Which Cars Under $40,000 Have Heated Steering Wheels?
A heated steering wheel — one of life’s little pleasures — is no longer just a treat for high rollers. Wheel warming has gone mainstream, with the feature standard or optional not just on luxury vehicles, but on an increasing number of models with sticker prices of $40,000 or less — in some cases, even on sub-$30,000 rides.
Related: Which Cars Have Cooled Seats?
Whether a heated steering wheel is just nice to have or a must-have might depend on how often you have to clear snow and ice from your car on frigid nights. The chunky gloves you need for subzero weather are incompatible with a good grip on the wheel and can lead to a lot of fumbling with dashboard controls, capacitive or not. But like heated seats, a warm steering wheel also can be a treat on a cool night with the moonroof open or for people afflicted with arthritis or circulation issues.
Here are the 2023 and 2024 model-year vehicles offering a heated steering wheel as standard or optional equipment. All vehicles on this list have an MSRP of $40,000 or less (including destination and any higher trim level or option package needed to get the heated wheel). The 2023 list is complete; the 2024 list will grow through the year as it includes only vehicles for which 2024 U.S. specs have thus far been officially announced.
2023 Cars Under $40,000 With Heated Steering Wheels
- Acura: Integra
- BMW: 2 Series, X2
- Buick: Encore GX, Envision
- Cadillac: CT4, XT4
- Chevrolet: Bolt EV, Bolt EUV, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Malibu, Trailblazer
- Chrysler: Pacifica, Voyager
- Dodge: Challenger, Charger, Hornet
- Fisker: Ocean
- Ford: Bronco Sport, Escape, Maverick, Mustang
- GMC: Terrain
- Hyundai: Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, Tucson
- Jeep: Cherokee, Compass, Renegade, Wrangler
- Kia: K5, Niro, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Sportage, Sportage Hybrid
- Mazda: CX-30, CX-5, Mazda3, MX-30
- Mercedes-Benz: GLA
- Mini: Clubman, Convertible, Countryman, Hardtop, SE Hardtop
- Mitsubishi: Eclipse Cross, Outlander
- Nissan: Altima, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Rogue, Sentra
- Subaru: Forester, Legacy, Outback
- Toyota: Camry, Camry Hybrid, GR Corolla, Prius, Prius Prime, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid
- Volkswagen: Golf GTI, Jetta, Taos, Tiguan
- Volvo: XC40
2024 Cars Under $40,000 With Heated Steering Wheels
- Acura: Integra
- BMW: 2 Series
- Buick: Encore GX, Envision, Envista
- Cadillac: CT4, XT4
- Chevrolet: Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, Trailblazer, Trax
- Chrysler: Voyager
- Dodge: Hornet
- Ford: Bronco Sport, Escape, Maverick, Mustang
- GMC: Terrain
- Honda: CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Odyssey
- Hyundai: Kona, Tucson
- Jeep: Compass, Wrangler
- Kia: K5, Niro, Niro PHEV, Sportage
- Lexus: UX 250h
- Mazda: CX-5, Mazda3
- Mini: Clubman, Convertible, Countryman, Hardtop, SE Hardtop
- Mitsubishi: Eclipse Cross, Outlander
- Nissan: Altima, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Sentra
- Subaru: Forester, Legacy, Outback
- Toyota: Prius, Prius Prime, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid
- Volkswagen: Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Golf GTI, Jetta, Jetta GLI, Taos, Tiguan
What to Shop For
A basic heated steering wheel includes a heating element in the rim and sensors to control temperature and prevent overheating. Some are simply on or off, while others let you choose levels of heat like most heated seats. Some heated steering wheels are more complicated and can interact with the automatic climate control to turn down or off when the cabin temperature rises, while others are among features that you can turn on remotely to precondition the cabin. Heated steering wheels also vary in how hot they’re allowed to get and in how well they heat the entire circumference of the wheel. As always, research and try before you buy if this is a priority feature for you.
More From Cars.com:
- How Did Lexus Mess Up a Heated Steering Wheel?
- GM Begins First Phase of Retrofit Installation With Heated, Ventilated Seats
- BMW: New Subscription Fees for Heated Seats Won’t Impact U.S.
- Heated and Cooled Cupholders Put to the Test
- Levers to Lumbar Perfection: How Many Ways Does That Seat Go?
Can You Add a Heated Steering Wheel Later?
Sort of. Retrofitting a factory-style heated wheel is not a practical option — even for automakers. The pandemic-era shortage of control chips caused some automakers to suspend heated wheel and seat options; afterward, the makers retrofitted the seat feature for buyers but not the steering wheels.
There are, however, numerous aftermarket steering wheel heaters. Most are a cover with an electric heating element and a power cord to plug into the vehicle’s 12-volt outlet. The obvious downside is that while this can warm up the wheel (and your hands) initially, you have to unplug it to actually drive.
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