There’s probably a long German word for the sheer joy of getting into a hot shower when you’re cold to the bone.
Heated seats give you that same snug feeling while you’re out and about. Once you’ve had a car with heated seats, you might never want to have a car without them again!
Heated front seats used to be reserved for expensive cars, but now most cars offer them on certain trim levels. Even a mid-spec Hyundai i10 city car has both heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Mmmmm. You’ll find that most of the cars we’ve listed only have heated front seats – heated rear seats are still quite rare…
Cheap cars with heated front seats
- Kia Sportage
- Skoda Karoq
- Vauxhall Corsa
- Mazda 3
- Peugeot 2008
- Ford Kuga
- Audi A3
- Mercedes CLA
- Hyundai Kona Electric
- BMW 4 Series Convertible
Kia Sportage
…although the first car on our list has heated outer rear seats. The Kia Sportage is an exception rather than a rule – many family SUVs don’t offer heated rear seats at all, or only on range-topping trim levels. But the Sportage lets you and your passengers warm your cheeks from the ‘2’ trim. That’s essentially the entry-level Sportage. The Sportage is a brilliant family SUV – it’s stuffed with equipment, has lots of rear-seat space and a reassuring seven-year warranty.
Shop used Kia Sportage cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Kia Sportage review
Skoda Karoq
Another of our favourite midsize SUVs is the Skoda Karoq. It’s relentlessly capable, regardless of whether you pick a basic car with a 1.0-litre petrol engine or a fully stocked 4x4 diesel. It’s fun to drive, too. You’ll need to look at higher-spec Karoqs for heated seats – they’re standard on SE L, Sportline, Edition and Scout trims, but optional elsewhere.
Shop used Skoda Karoq cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Skoda Karoq review
Vauxhall Corsa
The Corsa is the UK’s most popular car, perhaps because it offers heated seats. Well, probably more that it’s good to drive, well-equipped and stonking value. In brand-new Corsas you’ll need to stretch to the Ultimate spec for heated seats, but slightly older cars in one of the ‘Premium’ trims – SE Premium, SRi Premium and Elite Nav Premium – also come with bum warmers. In fact, the Corsa’s been offering heated seats in relatively low trim levels for over a decade so, whether your budget is £3,000 or £30,000, you can find a Corsa with this lovely bit of equipment.
Shop used Vauxhall Corsa cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Vauxhall Corsa review
Mazda 3
If you’re after a family hatchback that’ll make you smile again and again, it’s hard to look past the Mazda 3. For a start, it’s eye candy on your driveway, and it drives just as nicely as it looks. The Mazda 3 is designed to make you feel things – the interior is fantastically tactile, with expensive-feeling buttons that are really easy to use. It doesn’t even have a touchscreen. There’s a rotary dial to twiddle instead. And it’ll make you smile again when you can keep yourself warm on a cold commute, as all cars above the entry-level SE-L (now called Prime-Line) have heated seats.
Need a bit more space? Consider the Mazda CX-30 instead.
Shop used Mazda 3 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Mazda 3 review
Peugeot 2008
Few small SUVs have as many talents as the Peugeot 2008. It’s really spacious inside and has a higher-quality cabin than most rivals. Economical petrol and diesel engines, plus a 200-mile electric e-2008, mean there’s something to suit every type of driver. And equipment levels are really strong. You’ll need the high-spec GT and GT Premium cars for heated seats, but these trim levels also get a black roof, a 10-inch touchscreen and eye-catching tiger claw headlights.
Shop used Peugeot 2008 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Peugeot 2008 review
Ford Kuga
Not many midsize SUVs boast fun handling – with good reason, we’d argue – but the Ford Kuga offers a bit of sparkle for driving enthusiasts along with the family-friendly stuff. It has sliding rear seats and a bigger boot than the Focus it’s based on, plus an intuitive interior. Heated seats are fitted in the top half of the Kuga lineup, and we’d probably pick the ST-Line X trim if it was our money. Not only are the seats heated, but they’re also bolstered to keep you in place through fast bends and are partly trimmed in a soft suede-like fabric with sporty red stitching. Nice.
Shop used Ford Kuga cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Ford Kuga review
Audi A3
Of the four VW Group family hatches – the Volkswagen Golf, SEAT Leon, Skoda Octavia and Audi A3 – the Audi is the only one to keep physical climate controls and actual easy-to-hit buttons for the three-stage heated seats. It also helps that the A3 has the plushest cabin by far, and in terms of build quality it’s right at the top of the class. The A3 strikes a fine balance between comfort and sportiness, and feels at home on a country road or on a long motorway commute.
Shop used Audi A3 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Audi A3 review
Mercedes CLA
The CLA is fairly junior in Mercedes’ range, being heavily based on the Mercedes A-Class, but it still gets heated front seats and leather upholstery as standard. Oh, and a big touchscreen infotainment system that helps to make the CLA’s interior one of the most eye-catching on the market. Every new-shape CLA gets an automatic gearbox (remember that the shifter is behind the steering wheel) for easy, quiet cruising in style.
Shop used Mercedes CLA cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Mercedes CLA review
Hyundai Kona Electric
Efficiency is super important in an electric car because it affects how far you can go on a charge. Using heated seats instead of the car’s heating system is much more efficient, so your range won’t drop as fast. That’s particularly important in winter, as batteries don’t work at their best in cold conditions. The Kona Electric in Premium trim gets both heated seats and a heated steering wheel, while top-spec Ultimate also brings ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. Your backside has never had it so good.
Shop used Hyundai Kona cars for sale at Motorpoint
BMW 4 Series Convertible
If you follow the convertible way of life – no rain, no roof – then heated seats are a must-have in winter. You can enjoy the wind in your hair and the crisp winter air while still keeping your body warm. We’ve picked the BMW 4 Series Convertible for its slick driving experience, posh interior and genuine space for four people.
Shop used BMW 4 Series cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our BMW 4 Series review
Small cars with heated seats
- Vauxhall Corsa – Energy, Griffin, SE Premium, SRi Premium, Elite Nav Premium
- Hyundai i10 – Premium, N Line
- Skoda Citigo – Colour Edition, SE L
- Ford Fiesta – Titanium X, Vignale, ST-Line X
- Kia Rio – 3, GT-Line S
- Volkswagen Up – High Up, e-Up
- Renault Clio – Signature Nav, Esprit Alpine
- Renault 5 EV – Iconic Five
- Smart ForFour – Premium
- Kia Picanto – GT-Line S, X-Line S
- Mazda 2 – GT Sport, GT Sport Nav, Homura Aka
- Volkswagen Polo – Black Edition, United
- Mini hatchback – Level 2, Level 3
- Toyota Aygo X – Undercover
