehicles have a ‘preconditioning’ feature which allows you to set the car to warm up while it’s still plugged in. In some models, you can do this remotely via a compatible phone app or even a timer so that it’s the perfect cosy temperature before you even have to get in the car – this also means you are not using up the car’s battery to heat it.
(Image: Mark Fagelson Photography)
Auto Trader’s top picks for the electric vehicle preconditioning features:
- Volkswagen ID.4 – choose either a pre-conditioning heating option in the cabin of the vehicle or remotely via the ‘Volkswagen Car-Net’ mobile app – both available whilst connected to the charger.
- BMW i4 – simply set a departure time via the ‘My BMW’ app to pre-heat your vehicle for a comfortable winter drive.
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 – use the Bluelink app’s remote climate controls to pre-heat and schedule in a specific time to feel warm as soon as you set off in your vehicle.
(Image: Mark Fagelson Photography)
Erin Baker added: “While for a long time there was only so much you could do about this, the rise in vehicle innovations designed to directly reduce this issue has grown significantly in recent years making these added value features a big consideration for many drivers. With electric vehicles especially proficient in this area, for some drivers it is even proving to be a key factor in choosing this style of vehicle over a traditional petrol or diesel vehicle.”