Cooled seats mainly provide relief from the heat between your backside and the car seats. So far, car manufacturers employ different systems to get the work done.
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But the most effective system is where the air from the AC diverts to cool the seats. Or where the system directs air to a cooling unit that the automaker provided for the seats.
Other systems only ventilate the chairs with cabin air by either pushing or pulling ambient air through the seats.
To know which SUV offers cooled or ventilated seats as standard or optional, join us as we explore 13 SUVs in these four size categories, sub-compact, compact, mid-size, and full-size.
Sub-compact SUVs With Cooled Seats
Here’s a sub-compact SUV with cooled seats:
1. 2022 Volkswagen Taos
The 2022 Taos comes with ventilated seats as an option for only the front occupants. The cooled front seats work subtly to blow cool air from your seats.
And while some owners have reported their Taos cooled seats to work fine, some owners have also claimed the cooling system in their vehicles is not effective.
Also, there are claims that the air-ventilated seats in this vehicle only circulate ambient air and not cooled air. Thus, owners may not feel any cooling on their backs when driving.
To enable the ventilated seats, you can activate them through the console of your car. There is the option to control the airflow according to your preference. Using the designated button, you can select the high, medium, or low setting.
Compact SUVs With Cooled Seats
Here’s a list of compact SUVs with cooled seats:
2. 2022 Jeep Compass
Jeep offers ventilated front seats in the Compass model for optimal comfort on hot days. Owners can keep cool and enjoy a comfortable ride when they activate the ventilated seats in their 2022 Jeep Compass.
For convenience, the ventilated driver’s seat will automatically turn on when the ambient temperature of your cabin goes beyond 26.5 degrees Celsius.
Some Jeep Compass upgrades now offer this feature with heated seats. This enables owners to switch to heated seats on cold days and cooled seats on hot days.
To access it, you can pay for the upgrades that offer the ventilated seat feature in the 2022 Jeep Compass.
3. 2022 GMC Terrain
Customers can order their 2022 GMC Terrain with ventilated seats, as it is optional. The ventilated seat in the 2022 Terrain has fans that pull ambient air through the cushion of the seats.
To use the feature, owners can employ the ventilated seat button. Pressing once set the system to the highest. More clicks change the temperature to the next lower setting and then deactivate the setting.
When active, the ventilated seat light comes up to signify the settings of the ventilated system of your seats. Three dots denote the highest settings, two dots are the medium, and one dot is the lowest.
4. 2022 Chevrolet Equinox
Only the front seats of the Equinox have ventilated seats. But the system is not available on all trims except for the trim with Driver Convenience II Package, which is the Chevy Equinox Premier.
The ventilated seats in your Equinox include a fan that pulls ambient air through the seat cushion and seatback. You can activate the system using the buttons Chevrolet provided on your dashboard.
5. 2022 Jeep Cherokee
The front seats of the 2022 Jeep Cherokee are available with ventilated seats for comfort on hot days by emitting cool air when the temperature rises.
For owners, to get the system in their Cherokee, Jeep makes them available in its upgrade.
Opting for the upgrade allows you to enjoy the ventilated seat feature in your Cherokee. To activate the ventilated seats, you can use the touchscreen.
Make sure to also read our article about electric cars with cooled seats.
Mid-size SUVs With Cooled Seats
Here are some mid-size SUVs with cooled seats:
6. 2022 Kia Telluride
The Kia Telluride higher trims come standard with ventilated seats. Customers who want it in their vehicles can opt for the EX or SX trim to access the comfort ventilated front seats provide.
However, note that the air from the ventilated seats of your Kia Telluride is not cool. Instead, the fan provides ambient air.
Also, there are claims from owners that running the AC to a moderate temperature while activating the ventilated seat is more effective in their cars. This way, the ventilated seats perform better.
7. 2023 Chevrolet Traverse
The Traverse includes three rows with seats for up to eight people.
Though a microchip shortage is also affecting some of the 2022 Traverse trims, Chevrolet continued to include ventilated seats as standard on the Premiere and High Country trims.
For certain 2022 Traverse trims Chevrolet produced during a particular period without ventilated seats owing to chip shortage, GM Authority has reported Chevrolet will offer a retrofit in the later period of 2022.
And for the trims with ventilated seats, Chevy included them only in the front seats.
8. 2023 Honda Passport
The 2023 Passport is another SUV that comes with ventilated seats to keep front passengers comfortable on hot days, but on certain trims.
The Elite trim comes standard with front passengers’ ventilated seats, though at a higher price. The ventilated front seat will keep you comfortable by circulating air through the seat leather of your car.
To use, you can activate the system through your console. Choose from the high, medium, and slow settings depending on your preference when activating the system.
9. 2022 Kia Sorento
The front seats of the 2022 Sorento come with cooled seats for front passengers’ comfort. But owners have to opt for it when purchasing their Sorento.
Note that the Sorento ventilated seat is air-ventilated, thus may take a while to feel its effect on hotter days.
Also, the cooling degree of the seats depends on the temperature in the cabin. For a cabin with stabilized and cool temperature, your Kia Sorento may be more effective than a hot cabin temperature.
You should also read our article about SUVs with rear heated seats.
Full-size SUVs With Cooled Seats
Here are some full-size SUVs with cooled seats:
10. 2022 Nissan Armada
The 2022 Nissan Armada offers cooled seats in the front row for optimum comfort on hot days. Customers can opt for the option when ordering their 2022 Armada from Nissan.
The cooled front seats with the rear row vents also deliver cool air to the rear seats for passenger’s comfort, as they don’t come with the system.
To circulate cool air, the front seats include porous upholstery that pulls cool air through the seat channel for comfort. Thus, the cooling system allows front passengers to feel the effect of the air more quickly.
To activate, use the cooled seat switch on your console. You can also use the switch to adjust the level of airflow from the seats. Also, the indicator light illuminates to signify the system is active.
11. 2023 Cadillac Escalade
The 2023 Escalade comes with ventilated seats in the front row. While the air from the ventilated seats in the 2023 Escalade is not cool, they are still effective in offering enough comfort on hot days.
However, they come as optional features, thus owners have to include them when ordering their vehicles.
To activate, use the ventilated button Cadillac provided on your dashboard. You can use the button to set the cooling from high to medium and low by pressing it multiple times.
12. 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
The 2023 EQS SUV comes with cooled seats in the first two rows of your SUV for comfort. Unlike most SUVs in this category, the seats employ reversible fans to circulate air gently through the perforations in the seats and backrest.
Also, the system works effectively and quickly to cool your back on hot days while offering three levels of cooling.
To activate, use the ventilated seat button Mercedes provided on your dashboard. Also, employ it to set the system to high, medium, and low depending on your preference.
13. 2022 Aston Martin DBX
Unlike most SUVs, the Aston Martin has the option for ventilated seats on both the front and rear rows. All models of the Martin DBX offer ventilated seats to relieve back-side heat.
Owners and passengers can feel the quick effect of the system upon activation. Just as in other SUVs, you can control the level of airflow.
Please also read our article about sports cars with cooled seats.