7 Car Features That Take the Sting Out of Winter Driving
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More cars are offering winter-friendly features than ever before. Though some of these are rare, others are showing up even in less expensive models. Often, several of these features are bundled in a cold-weather package, so they can be difficult to order à la carte. Some of them are just for convenience, but many will keep you safer, too.
Remote start. Like a remote control for your car, these devices let you start your car’s engine from inside your home or office to warm up the cabin in advance. Certain newer vehicles, including Mercedes-Benz and Volvo models, can remote start via smartphone.
Heated seats. Seating surfaces can warm you faster than your car’s heater can warm the cabin air. Certain luxury cars, such as the BMW 5 and 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S- and E-Class, have heated armrests and door trims as well. A few years ago you had to spring for leather upholstery to get heated seats, but many automakers, such as Hyundai, Jeep, and Subaru, now offer the option with cloth upholstery.
Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the November 2017 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
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