10 of the best cars with a heated steering wheel

A heated steering wheel is easy to dismiss as a must-have but, trust us, once you’ve experienced one you’ll never want to go through a winter without one again.

So whether you’ve got poor circulation or just fancy the luxury, here are the best cars you can buy with a heated steering wheel.

Peugeot 408

The Peugeot 408 is a criminally underrated car. Its SUV ride height, eye-catching styling and high-tech interior means you should be seeing them here, there and everywhere. They’re not very common – so you can add ‘exclusivity’ to the list of reasons to buy one.

You’ll need the top-spec GT car for a heated steering wheel, which also includes an electric bootlid and part suede interior trim.

Shop used Peugeot 408 cars for sale or read our Peugeot 408 review

Kia Picanto

The Kia Picanto is one of the cheapest cars you can buy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have hot hands. Aim for a GT-Line S or X-Line S model to guarantee a heated wheel and heated front seats, although after the Picanto’s 2024 facelift the ‘3’ and Shadow trims also gain this ‘handy’ feature.

Need a bit more space? Every Kia is available with a heated steering wheel on top trim levels.

Shop used Kia Picanto cars for sale or read our Kia Picanto review

MG4

You get a heated steering wheel in top-spec Trophy versions of both the MG3 and MG4. The MG3 is petrol while the MG4 is electric; the 4 is also a bit bigger so it's more spacious for passengers. So long as you can fit an EV into your lifestyle, a used MG4 should be one of the cars you consider. It's really good value, yet comes with a strong range estimate, lots of standard equipment and MG's long warranty.

Shop used MG4 Trophy cars for sale or read our MG4 review

Renault Austral

Renault’s SUVs have stepped up a gear recently. The Austral is a fine family SUV with smart styling, the promise of 60mpg and a class-leading infotainment system with built-in Google mapping. Renault’s thrown the kitchen sink at the Austral’s equipment list – Matrix LED headlights, wireless phone charging and adaptive cruise control all come as standard.

A heated steering wheel is available on the Techno Esprit Alpine and Iconic Esprit Alpine trim levels.

Shop used Renault Austral cars for sale or read our Renault Austral review

Skoda Octavia

When the supremely sensible Skoda Octavia was facelifted in August 2024, the high-spec SE L trim gained a heated steering wheel as standard – before then, it was an optional extra. What’s more, the wheel heater has three heat stages and is accessed by a button right there in front of you on the wheel. Revolutionary.

Shop used Skoda Octavia cars for sale or read our Skoda Octavia review

Vauxhall Astra

Vauxhall's latest Astra is the best yet, and it's proudly flying the flag for smart family cars that aren't SUVs. There's plenty of choice in Astraland – as well as hatchback and estate body styles, you can pick petrol engines, fully electric versions and a halfway house plug-in hybrid that gives you a flavour of EV driving with the backup of a petrol engine for longer journeys. The Astra is (surprisingly) well equipped, with GS and Ultimate models getting a heated steering wheel among many other features.

Shop used Vauxhall Astra cars for sale or read our Vauxhall Astra review

Volvo XC60

King of the winter, the Volvo XC60 is a super-safe Scandi SUV that majors on comfort and quality. It gives all-weather security and reassurance, and keeps you nice and warm with a heated steering wheel that fires up quickly, heating all the way around the circumference. Look out for Momentum Pro, R-Design Pro, Inscription Pro, Plus and Ultimate versions of the XC60 for heated hands.

Shop used Volvo XC60 cars for sale or read our Volvo XC60 review

Volkswagen ID.3

In an electric car, you want to use heated seats and a heated steering wheel (if fitted) rather than the climate control system, because warming the person uses less energy than warming up the whole car. You use less of the car’s battery and range figure as a result.

So it’s good that the Volkswagen ID.3 comes with a heated steering wheel on most trim levels, including Life, Family, Style and Match. Even if you have to fiddle around with the screen to access the heating controls.

Shop used Volkswagen ID.3 cars for sale or read our Volkswagen ID.3 review

Kia Niro

The Kia Niro has every quality necessary to become a much appreciated member of your family. There's a long warranty (even though you probably won't need it), the available engines are all exceedingly economical, it's quiet and comfortable, the interior is spacious and there's a lot of boot room. Of course, the Niro also gains its place on this list for its strong equipment levels, and both '3' and '4' trim levels (now renamed Evolve and Aspire) come with a heated steering wheel.

Shop used Kia Niro cars for sale or read our Kia Niro review

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan’s best-selling Qashqai is built in the northeast of England, where they know a thing or two about cold weather. Perhaps for this reason alone, high-spec Tekna and Tekna+ versions of the Qashqai come with a heated steering wheel. Perfect for warming up after being in the cold North Sea air.

The Qashqai is still a default choice, and now it’s more practical, more economical and more modern inside than ever before.

Shop used Nissan Qashqai cars for sale or read our Nissan Qashqai review