Some climates are simply too hot to be curbed by a standard air condition feature. Car seats can quickly become uncomfortable when drenched in sweat. Luckily, most modern SUVs come equipped with either cooled or ventilated seats.
Looking for an SUV with cooled seats? Read on as we highlight the top SUVs with cooled seats and other luxury features.
Most modern cars in 2022 come with a cooled seat feature. Although once thought of as a luxury (having first been introduced in 1998 in the Saab 9-5 – an executive car), almost all premium brands right down to the more affordable feature cooled seats. This includes cars by Ford, Kia, Nissan, Toyota, and Audi.
Some of these cars even feature both heated and cooled seats. The number of cooled seats depends on the specific car model; for example, some cars may not feature cooled rear seats. is
If your current vehicle does not feature cooled seats, it is possible to get them as an upgrade on most car models.
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Top 10 SUVs With Cooled Seats
In no particular order, here are the top 10 SUVs with cooled seats in 2022:
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a highly versatile SUV with a number of high-tech safety and comfort features, including cooled seats. With strong fans, the Ford Explorer blows cold air through its perforated leather upholstery. Given how much the Ford Explorer is used for long-distance traveling, this feature is a huge plus.
Cost: Starting from $34,000
Range Rover Sport
On top of added adjustability, a heated steering wheel, and comfortable leather upholstery, this luxury vehicle comes with both cooled and heated seats in both the front and rear. The Range Rover Sport delivers the utmost in cool elegance.
Cost: Starting from $71,000
Hyundai Tucson
The Hyundai Tucson makes it easy for drivers to switch between the heated and cooling features. With a simple press of a button, Hyundai Tucson owners can switch on the cooling system, which channels cool air through the premium leather-trimmed seats.
A huge benefit of the Tuscon is that it is a plug-in hybrid, meaning you can drive up to is 28 miles with it on pure electricity. If you’re looking to make the switch to an electric vehicle that features air-cooled seats, consider the latest Hyundai Tucson.
Cost: Starting from $25,000
Range Rover Velar
The Range Rover Velar features heated and cooled front seats. Interestingly, despite it being o isne of the most premium SUVs on the market, it does not feature cooled rear seats. Instead, the car features outer rear heated seats.
Cost: Starting from $58,000
Ford Edge
The 2021 edition of the Ford Edge ensures that comfort is easily attained with cooled front seats, which also have heated features. Older models of the Ford Edge only feature ventilated front seats. The Ford Edge comes designed with perforated leather seats, ensuring that the cooling feature functions to the utmost.
Cost: Starting from $37,000
Nissan Armada
If you’re looking for a full-sized SUV with cooling seats, then look no further than the Nissan Armada. As 0f 2021, the Armada was the only full-sized SUV with seat cooling capabilities, with enough seats for eight people. However, the front two seats are the only two that are properly cooled. Instead, it features ventilated rear seats.
Cost: Starting from $49,000
Honda HR-V
One of the most reliable SUVs currently on the market the Honda HR-V feature are the cooled seats. This is an upgrade from previous Honda models, which only feature ventilated seats. In addition to this, the Honda HR-V also features seat heating capabilities and comes with maximum legroom, ensuring maximum comfort on hot days.
Cost: Starting from $22,000
Honda Pilot
The Pilot is another SUV from Honda featuring seat cooling, with a climate control dial allowing you to set temperatures for each seat exactly. If you’re looking for a Honda with the temperature controls of the HR-V but on a smaller scale, the mid-sized Honda Pilot could be what you’re looking for.
Cost: Starting from $33,000
Mazda CX-9
Another mid-sized SUV with cooling seats is the Mazda CX-9. The Nappa leather-trimmed seats ensure that the seats are as comfortable as possible, while the cooling system ensures that sweat is removed on extra warm days. All six seats in the Mazda CX-9 benefit from the car’s climate control function, ensuring the vehicle is totally ready to take on the summer heat.
The car also arrives with a number of other luxurious features, such as pollen filtration in the air conditioner.
Cost: Starting from $35,000
Subaru Ascent
The Subaru Ascent is built for the outdoors being fitted with the latest in seat cooling technology. There are three separate Subaru models that feature top-range seat cooling systems: the Ascent, the Outback, and the Legacy. Interestingly, some of the other new Subaru models do not feature seat cooling, including the Forester.
The 2022 model of the Ascent has massively improved relative to earlier models. The 2019 Ascent, for example, featured ventilated seats, which were very ineffective when compared to the capabilities of the 2022 model.
Cost: Starting from $33,000
How Do Cooled Seats Work In A Car?
The specific way in which air-cooled seats work depends on the make and model of your car. Generally, cooled seats work by drawing in air from the outside and feeding it through a cooling system. This cooling system turns the normal air into refrigerated air.
This refrigerated air is then drawn in by multiple fans located below both the rear and front seats. These fans create a steady circulation of this cool air, which is distributed evenly through the fabric of the seat. The upholstery found on each seat is made of porous mesh, meaning that air can flow through the seat easily, cooling both the seat and the occupant sitting in it.
In most modern SUVs, you’ll be able to find temperature controls on the center console. This may be labeled as ‘climate control’ and the symbol for which tends to be a blue chair. From here, you can control the individual temperature of each seat – meaning you can choose only to have cooled rear seats or opt only to cool the front seats.
Ventilated Seats vs. Cooled Seats
Ventilated seats and cooled seats are two different types of air conditioning features that can be found in most contemporary cars – there are pros and cons of each seat cooling feature.
The main difference between these two air conditioning solutions is that cooled seats use refrigerated air, whereas ventilated seats don’t. Ventilated seats blow normal air directly through small holes found throughout the fabric of the seat. With cooled seats, the air first goes through a cooling system so that the air that comes out of the seat is refrigerated.
A classic example of an SUV that features ventilated seats would be the Jeep Grand Cherokee. In addition to ventilated seats, the Jeep Grand Cherokee also features heated seats.
Ventilated seats: pros and cons
The pros of ventilated seats include that they effectively remove sweat moisture, provide a cooling effect without requiring refrigeration energy, can reduce the overall temperature of your car, and are compatible with other car features such as cooled seats, power seats, and massage seats. Ventilated seats can also heat as well as cool.
However, ventilated seats do come with a number of cons. These limitations include that the fans used inside ventilated seats can be noisy at times, that they don’t have as strong a cooling effect as cooled seats, and that they can be rendered ineffective if you have a low-quality car ventilation system.
Cooled seats: pros and cons
Besides producing cooler air than ventilated seats, the pros of cooled seats include that they’re more efficient than ventilated seats as they can target areas more effectively. Other pros include the elimination of sweat stains and individual temperature controls on both the front and rear seats.
The cons of cooled seats are that they’re more high maintenance than ventilated seats, as the refrigerant needs to be recharged regularly. Plus, they require refrigerants in order to work and cannot warm your car during the winter (unless your car seats have a climate control feature, like the one found on most Nissan models, which does both) – unlike most ventilated seats.
Are Cooled Seats Worth It?
Cooled seats are worth it because they can help you save money on the maintenance costs of your car. As opposed to standard air conditioning, which works to cool your full car, cooled seats can target only the parts of your car that need to be cooled. This saves your car energy and makes cooled seats more efficient than standard AC.
Plus, who doesn’t want to be as comfortable as possible while driving? Cooled seats use refrigerated air, delivering a far more pleasurable temperature control than the likes of ventilated seats or standard air conditioning. They’re definitely worth considering, if only to improve the comfort of your driving.
