It’s all well and good having heated seats, but your hands deserve some heat too!
A heated steering wheel is easy to dismiss as a must-have but, trust us, once you’ve experienced one you’ll never want to go through a winter without one again.
So whether you’ve got poor circulation or just fancy the luxury, here are the best cars you can buy with a heated steering wheel.
Peugeot 408
The Peugeot 408 is a criminally underrated car. Its SUV ride height, eye-catching styling and high-tech interior means you should be seeing them here, there and everywhere. They’re not very common – so you can add ‘exclusivity’ to the list of reasons to buy one.
You’ll need the top-spec GT car for a heated steering wheel, which also includes an electric bootlid and part suede interior trim.
Shop used Peugeot 408 cars for sale or read our Peugeot 408 review
Kia Picanto
The Kia Picanto is one of the cheapest cars you can buy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have hot hands. Aim for a GT-Line S or X-Line S model to guarantee a heated wheel and heated front seats, although after the Picanto’s 2024 facelift the ‘3’ and Shadow trims also gain this ‘handy’ feature.
Need a bit more space? Every Kia is available with a heated steering wheel on top trim levels.
Shop used Kia Picanto cars for sale or read our Kia Picanto review
MG3 Hybrid
Another small car with a heated steering wheel is the brilliant MG3 Hybrid. It’s hard to believe the level of improvement between this new car and its predecessor – with a smart new interior and a hybrid engine that’s both quick and economical. Trophy trim is only about £2,000 more than the entry-level SE model, but adds a host of extras including keyless entry, blind-spot monitoring and, you guessed it, a heated steering wheel.
Read our MG3 Hybrid review
Renault Austral
Renault’s SUVs have stepped up a gear recently. The Austral is a fine family SUV with smart styling, the promise of 60mpg and a class-leading infotainment system with built-in Google mapping. Renault’s thrown the kitchen sink at the Austral’s equipment list – Matrix LED headlights, wireless phone charging and adaptive cruise control all come as standard.
A heated steering wheel is available on the Techno Esprit Alpine and Iconic Esprit Alpine trim levels.
Shop used Renault Austral cars for sale or read our Renault Austral review
Skoda Octavia
When the supremely sensible Skoda Octavia was facelifted in August 2024, the high-spec SE L trim gained a heated steering wheel as standard – before then, it was an optional extra. What’s more, the wheel heater has three heat stages and is accessed by a button right there in front of you on the wheel. Revolutionary.
Shop used Skoda Octavia cars for sale or read our Skoda Octavia review
Vauxhall Corsa
The Vauxhall Corsa is another small car that’s democratised the heated steering wheel. While there’s better value lower down the Corsa range, top-spec Ultimate trim level brings an astonishing list of ‘big car’ features – including a heated wheel and even a massaging seat! On slightly older cars, look for Elite (and all its variants), Energy, SE Premium or SRi Premium trim levels to get built-in hand-warmers.
Shop used Vauxhall Corsa cars for sale or read our Vauxhall Corsa review
Volvo XC60
King of the winter, the Volvo XC60 is a super-safe Scandi SUV that majors on comfort and quality. It gives all-weather security and reassurance, and keeps you nice and warm with a heated steering wheel that fires up quickly, heating all the way around the circumference. Look out for Momentum Pro, R-Design Pro, Inscription Pro, Plus and Ultimate versions of the XC60 for heated hands.
Shop used Volvo XC60 cars for sale or read our Volvo XC60 review
Volkswagen ID.3
In an electric car, you want to use heated seats and a heated steering wheel (if fitted) rather than the climate control system, because warming the person uses less energy than warming up the whole car. You use less of the car’s battery and range figure as a result.
So it’s good that the Volkswagen ID.3 comes with a heated steering wheel on most trim levels, including Life, Family, Style and Match. Even if you have to fiddle around with the screen to access the heating controls.
Shop used Volkswagen ID.3 cars for sale or read our Volkswagen ID.3 review
Tesla Model 3
Since late 2021, the Tesla Model 3 has had a heated steering wheel as standard. It’s accessed via the climate menu on the touchscreen – there are almost no physical buttons inside the Tesla’s cabin – and then you’ll see the heated steering wheel toggle.
Tesla makes electric driving easy. All Model 3s come with a strong range estimate and the ability to plug in to the brand’s seamless Supercharger network – which is fast and reliable.
Shop used Tesla Model 3 cars for sale
Nissan Qashqai
Nissan’s best-selling Qashqai is built in the northeast of England, where they know a thing or two about cold weather. Perhaps for this reason alone, high-spec Tekna and Tekna+ versions of the Qashqai come with a heated steering wheel. Perfect for warming up after being in the cold North Sea air.
The Qashqai is still a default choice, and now it’s more practical, more economical and more modern inside than ever before.
Shop used Nissan Qashqai cars for sale or read our Nissan Qashqai review
