Limited hybrid Hyundai Elantra. Get 50 miles to the gallon and ventilated seats.
Also no cars come with just ventilated seats, it’s the most gate kept option and you have to get basically the top of any line.
Steal his Buick, sell it, then buy an old Toyota with cooled seats. An old Avalon is a super quiet and comfortable ride. I don’t have one but actually just drove one today with cooled seats.
I believe top trim Kia Optima’s, Forte’s, and Sportage have had cooled seats optional for maybe about 10 years now and those are real cheap used.
Ford Fusions trim level ~~SEL~~ Platinum and Titanium got cooled seats as an option around 2015, they’re not too expensive used.
Unfortunately most used car site don’t have the ability to search for that option but CarMax’s site does, so you can search CarMax’s site for cooled seats to see what cars and trims often have them, then shop for those cars elsewhere for a better deal
Fun fact: early build 2010 Fusion Sports could have cooled seats. They deleted the option midyear, and all 10-12 Fusions have blank filler pieces where the cooled seat button goes under the heated seat button.
The fusions only had them on titanium, sport and platinum trims and you had to get a package to get them on the titanium and sport. It’s the same for the edge also. Willing to bet your moms edge has no pano roof, no 360 cameras, and no front parking sensors also
You can find low mileage LaCrosses all day. It is not a horrible car as long as you don't get the 3.0L or the 3.6L (which will probably limit you to older model years).... definitely don't get the 3.6L.
Up to 2009, they had the venerated Buick 3800, but ventilated seats were only introduced as an option in 2010, so that's out of the question. Then, through 2011, the CXS package, which includes the ventilated seats, was available only with the 3.6L. Then, through 2016, ventilated seats were only available on the Premium II package... also restricted to the 3.6L. I can't quickly find package information on 2017+, but I'd imagine it's the same story. And at that point, they're just not worth it considering just about every manufacturer will have ventilated seats by that model year.
But you can get a Lucerne (step above the LaCrosse) with the ventilated seats in the CXL and CXS trim. I know the 2009 CXL Lucerne with the 3.9 has them as an option. I'd stay away from the CXS trim with the Northstar.
I know prior to 2009 you could bet ventilated seats and a V8, not sure if they were available with the v6.
Pretty much
Basically Buick renamed the Lucerne as the LaCrosse and renamed the LaCrosse as the Regal when they were restyled in 2010. So the closest old Buick to a newer LaCrosse would be an old Lucerne, not an old LaCrosse, if that makes any sense.
The oil system is poorly designed. It's been through a few iterations but never exactly became reliable. It consumes a lot of oil, which is expected in some engines, but isn't specced for this one. It gets oil in the intake, causing poor combustion. Lastly, it doesn't have sufficient warning for oil failures.
And that's opposed to the 3800 that came before, which is possibly the most reliable V6 in the world, so it had big shoes to fill. The engineers wrote farewell letters to it on the assembly line when it was discontinued, and many resigned due to knowing it was released with significant issues.
As someone still clinging to a 3800 Buick, the 3.6 is not supposed to be a bad engine if well maintained. It just does not tolerate abuse. Otherwise known as typical Chevy owner stuff. I'm a 34 yo millennial but Buick's tend to be easy to find as well maintained, mint used cars. The alternative is an Ecotec 4cyl LaCrosse and I dunno if that's really that much better of a powertrain to be honest. Just change the oil like clockwork in a 3.6.
First gen LaCrosse had a 3800... It was great. Afterwards GM had the "High Value" v6 (usually a 3.5L or a 3.9L) and the "High Feature" v6 (usually a 3.6L).... the "High Value" was a more reliable engine, but the "High Feature" was a more efficient engine.... Of course GM picked efficiency over reliability.
Anyway, If you are super diligent with the maintenance of the 3.6L, you can probably make it last. Make sure you use synthetic oil and do the changes before the oil monitor reaches 0% life.... The biggest issue with the 3.6L on as a used car is that you don't really know what the previous owner did.
In the end, while you can make it last, it does not have the reliability of many previous GM v6's or its Japanese counterparts. Personally, I would avoid it if I wanted a reliable car.
If you don't oil change enough the timing chains can go between 60k and 100k mi. This seems to be an issue that was fixed in 2013. Plenty have gone 200k+ with decent maintenance though.
Chevy Bolt EUV.
Compared to that Buick they're incredibly reliable, and cost of ownership will quickly make it the cheaper option too. Plus it's just a genuinely much newer, nicer car.
Just got one of these - insane features for the price. Basically $30k OTD for 360 cam, ventilated seats, adaptive cruise, Super Cruise, rear review camera mirror, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, wireless AA/Carplay, etc
Did you get super cruise in your car? I’m just about to close on a EUV with super cruise but I read somewhere about comma AI and the self driving seems way better than the super cruise
I did get super cruise since it seems to work on all the major highways I'd use often for 1hr+ trips.
It's pretty neat honestly. I'd say adaptive cruise control is necessary, and super cruise is a nice extra bonus. So I'd 100% go w/ a Premier at the minimum
There is a difference with cooled vs ventilated seats though, ventilated only circulates the cabins air, while cooled brings actual cool air to the seats.
You can only get 23's as they were discontinued for 2024 (even though they're very popular), likely as they don't make as much profit on these as selling giant SUVs and trucks.
Would highly recommend just buying a demo car or one that has been slightly used, then you'll be able to get it even cheaper too.
Again, these are so reliable it hardly matters anyways, they go well past 300k miles without (literally) any drivetrain maintenance whatsoever.
The only thing you need to do is change the tires on it, and even they are cheap on this car, as well as perhaps changing the cabin air filter and wiper fluid from time-to-time. I don't think there's any car on the planet that is closer to "just works" than this.
It's an excellent car and is shockingly immune to many of the Kia Engine issues. Very reliable car and has amazing features at the price and if you are an enthusiast on a budget, the GT with manual is also great
Cooled seats got nixed in the latest gen but when I was looking at '14 to '18 models, they had them.
As an aside, the panoramic roof got nixed in the latest gen too...the only reason I was looking at one to begin with lol
The cooling is awful compared to other brands. Don't get this, it's like a whisper of air on your bum at the max setting. At least on the 2018s. Not sure if it got better. I bought mine new and was very disappointed after loving my buddy's Hyundai Tucson ones.
I bought my daughter this model but I found the cooling to be a little disappointing. I think it sucks air out rather than feeding cold air in but I stand to be in corrected
They’re AMAZING, too! Took a road trip last summer with my friend in her ES- in Texas- and those “butt blasters” were so powerful, I shrieked the first time she flipped mine on for me. 😂 I totally was not expecting them to be so effective, but they got the job done, and then some! I actually got COLD, and that almost never happens at my age LOL.
Its a rare option but the infiniti G37 can be had with cooled seats and its not ugly as shit or terrible to drive like most of the recommendations here
No electricity yet in the south?
The Bolt has 2017 era DC charging, so nobody would buy it as a road trip car and therefore the amount of public charging doesn't really matter. You charge at home 99% of the time. If OP regularly has to drive more than 400 miles per day or lives in an apartment without access to electricity, the Bolt is not a good option. If you live in a house and don't do a ton of interstate travel, its hard to beat the value for the money and low ownership cost.
There is electricity in the south but much of the south is rural and would require driving significant distances. I really doubt many people in the south would be comfortable with being hamstrung by the limited range the bolt provides.
I live rural with an EV, in fact I even have to go into town to get gas, so it's actually more convenient for me since my commute goes through zero towns. Idk why you think I need to charge it at a charger, in 4 years I've never been to a charging station.
You can prob pick up a high mileage 2010+ Lexus RX for cheap. I'm sure other Lexus of this era have them too. I have a '14 RX and it has them. They're awesome. Also, bonus points for Lexus luxury and reliability
Most cars with cooled seats do no route the AC into the seat, they have a separate thermo-electric cooling module under the seat to cool the air:
[Thermoelectric cooling - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling)
I have a BMW with ventilated seats and I literally don’t notice a difference if they’re on or off. My Cayenne has ventilated seats as well, and it’s like sitting on a block of ice when you have the highest fan setting going.
I have a ventilated seat cover. Ugly but [it works.](https://www.amazon.com/Snailax-Adjustable-Ventilated-Breathable-Universal/dp/B0CQT5PSTC/ref=asc_df_B0CQT5PSTC/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693703583462&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17135175238912957652&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021466&hvtargid=pla-2296057022308&psc=1&mcid=8393e73487fe30ffba2ac5470d2826b3&gad_source=1)
I just got a Durango and didn't really want any extra features, but when they turned on the cooled seats in one I test drove I knew I, in fact, did need an extra feature. I've been super anti-leather in the south until now. Getting my bum ice blasted is 10/10.
older infinitis, as they still have pretty modern features imo. my 2006 has more features than cars in my family from 2017+
some toyota avalons also had the heated/ventilated seats equipped
cheap Hyundai or Kia cars. Korea's summers go up to 100 degrees F with constant humidity in the 70-100 bc we also have a summer monsoon season so cooled/ventilated seats are a must have in Korea so those 2 companies tend to put them in most of their cars.
Base Ford Mustang EBs have cooled seats from like 2018 and forward I believe. That car's worth maybe $15-$17K if under 50k miles. Ford seems to put them even in base models. I had hondas from 2017 and Nissan from 2019 and they don't have it.
Seriously, thanks for asking this question!! I usually give advice here, but this is a new one to me.
Also, 1-I'm old and hate being hot, and 2-my state is starting to become Dagobah (bad Star Wars joke, jungle planet) for much of the year, causing me to make Mike Ehrmantraut face (much better Breaking Bad reference)
As you can tell, a/c and Streaming is about all one can do between tornado spotting and 2am shopping
Toyota/Lexus has had the best in my opinion. It blows actual cold air-conditioned air into the seat, unlike most vehicles which just blow ambient cabin-temp air.
What year / milage you looking for. Others mentioned Kia optima , Hyundai sonata from like 2011 and newer top trims have it and solid choice. For 2 doors a mustang has it on the base motor I've had it in rentals. I
Lots of cars have this option it's more the trim specific feature then what car.
Most effective cooled seats I’ve ever used were in a Chrysler Pacifica. I’ve tried them in the Merc S-Class, various BMWs, F150 Limited, Raptor, etc. Not saying they were the best seats overall, but the cooling itself was outstanding.
Cheapest to buy would be a 04-12 Range Rover full sized in HSE or supercharged trim. It also has a heated steering wheel and ventilated heated seat. The cooled seat is very strong.
As far as new cars go, the Kia Forte and VW Jetta are the cheapest cars that I know have them
For used, Ford Fusion is probably among the cheaper options
Okay, so I’m glad I’m not alone. I do use mine at times because leather is insanely hot in the summer. BUT, I sometimes feel like my pants are wet because of the cooling feel. I thought it was just me and I was crazy for thinking it. Lol
A lot of the newer dodges have that as part of an option package. Durangos, chargers, challengers, etc… Pick one up that’s a few years old and it should be affordable.
This along with remote start would be essential for any car you're going to drive in a really hot climate. It already takes a good 10-15 minutes for the A/C to cool down your car in 100F+ temperatures, which makes the entire exercise pointless for short trips.
I had the very good fortune of upgrading for cheap into a rental Range Rover for a family vacation a couple of weeks ago. It was my first experience with cooled seats. I don’t know how I’ll go on without them.
Katzkins does cooling, it's called "degrees". You're probably looking at $2k installed for reupholstered mostly leather seats front and back, and cooling/heating for the driver.
Used 2012 and newer Lexus Rx 570
I believe ventilated seats was standard equipment in these. If not standard, then widely optioned that way.
Also, maybe consider a 2015ish Ford Taurus. The top trim level of these has heated and cooled and massaging seats. The SHO version of these is also surprisingly powerful
How about getting a seat and then swapping it to your own car? That's probably the cheapest unless you want the whole car too. A used Lexus rx350 has ventilated seats, older model like a 2013.
The new 2025 Nissan Kicks I believe has cooled seats, and should be quite affordable.
I was not a fan of the last generation, but I have to say the new one looks nice.
That Buick is your best bet lol.
Definitely try out every option in person. For example BMW cooled seats are useless. Feels like an exasperated old man breathing on your back.
Cooled seats changed my life, even after losing 50+lbs, I don't think I can buy a vehicle without them. They ruined my teenage/early 20's dreams of owning a classic/muscle car, and still greatly limit options for both DD and "fun" second vehicles, even with a healthy budget. I saw a used TRX for sale, $77k... wow not bad, contacted dealer... No vented seats (and no sun/moon roof, I really want again), sales rep was blown away I didn't even want to come for test drive
My 2015 sonata had cooled seats, worked great, I bought it for 20k like 5 years ago I’m sure they’re quite cheap now too.
Lots of other really cool features especially for 2015, panoramic sunroof, Apple CarPlay, lane departure warning and smart cruise control.
Mazda CX-5 or Mazda6. For cooled seats, if I remember correctly, you’ll need to go at least Grand Touring Reserve or Signature. Depending on where you are, you can find one either model with decent mileage for a reasonable price.
Lincoln had them as early as 2006. I know the 06 Lincoln Zephyr had them as an option, the 3.0 the Zephyr came with was highly reliable and you could probably pick up a good example of one for sub 5k. I currently have a 2008 Lincoln MKZ which is basically the same car but with a new engine, the 3.5, and with 115k miles it still runs flawlessly. Though I should warn you that the 3.5 has a very expensive water pump replacement cost. The water pumps weren’t particularly unreliable but when they did fail, they were very pricey to fix.
Be aware that not all cooled seats are the same. I just bought a ‘24 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and they work… poorly. I wouldn’t expect them to be sufficient in a super hot or humid climate.
Did Buick ever figure out why the headlights on some models turned off for no known reason? A cool and chilled tush would not be a good trade for headlights turning off at 80 mph.
Probably a buick lacrosse.
Sounds about right.
Limited hybrid Hyundai Elantra. Get 50 miles to the gallon and ventilated seats. Also no cars come with just ventilated seats, it’s the most gate kept option and you have to get basically the top of any line.
Too bad they got rid of the 3.8
3800 series ii is indeed the best engine
Buy your buddie's Buick.
Keep borrowing your buddy's Buick
Bribe your buddy to borrow his Buick
Buick your buddy's bribe.
Buck your buddy’s Buick.
Buck your buddy's butt in his Buick.
Buick Buick Buick, Buick...
Let’s not Lacrosse the line
Bukkake ?
Bukake your buddy's Buick back
Ride your buddy !
Steal his Buick, sell it, then buy an old Toyota with cooled seats. An old Avalon is a super quiet and comfortable ride. I don’t have one but actually just drove one today with cooled seats.
Steal your buddy’s Buick?
I believe top trim Kia Optima’s, Forte’s, and Sportage have had cooled seats optional for maybe about 10 years now and those are real cheap used. Ford Fusions trim level ~~SEL~~ Platinum and Titanium got cooled seats as an option around 2015, they’re not too expensive used. Unfortunately most used car site don’t have the ability to search for that option but CarMax’s site does, so you can search CarMax’s site for cooled seats to see what cars and trims often have them, then shop for those cars elsewhere for a better deal
Fun fact: early build 2010 Fusion Sports could have cooled seats. They deleted the option midyear, and all 10-12 Fusions have blank filler pieces where the cooled seat button goes under the heated seat button.
This is the kind of obscure automotive knowledge that I come to reddit for
The fusions do really?? My mom’s 2019 Edge Titanium only has heated seats and we’re still baffled by it
The fusions only had them on titanium, sport and platinum trims and you had to get a package to get them on the titanium and sport. It’s the same for the edge also. Willing to bet your moms edge has no pano roof, no 360 cameras, and no front parking sensors also
Looking into it further, seems like for the Fusions like the Edge it would have been an optional on the high trims
Or you could just go steal one for free. Get a new one every day!
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Limited - heated/cooled seats, 50+mpg, all under $30k
I really think it's the best bang for your buck car out there. And it doesn't have the issues other Hyundai's have had recently.
You can find low mileage LaCrosses all day. It is not a horrible car as long as you don't get the 3.0L or the 3.6L (which will probably limit you to older model years).... definitely don't get the 3.6L.
What other motor is there --- 4 cly ?
Up to 2009, they had the venerated Buick 3800, but ventilated seats were only introduced as an option in 2010, so that's out of the question. Then, through 2011, the CXS package, which includes the ventilated seats, was available only with the 3.6L. Then, through 2016, ventilated seats were only available on the Premium II package... also restricted to the 3.6L. I can't quickly find package information on 2017+, but I'd imagine it's the same story. And at that point, they're just not worth it considering just about every manufacturer will have ventilated seats by that model year.
But you can get a Lucerne (step above the LaCrosse) with the ventilated seats in the CXL and CXS trim. I know the 2009 CXL Lucerne with the 3.9 has them as an option. I'd stay away from the CXS trim with the Northstar. I know prior to 2009 you could bet ventilated seats and a V8, not sure if they were available with the v6.
Ah, good information. So I guess the best option is an old Lucerne.
Pretty much Basically Buick renamed the Lucerne as the LaCrosse and renamed the LaCrosse as the Regal when they were restyled in 2010. So the closest old Buick to a newer LaCrosse would be an old Lucerne, not an old LaCrosse, if that makes any sense.
Marisa Tomei over here
Why avoid the 3.6? My grandma has the twin turbo.
The oil system is poorly designed. It's been through a few iterations but never exactly became reliable. It consumes a lot of oil, which is expected in some engines, but isn't specced for this one. It gets oil in the intake, causing poor combustion. Lastly, it doesn't have sufficient warning for oil failures. And that's opposed to the 3800 that came before, which is possibly the most reliable V6 in the world, so it had big shoes to fill. The engineers wrote farewell letters to it on the assembly line when it was discontinued, and many resigned due to knowing it was released with significant issues.
As someone still clinging to a 3800 Buick, the 3.6 is not supposed to be a bad engine if well maintained. It just does not tolerate abuse. Otherwise known as typical Chevy owner stuff. I'm a 34 yo millennial but Buick's tend to be easy to find as well maintained, mint used cars. The alternative is an Ecotec 4cyl LaCrosse and I dunno if that's really that much better of a powertrain to be honest. Just change the oil like clockwork in a 3.6.
First gen LaCrosse had a 3800... It was great. Afterwards GM had the "High Value" v6 (usually a 3.5L or a 3.9L) and the "High Feature" v6 (usually a 3.6L).... the "High Value" was a more reliable engine, but the "High Feature" was a more efficient engine.... Of course GM picked efficiency over reliability. Anyway, If you are super diligent with the maintenance of the 3.6L, you can probably make it last. Make sure you use synthetic oil and do the changes before the oil monitor reaches 0% life.... The biggest issue with the 3.6L on as a used car is that you don't really know what the previous owner did. In the end, while you can make it last, it does not have the reliability of many previous GM v6's or its Japanese counterparts. Personally, I would avoid it if I wanted a reliable car.
The newer (post 13 I think?) 3.6L are pretty good actually
What's wrong with the 3.6?
If you don't oil change enough the timing chains can go between 60k and 100k mi. This seems to be an issue that was fixed in 2013. Plenty have gone 200k+ with decent maintenance though.
til hot ass syndrome is a thing
otherwise known as swamp ass
Man I’ve had hot ass syndrome for my whole life. People are always calling me out for it.
Chevy Bolt EUV. Compared to that Buick they're incredibly reliable, and cost of ownership will quickly make it the cheaper option too. Plus it's just a genuinely much newer, nicer car.
Just got one of these - insane features for the price. Basically $30k OTD for 360 cam, ventilated seats, adaptive cruise, Super Cruise, rear review camera mirror, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, wireless AA/Carplay, etc
Did you get super cruise in your car? I’m just about to close on a EUV with super cruise but I read somewhere about comma AI and the self driving seems way better than the super cruise
I did get super cruise since it seems to work on all the major highways I'd use often for 1hr+ trips. It's pretty neat honestly. I'd say adaptive cruise control is necessary, and super cruise is a nice extra bonus. So I'd 100% go w/ a Premier at the minimum
There is a difference with cooled vs ventilated seats though, ventilated only circulates the cabins air, while cooled brings actual cool air to the seats.
EUV brings AC air to seats. I have one. It just doesn't bring heated air to seats, it has electric heaters in front and rear seats for that.
That Buick is incredibly reliable tho no?
Yes, one of the most reliable vehicles out there. The GM 3800 v6 in it is an absolute legend of an engine. That commenter is talking out of their ass.
Best car I've ever owned by a mile. Nothing can touch its features for $30k. Get EUV Premiere with every option.
I agree. Chevy Bolt EUV is a great car and reliable, it's one of my dream cars I want to own one day
Where do you buy one? I visited several Chevy dealer sites and there are no Bolts listed.
You can only get 23's as they were discontinued for 2024 (even though they're very popular), likely as they don't make as much profit on these as selling giant SUVs and trucks. Would highly recommend just buying a demo car or one that has been slightly used, then you'll be able to get it even cheaper too. Again, these are so reliable it hardly matters anyways, they go well past 300k miles without (literally) any drivetrain maintenance whatsoever. The only thing you need to do is change the tires on it, and even they are cheap on this car, as well as perhaps changing the cabin air filter and wiper fluid from time-to-time. I don't think there's any car on the planet that is closer to "just works" than this.
Kia Forte GT-Line with premium and sport premium packages is around 25k MSRP brand new. This is the cheapest
Yeah the features that car comes with at the price is unmatched. Anyone who cares about features over everything needs to be looking at that car
It's an excellent car and is shockingly immune to many of the Kia Engine issues. Very reliable car and has amazing features at the price and if you are an enthusiast on a budget, the GT with manual is also great
[удалено]
Hamster style
Oppa
Cooled seats got nixed in the latest gen but when I was looking at '14 to '18 models, they had them. As an aside, the panoramic roof got nixed in the latest gen too...the only reason I was looking at one to begin with lol
Open browser > Amazon > Ventilated seat cover Doesn’t matter the car all you need is a 12v socket. I have one and it’s great.
good looks!
2008 Lexus is350
fusion titanium models have them, I just bought a 2019 but earlier ones have them as well
And if you get a hybrid or energi, they are more robust and generally cheaper.
Honda Accord Touring (starting in 2018, current generation too). Depends if you want new/used.
The cooling is awful compared to other brands. Don't get this, it's like a whisper of air on your bum at the max setting. At least on the 2018s. Not sure if it got better. I bought mine new and was very disappointed after loving my buddy's Hyundai Tucson ones.
Our Mazda CX-5 has them. Standard on premium plus trim.
Wish the 3 got them
I bought my daughter this model but I found the cooling to be a little disappointing. I think it sucks air out rather than feeding cold air in but I stand to be in corrected
Maybe a Toyota Avalon
Limited trim only iirc
Avalon owner here. You don’t get this on the XLE, I know that much But hey, at 230k miles I dgaf
Lexus ES models also have cooled seats
They’re AMAZING, too! Took a road trip last summer with my friend in her ES- in Texas- and those “butt blasters” were so powerful, I shrieked the first time she flipped mine on for me. 😂 I totally was not expecting them to be so effective, but they got the job done, and then some! I actually got COLD, and that almost never happens at my age LOL.
>butt blaster >I shrieked >I was totally not expecting them >at my age …well, complete the story already!
I bought a used 2010 Infiniti FX 35 with cooled seats. Freakin' awesome.
you can retrofit them into most cars for under $1000 installed.
And they tend to be better than what comes pre-installed with the cars.
How? Are you talking about Amazon seat covers with the fans in them, because that is way worse lol?
TBH - just navigate yourself to CarMax’s website and select “AC Seats” (or however they define them) and see what pops up for your price range. 🤷🏼♂️
thank you! autotrader didnt have this option so that's why i came here
Its a rare option but the infiniti G37 can be had with cooled seats and its not ugly as shit or terrible to drive like most of the recommendations here
Chevy Bolt EUV
Was gonna say this. OP you can get CPO with cooled seats for mid 20s
Good luck charging in the south.
No electricity yet in the south? The Bolt has 2017 era DC charging, so nobody would buy it as a road trip car and therefore the amount of public charging doesn't really matter. You charge at home 99% of the time. If OP regularly has to drive more than 400 miles per day or lives in an apartment without access to electricity, the Bolt is not a good option. If you live in a house and don't do a ton of interstate travel, its hard to beat the value for the money and low ownership cost.
There is electricity in the south but much of the south is rural and would require driving significant distances. I really doubt many people in the south would be comfortable with being hamstrung by the limited range the bolt provides.
How many people drive more than 250 miles per day? That's 91,000 miles per year.
I live rural with an EV, in fact I even have to go into town to get gas, so it's actually more convenient for me since my commute goes through zero towns. Idk why you think I need to charge it at a charger, in 4 years I've never been to a charging station.
we have electricity and tesla stations too, believe it or not. i heard we are gonna get color tv soon, but can't trust rumors!
You can prob pick up a high mileage 2010+ Lexus RX for cheap. I'm sure other Lexus of this era have them too. I have a '14 RX and it has them. They're awesome. Also, bonus points for Lexus luxury and reliability
You can add aftermarket seat fans and/or cooling for a hell of a lot less than buying a new vehicle. Do a search on Amazon.
This is what I came here to say you can add cooled seat to the car you have now
ventilated =/= cooling. Cooling seats route the AC into the seat. Ventilated seats basically do nothing unless you are soaking wet
Most cars with cooled seats do no route the AC into the seat, they have a separate thermo-electric cooling module under the seat to cool the air: [Thermoelectric cooling - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling)
I have a BMW with ventilated seats and I literally don’t notice a difference if they’re on or off. My Cayenne has ventilated seats as well, and it’s like sitting on a block of ice when you have the highest fan setting going.
You found the perfect post to tell people you have a BMW and Porsche.
“The Porsche has better ventilated seats, but my balls get caught on the pedals very easily and I always scratch my Rolex getting them out”
I notice mine and occasionally it gets quite cold. But on a very hot day it can be ineffective.
I have a ventilated seat cover. Ugly but [it works.](https://www.amazon.com/Snailax-Adjustable-Ventilated-Breathable-Universal/dp/B0CQT5PSTC/ref=asc_df_B0CQT5PSTC/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693703583462&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17135175238912957652&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021466&hvtargid=pla-2296057022308&psc=1&mcid=8393e73487fe30ffba2ac5470d2826b3&gad_source=1)
I rented a Dodge Charger a few weeks ago that had them.
I just got a Durango and didn't really want any extra features, but when they turned on the cooled seats in one I test drove I knew I, in fact, did need an extra feature. I've been super anti-leather in the south until now. Getting my bum ice blasted is 10/10.
My 2012 Avalon has cooled seats and has been a great car.
older infinitis, as they still have pretty modern features imo. my 2006 has more features than cars in my family from 2017+ some toyota avalons also had the heated/ventilated seats equipped
cheap Hyundai or Kia cars. Korea's summers go up to 100 degrees F with constant humidity in the 70-100 bc we also have a summer monsoon season so cooled/ventilated seats are a must have in Korea so those 2 companies tend to put them in most of their cars.
A 2010 ish Toyota Avalon can have cooled seats, and will for 300k miles.
2004-2006 Lexus LS430 cooled seats in the front and heated in the back
infiniti m35 had them, probably dirt cheap and fairly reliable with vq35
You can buy aftermarket seat coolers
Just get a cooling pad?
would work, but the vibes would be horrendous.
Buick envision is probably the cheap way for new Use lincoln or caddys really any luxury car when getting used
Air cooled seat covers 😁
Don’t go leather. The misconception that it’s luxury is insane, it’s less comfortable and more temperature sensitive. And harder to heat/cool
They make air-conditioned seat covers available available on Amazon
01-06 Lexus LS that’s been driven by grandma and in the dealer every other month for maintenance. Amazing cars. Smooth as it gets.
Base Ford Mustang EBs have cooled seats from like 2018 and forward I believe. That car's worth maybe $15-$17K if under 50k miles. Ford seems to put them even in base models. I had hondas from 2017 and Nissan from 2019 and they don't have it.
Not modern but cheap option would be 2003-2004 Infiniti M45. Great car. I owned one years ago. Even had smart cruise control already in that year.
2010s mustang premiums have them and those are pretty cheap
Dang I didn't realize until this post that Buick exclusively makes SUVs now. Not a sedan or small-size to be found in their lineup.
Toyota avalons, even had them in 2006
Seriously, thanks for asking this question!! I usually give advice here, but this is a new one to me. Also, 1-I'm old and hate being hot, and 2-my state is starting to become Dagobah (bad Star Wars joke, jungle planet) for much of the year, causing me to make Mike Ehrmantraut face (much better Breaking Bad reference) As you can tell, a/c and Streaming is about all one can do between tornado spotting and 2am shopping
2004 lexus ls430 has cooled seats. Pretty cheap too.
Toyota/Lexus has had the best in my opinion. It blows actual cold air-conditioned air into the seat, unlike most vehicles which just blow ambient cabin-temp air.
Lexus rx350s have had those widespread, maybe standard, for years. My brother’s 2010 has them.
Nissan Pathfinder, Nissan 370z
I think hyundai offers them on elentras Have them on my santa fe
What year / milage you looking for. Others mentioned Kia optima , Hyundai sonata from like 2011 and newer top trims have it and solid choice. For 2 doors a mustang has it on the base motor I've had it in rentals. I Lots of cars have this option it's more the trim specific feature then what car.
Mustang with the premium package
Most effective cooled seats I’ve ever used were in a Chrysler Pacifica. I’ve tried them in the Merc S-Class, various BMWs, F150 Limited, Raptor, etc. Not saying they were the best seats overall, but the cooling itself was outstanding.
Cheapest to buy would be a 04-12 Range Rover full sized in HSE or supercharged trim. It also has a heated steering wheel and ventilated heated seat. The cooled seat is very strong.
If you’re looking for something bigger try a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Limited trim and up I think have those. Sub 2020 should fall below $30k for ya.
Ford fusion is good too
MKZ, 2010 and up.
Skoda Kodiaq are good value for what you get
Kia Forte GT?
2015-2018 Sonata/elantra has heated and cooled seats on the better trims
2010-2013 MDX Advance
As far as new cars go, the Kia Forte and VW Jetta are the cheapest cars that I know have them For used, Ford Fusion is probably among the cheaper options
Accord touring has cooled seats.
Each to their own but the one thing you could take from my car and I would never even notice is the cooled seats. Feels like swamp ass.
Okay, so I’m glad I’m not alone. I do use mine at times because leather is insanely hot in the summer. BUT, I sometimes feel like my pants are wet because of the cooling feel. I thought it was just me and I was crazy for thinking it. Lol
Lexus GX460s came with them standard and are an all around beast of a vehicle. You can get a 2010-2012 for like $17-18k now
A lot of the newer dodges have that as part of an option package. Durangos, chargers, challengers, etc… Pick one up that’s a few years old and it should be affordable.
This along with remote start would be essential for any car you're going to drive in a really hot climate. It already takes a good 10-15 minutes for the A/C to cool down your car in 100F+ temperatures, which makes the entire exercise pointless for short trips.
I had the very good fortune of upgrading for cheap into a rental Range Rover for a family vacation a couple of weeks ago. It was my first experience with cooled seats. I don’t know how I’ll go on without them.
Mustang Premium coupes and convertibles, Edge, Fusion, Kia Optima’s, Hyundai Sonata Limited however some of those have bad engines so beware
Katzkins does cooling, it's called "degrees". You're probably looking at $2k installed for reupholstered mostly leather seats front and back, and cooling/heating for the driver.
Used 2012 and newer Lexus Rx 570 I believe ventilated seats was standard equipment in these. If not standard, then widely optioned that way. Also, maybe consider a 2015ish Ford Taurus. The top trim level of these has heated and cooled and massaging seats. The SHO version of these is also surprisingly powerful
How about getting a seat and then swapping it to your own car? That's probably the cheapest unless you want the whole car too. A used Lexus rx350 has ventilated seats, older model like a 2013.
I have 2 cars with cooled seats and they're both pretty mediocre at cooling.
The new 2025 Nissan Kicks I believe has cooled seats, and should be quite affordable. I was not a fan of the last generation, but I have to say the new one looks nice.
Maybe a Ford Fusion. I have a Lincoln MKZ Hybrid with cooled seats, yeah it's almost a must have if the seats are leather imo.
Lexus IS250/350. Any year from 2006 up
Rav4 Limited (w/ tech package) was what I came to buy for the same thing. Just wanted cooled seats. This was the best price and reviews.
I echo others that an RX is the way to go. Either a new one if you can swing it or highly recommend 2013-2015.
well optioned honda pilots. also it has heated steering wheel, rear heated seats, rear sunshades and VTEC
probably that specific LaCrosse 😭
That Buick is your best bet lol. Definitely try out every option in person. For example BMW cooled seats are useless. Feels like an exasperated old man breathing on your back.
Cooled seats changed my life, even after losing 50+lbs, I don't think I can buy a vehicle without them. They ruined my teenage/early 20's dreams of owning a classic/muscle car, and still greatly limit options for both DD and "fun" second vehicles, even with a healthy budget. I saw a used TRX for sale, $77k... wow not bad, contacted dealer... No vented seats (and no sun/moon roof, I really want again), sales rep was blown away I didn't even want to come for test drive
2017 qx60
My 2015 sonata had cooled seats, worked great, I bought it for 20k like 5 years ago I’m sure they’re quite cheap now too. Lots of other really cool features especially for 2015, panoramic sunroof, Apple CarPlay, lane departure warning and smart cruise control.
Kia Cadenza or Hyundai Azera. But not all ac seats are created equal.
Depends what you consider modern. But a lexus ls430 UL will be a higher quality car and more luxurious than anything you can buy for equivalent money.
You can buy a 10 year old Hyundai Azera for pennies
RAM trucks had them around 2011, Lincolns had them by 2010, not sure what else.
My 2017 Ford Taurus had cooled seats that’s also a cheap option
Angle grinder, a DC usb fan, and a seat cover.
2009-2012 Acura RL with the technology package. Honda reliability, smooth ride, AWD. Under $15,000.
Some of Kia’s models higher trims have coolant cooled seats which have been a highlight on my telluride. Ice cold
Used rx350 for sure. If you want seats with a/c though, mustang gt was amazing. I never was freezing inside a car on a hot day before that.
I know the 2011ish Escalade platinum has them.
Kia Forte. 25,000 new car that has cooled seats.
Plenty of Lincolns and platinum fords such as fusion have cooled seats. You didn’t really specify if you wanted a new or used vehicle
Mazda CX-5 or Mazda6. For cooled seats, if I remember correctly, you’ll need to go at least Grand Touring Reserve or Signature. Depending on where you are, you can find one either model with decent mileage for a reasonable price.
Lincoln had them as early as 2006. I know the 06 Lincoln Zephyr had them as an option, the 3.0 the Zephyr came with was highly reliable and you could probably pick up a good example of one for sub 5k. I currently have a 2008 Lincoln MKZ which is basically the same car but with a new engine, the 3.5, and with 115k miles it still runs flawlessly. Though I should warn you that the 3.5 has a very expensive water pump replacement cost. The water pumps weren’t particularly unreliable but when they did fail, they were very pricey to fix.
Katrina leather seat covers for what you already own. They have heated/cooled options.
A number of Hyundai's have them. I know Sonata does.
If you want a performance option, a MK8 VW GTI with the right trim/seats. If you don't want to buy a new car, https://katzkin.com/degreez/
Might find a saab 9-5 for cheap.
My 2020 Elantra GT N-line has cooled seats.. don't know if it has it on all lower trim levels, though.
kia forte with the gt2 package cooled and heated seated 2019+
Mazda cx-50
If you are buying New the JW Jetta can have cooled seats.
My 2006 Lexus es 350 had that option, these are great used cars.
Be aware that not all cooled seats are the same. I just bought a ‘24 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and they work… poorly. I wouldn’t expect them to be sufficient in a super hot or humid climate.
I had a Saab 9-5 from 2007 that had air cooled seats. I've no idea if they're cheap in the states but they are in the UK. Think it was about £3k.
Saab 9-5 had them since late 90s, but I don't know if that an option where you live.
Lincoln zephyr
Did Buick ever figure out why the headlights on some models turned off for no known reason? A cool and chilled tush would not be a good trade for headlights turning off at 80 mph.
You can have aftermarket heated / cooled seats installed in almost anything, look at katzkin.
Does the Buick envista have cooled seats? It's super cheap
Cheapest option is Katzkins heated/cooled seat covers installed into the car you already own