AUTO TRADER REVEAL TOP HEAT INNOVATIONS TO STAY COSY ON THE ROAD THIS WINTER AS SEARCHES FOR CAR HEATING FEATURES INCREASE

It's been predicted that Arctic air is set to head our way from Sunday, and the Met Office has warned it's going to get chilly with some areas even seeing snow and frost. As a result, some Brits are on the search for solutions to stay warm in their cars.

Auto Trader, the UK's largest automotive platform, 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 (104% increase)

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 (25%) since September 2024.

Auto Trader has compiled a list of some of the best cars available to help people feel more comfortable whilst driving this winter - from driving an early morning commute to a food shop trip or school run, Auto Trader has you covered to make your journey more bearable before you have to brave the chill outside.

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.

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.

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.

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.

For more tips on the best cars for winter weather, please visit here .

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