Are you shopping for heated car seat covers for winter and chilly mornings? This review highlights why a heated seat cover shouldn’t be a luxury. It gives you our best seat covers with heater choices and explains why you should try them. We also share with you safetly tips when using these products.
Have you ever sat in a cold car seat during winter and wanted to hop right out? If you have, then you know that having heated car seat covers is not a luxury. Paired with a good car heater, your back and backside can stay warm throughout winter.
Car seat covers with a heater are not reserved for cold months only. They are great for backaches, especially those caused by seating for long periods of time.
We’ve looked around the market and here are our top five best heated car seat covers. At the end of the article, we’ll share with you our top pick and share some safety tips.
Note: They all plug into the cigarette lighter socket.
AmazonBasics Heated Seat Cushion
This car seat covers straps and hooks securely to the cushion seat. They’re on both on the backrest and the car seat. These accessories ensure that the cushion stays in place each time you get on or off your ride. The heated seat cushion has a three-way temperature controller, that is, high, low and off. The wiring is made of carbon fiber so you’ll get fast, consistent and even heating during your car rides. The cushion is made of polyester.
The AmazonBasics heated seat cushion plugs to a 12 volt DC outlet in your car. The power cord is a comfortable 4.3 feet. Once the vehicle gets turned on it begins to warm your seat. Users are advised to unplug the seat cushion when it’s not in use- it might end up draining the car battery.
This product is excellent for cold climates, winter months or an unusually chilly morning. It fits a wide range of cars; you can use it on most cars, RVs, trucks, and boats. The cushion can be removed and used in another vehicle because they are light and portable. It also comes with a one year warranty.
Pros
- It has both a seat and back pad
- Straps secure it to the seat to avoid sliding around
- Carbon fiber wires heat the car evenly
- It has a long cord
- It has three-way temperature controller
Cons
- It slides around when not fitted properly
- The temperature range is not stated
- It doesn’t automatically switch off so it can end up draining your battery
KINGLETING Heated Seat Cushion
The voltage required to power this heated car seat cover is 12V DC. It contains an intelligent temperature control system that allows users to change temperatures every 3 degrees Celsius between 30 and 60 degrees. The temperature change occurs quickly; it typically takes two minutes to feel an increase or decrease in warmth.
The timer on this product protects your battery from being drained should you forget to unplug it. Depending on the duration of your drive, you can choose to let it run for 30, 60 or 90 minutes. Whichever setting you go for, the heater will go off when the time is up.
The intelligent temperature control system goes a step further and automatically powers off when your car seat reaches the desired temperature. When temperature lowers, it powers up again to get it back to your desired setting. The base of the cushion is rubberized, so it sticks well to the seat.
Pros
- It has a smart temperature control system
- Shorter temperature ranges for maximum temperature customization
- Has a timer that automatically turns off the heating system to prevent your battery from being drained.
- The rubberized bottom prevents the cushion from sliding around.
Cons
- The heating wire requires changing every few months
- High temperatures can also burn less durable factory car seats
Sojoy SJ154A Universal Car Seat Heater
This product fits a standard car seat and operates at 12V DC. It comes with elasticized belts and hooks and a loop fastener that are easy to secure on the car seat. They take about three to five minutes to warm up. The heat is distributed evenly throughout the chair. It has breathable polyester fabric.
The temperature controls some with a high, low and off switch. The most elevated temperature is 30 degrees Celsius at surface temperature. The only timer setting on the temperature controller is 30 minutes.
Pros
- The elasticized belts and hooks and a loop fastener ensure that they strap on well
- Has an off timer to avoid affecting the car battery
- The seat is designed to be comfortable and is of breathable polyester fabric
Cons
- Not the best fit for larger car seats
- Depending on use, wires may need replacing after a few months
AUDEW Heated Seat Cushion
This car seat cover with heater plugs into the vehicle’s 12V DC outlet. When the current is too high, it automatically disconnects. The temperature controller comes with three settings; high, low and off. The seat has carbon fiber wiring for fast, consistent as well as even heating. The maximum temperature is 60 degrees Celsius. It also has constant temperature control to prevent overheating that could potentially cause skin burns. The seat will cool down after two minutes of being unplugged.
It is designed to fit trucks, cars, RVs, SUVs, and boats. The breathable polyester cushion comes with straps and hooks that secure it to your car seat. Apart from keeping you warm in cold weather, it helps relieve muscle aches, back pains, and sore joints. When not in use, it should be unplugged to avoid draining the battery.
Pros
- Universal fitting
- Has a carbon fiber wire for efficient heating
- It’s multipurpose
- It is child-friendly due to its ability to cool down fast when turned off
- It has a temperature control mechanism
Cons
- Could potentially drain your battery if left plugged for extended periods of time.
- Straps don’t fit well for all car types.
Wagan Soft Velour Heated Seat Cushion
The maximum temperature of this heated car seat is 60 degrees Celsius. It comes with a high, low and off temperature control and plugs into a 12 volt DC vehicle outlet. When not in use, it needs to be unplugged even when it’s set on off; it’ll still drain the car battery.
The seat cushion has two rear elastic straps with two clips each and four-inch straps that prevent the seat cover from moving when driving or getting in and out of the car. It fits most trucks, cars, boats, and RVs. The seat cushion is made of soft, durable velour covering.
Pros
- It has long bottom seat straps
- The fabric is comfortable to sit on
Cons
- Requires unplugging when not in use
- Wires require replacing
Product Guide
Image |
Product |
Control Type |
Rating |
Purchase |
|
1. |
High/low/off temperature controller |
4.2 |
|||
2. |
Intelligent temperature controller |
4.0 |
|||
3. |
High/low/off temperature controller |
3.9 |
|||
4. |
High/low/off temperature controller |
3.9 |
|||
5. |
High/low/off temperature controller |
3.7 |
Safety tips
There have been concerns about heated car seat covers because they are electronic gadgets. They need to be plugged in. Therefore, the liquid shouldn’t interact with them. What’s best is to get a waterproof car seat cover like neoprene in case of a short circuit.
Prolonged use of car seat heater is known to cause thermal burns. Also known as “toast skin syndrome,” it manifests itself by the skin turning red, severe skin pigmentation and vasodilatation.
This problem arises when a person is exposed to elevated temperatures for a long time, especially on bare skin. Overheating may affect men’s reproductive systems and are therefore advised to use car heaters less.
With these concerns in mind, you, however, need not give up your heated car seat. Many brands come with an automatic shut off. It is therefore unlikely that you’ll overheat. As a cautionary measure, use heated car seat covers for 15-30 minutes. Don’t also set the temperature too high. When you’re warm enough, you’re recommended to turn off the device.
Final Verdict
Our top pick for these top best car seat covers with heater is KINGLETING Heated Seat Cushion because it doesn’t drain your battery when it’s left plugging, something most people are likely to forget. It also shuts off as per the time you set it, making it convenient for when you need to hop out the car in a hurry.
If you’re looking for something more pocket-friendly, we suggest that you try out the AmazonBasics Heated Seat Cushion. It has carbon fiber wires for that consistent and even warmth that we all look for in good car seats.