What SUVs Have Cooled Seats?

If you want to own an SUV, then chances are comfort is one of the most important factors determining your vehicle's quality. There is no better comfort on a hot summer day than sitting down to cooled seats in an SUV. If comfort is your goal, cooled seats should be a required feature for purchases a new SUV in 2021. But which SUVs come with cooled seats? We've researched all of the models on the market and them in a list for you here. 

For the model year 2021, 10 SUVs come equipped with cooled seats in the driver's seat and front passenger seat. Cooled seats offer a higher level of cooling than their more standard ventilated seat counterparts. The 10 SUVs in no particular order are:

1. Nissan Armada (full-size SUV)
2. Acura MDX
3. Ford Explorer
4. Honda Pilot
5. Hyundai Tuscon
6. Range Rover Velar
7. Range Rover Sport
8. Mazda CX-9
9. Mercedes GLC
10. Subaru Forester 

These 1o vehicles will keep you nice and cool during the summer months with their cooled seats. Please continue reading to take an in-depth look at each of these ten SUV models and find out more about the types of seat-based cooling available in automobiles. 

2021 SUVs with Cooled Seats

Some of the more luxurious models on the following list of SUVs come with cooled seats as a standard feature. There are some, however, that only include cooled seats with their most premium trims. Those trims may cost quite a bit extra than their base model, so please check manufacturer websites for more information. The following is a little more information on each of the 10 SUVs with cooled seats as an option in their 2021 lineup. 

1. Nissan Armada (full-size SUV)

The Nissan Armada is the only 2021 full-size SUV with cooled seats as a feature. The size of this SUV, combined with the other luxury features, makes it incredibly comfortable. Along with the cooling seat function in the front seat, the Armada also has heated first and second-row seats in addition to a heated steering wheel for those cold winter days. 

Nissan Armadas sit up to eight people and boasts a driver memory system that positions the seat to saved presets based on which key opens the door. There is a 400 horsepower V8 under the hood that provides all the off-road capability and towing power you'll ever need. 

2. Acura MDX

The 2021 Acura MDX also has several premium options available so that you can give yourself the ultimate luxury SUV experience. Among those premium features are the cooled seats, leather seating material, a moonroof, and interior ambient lighting. The MDX is also a comfortable vehicle in terms of space, with enough seating for up to seven passengers. 

Performace-wise, the MDX has a V6 that gives the driver 290 horsepower and 267 foot-pounds of torque. Combine that torque with a standard all-wheel drive, and you get a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. 

3. Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer is another SUV that comes equipped with cooled seats and is a great vehicle for everyday life. Among other high-end features, the Explorer has a double moonroof and a 1o-inch LCD touch screen center display. The more advanced trims even include a 12.3-inch digital dashboard display. 

The Ford Explorer has a 3.5-liter V6 engine and can seat seven passengers comfortably. The all-wheel drive capability plus a terrain management system with an additional towing package will allow you to two up to 5,600-pounds. 

4. Honda Pilot

The 2021 Honda Pilot is a stylish mid-size SUV with amenities that guarantee comfort regardless of the weather. The Pilot has both heated and cooled seats, tri-zone climate control capabilities, and a large moonroof. A back-seat entertainment system is also included standard. 

Honda's Pilot has excellent storage space for up to 109 cubic feet of cargo when the seats are in the downward folded position. The Pilot comes standard with the Honda Sensing safety technology and a 280 horsepower V6 engine for a combination of power and safety. 

5. Hyundai Tuscon 

Hyundai's newest Tuscon model is a competitor in the mid-sized SUV world. It is a hybrid model SUV that allows you to drive up to 28 miles only on electricity, which is a great way to impact the environment positively. The Tuscon can also save the energy created from braking to power the electric capabilities of the vehicle. 

The Tuscon has a large, 10.25 digital center display and a digital cluster of the same size above the steering wheel. The SUV seats five and has Hyundai SmartSense collision avoiding and blindspot detecting technology. 

6. Range Rover Velar

Range Rover's Velar model is one of the more luxurious models of SUVs with cooled seats. Exterior features such as retractable door handles make the SUV super sleek outside, but the inside is where the luxury really shines through. There are two center 10-inch touch screens for operating music, air conditioning, and other features. There is even a wifi hotspot equipped with data with a subscription fee. 

With the Velar, the driver commands a 335 horsepower V6 engine with an active terrain response. The SUV seats five people and has 48.9 cubic feet of storage space with the back seats down. 

7. Range Rover Sport

The Range Rover Sport is another high-end SUV available with cooled seats. The Sport comes with two large touch screen interfaces, just like the Velar, and maybe has an even more chic leather interior. Additionally, the interior is equipped with a Meridian sound system.

The absolute image of power, the Sport comes with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine that puts out 355 horsepower. That engine allows the Sport to tow over 7,000 pounds. The SUV seats up to seven with removable third-row seating, allowing for plenty of cargo space with multiple configurations. 

8. Mazda CX-9

The Mazda CX-9 is a sophisticated mid-size SUV that seats six in great comfort. Leather wraps first and second-row captain's seats framed by comfort features and technology. The full-vehicle climate control system has a pollen filter and combines with the cooled/heated seats for supreme temperature control. 

The CX-9 has a 2.5-liter V6 with a turbo with all-wheel drive capabilities. This Mazda is a combination of subtlety and style that is great for the city or countryside. 

9. Mercedes GLC

The Mercedes GLC is a return to the luxury element of this list of SUVs with cooled seats. While it is possible to both cool and heat the front seats of the GLC, the seats in the back are just normal leather. They do, however, power-fold into the downward position to allow for more storage. 

The GLC only seats five but is just as spacious, comfortable, and safe as the other SUVs on this list. The engine on the GLC is a V6 with 255 horsepower that helps propel the all-wheel-drive the SUV runs on.

10. Subaru Forester 

Finally, the Subaru Forester is the last SUV out of our research of all the 2021 models that have cooled seats. This is the most adventurous and outdoor-oriented SUV on the list, geared towards offroad performance and overall safety. The interior is larger and comfortable, with 111.9 cubic feet of space. 

Subarus are well-known for their ability to last many years, and the Forester is no different. Built of high quality with a V6 engine and all-wheel drive that will net you 33 miles per gallon. 

Are ventilated seats the same as cooled seats?

There is another type of seat comfort technology called seat ventilation. With ventilated seats, there are holes in the seat design, be it leather or some fabric, that let air created by some number of small fans flow through the seat to cool the person sitting in it. This is different from the cooled seats that we discuss in the above post because the air delivered from ventilated seats is the same temperature as the air in the vehicle. 

Cooled seats work in the same way mechanically, but a cooling agent is introduced to make the air colder than the average internal temperature of the car. Therefore, cooled seats are more effective at cooling off passengers than regular ventilated seats are. 

The list above details the 10 SUVs that come with cooled seats specifically, but it is worth knowing that there are another 40 SUV models with the option of some form of ventilated seats. Be sure to check out the web pages of the SUV models you are interested in to see if they have this option, which, again, is a little less effective than cooled seating. 

Do cooled seats use AC?

Air conditioning is the primary way that vehicles are cooled, but does the same technology go into cooling seats? There are varying technologies behind the way cooled seats work in vehicles. Some automakers use air conditioning technology that introduces a refrigerant to more effectively cool a seat. Please visit the manufacture's website for specific details if you are curious about a certain vehicle model. 

Can you add aftermarket cooled seats?

If you already own an older SUV that doesn't have cooled seats, you may want to look into getting some installed. Many third-party manufacturers produce aftermarket cooled seats for just about every make and model. You can install these seats yourself if you have a little automotive know-how, or a local mechanic or body shop should be able to order and install them for you. 

Even self-installed seat cushions that easily fit over the existing bucket seats in a car are available online. They may not be as effective as a factory or professionally installed cooled seats, but they will certainly help out on a summer day. 

Click here to see the Zone Tech cooling car cushion at Amazon. 

In Closing 

Take your driving comfort to the next level by ensuring your next SUV comes fitted with cooled seats. There are 10 2021 SUV models with cooled seats as a feature, so there is plenty to choose from. But, if you end up with an SUV that does not have standard cooled seats, don't worry. You can always install aftermarket cooled seats available from third-party manufacturers at a later date. 

If you found this post valuable, please see some of our others:

What SUVs Have V6 Engines In 2021? [A Look At Midsize And Full-Size SUVs]

Which SUV has the Best Gas Mileage?