[Glowie]

The ID4 is my first car with a heated steering wheel. I don't know what will power my next car, electricity or steam or fusion, but it WILL have a heated steering wheel.

Yes, my one colleague I talk cars with is always telling me: if you don't need your heated steering wheel...

But that guy lives in Florida and doesn't know my cold hands... once you had it you don't got back! 😊

 

[Glowie]

If you're looking for ventilated seats the '24 ID.4 will have them in the top-level trim, whatever that's called. (currently Pro S Plus). The '23 does not have ventilated seats, but I sure wish it did. ...so you may want to wait for the '24.

The Kia EV6 / Hyundai Ioniq 5 / Genesis GV60 all have ventilated seats standard in the mid-level trims (I think; maybe even the entry-level trim). The mid-level in the EV6 is called "Wind". I think only the AWD versions have heat pumps, but I'm going from memory here, so I may be wrong. All are made by Hyundai.

The GV60 is a really nice car. Here's a good review of it. More efficiency and better range than the ID.4. It does have the sloped back, though.
EDIT: The ventilated seats do indeed come in the mid-level trim of the GV60 but it starts at over $60k!!!

I think the ID.4 may be your best bet, but if you want the ventilated seats and efficiency improvements you'll want to wait for the '24. Hopefully that won't be too long.

Interesting, I didn't even know the ID.4 doesn't have vented seats in the higher trims! Was kind of expecting it... well, I have a test drive in a 23 AWD pro s plus on Saturday. The dealership lets me bring my dogs and (!!!) test seat them in the trunk which I found very very nice of them.
But I haven't decided yet and am actually only looking at purchasing Q1/Q2 2024...
So I might wait!

The GV60 is too sloped for my taste to be honest and that price tag... hmm...

 

[waldo22]

Interesting, I didn't even know the ID.4 doesn't have vented seats in the higher trims! Was kind of expecting it...

I think most people would expect ventilated seats in the top-level trim of a car that costs over $55k. My Mustang Mach-e was $54k and doesn't have ventilated seats either. I think it's a big oversight.

Even the Audi Q4 e-tron, which is the same platform as the ID.4, doesn't have ventilated seats available in any trim.

To get an Audi EV with ventilated seats, you have to buy the already-pricy Q8 e-tron and upgrade to the Premium Plus package, which is over $82,000.

Contrast that with the Kia EV6 RWD "Wind" trim, which has ventilated seats and starts at $48,800. It also gets you 310 miles of range, vehicle-to-load (V2L), a 110V electrical jack in the back, premium audio, and a towing package. Adding the Tech package only costs $1,500. Spending $4k to upgrade to AWD also gets you a heat pump, all in the mid-level "Wind" package.

In my humble opinion, Kia has everyone beat on quality and features. It just has less rear cargo space (50 cu. ft. with seats folded vs. 64 in ID.4) and some folks don't like the styling. It's more of a "hot hatch" than a crossover, lower to the ground than the ID.4 or even our Mach e.

 

[Glowie]

I think most people would expect ventilated seats in the top-level trim of a car that costs over $55k. My Mustang Mach-e was $54k and doesn't have ventilated seats either. I think it's a big oversight.

Even the Audi Q4 e-tron, which is the same platform as the ID.4, doesn't have ventilated seats available in any trim.

To get an Audi EV with ventilated seats, you have to buy the already-pricy Q8 e-tron and upgrade to the Premium Plus package, which is over $82,000.

Contrast that with the Kia EV6 RWD "Wind" trim, which has ventilated seats and starts at $48,800. It also gets you 310 miles of range, vehicle-to-load (V2L), a 110V electrical jack in the back, premium audio, and a towing package. Adding the Tech package only costs $1,500. Spending $4k to upgrade to AWD also gets you a heat pump, all in the mid-level "Wind" package.

In my humble opinion, Kia has everyone beat on quality and features. It just has less rear cargo space (50 cu. ft. with seats folded vs. 64 in ID.4) and some folks don't like the styling. It's more of a "hot hatch" than a crossover, lower to the ground than the ID.4 or even our Mach e.

Yes, I love the tech Kia is putting into it's vehicles for the money, but the EV6 is sadly not an option because of the trunk space/flattened back, same as the Mach-E...
The Q8 is definitely not a contender because of the price. I might have to get away from my vented seats... but the heated steering wheel is a must. 😊

 

[Huey52]

Yes, my one colleague I talk cars with is always telling me: if you don't need your heated steering wheel...

But that guy lives in Florida and doesn't know my cold hands... once you had it you don't got back! 😊

I always figured a heated steering wheel was a decadent unneeded option … until with the ID.4 I first got one.

 

[waldo22]

The Kia EV9 may be a good option, if it's not too expensive. Deliveries are expected by the end of the year, and they'll start making them in America next year to qualify for the tax credit.

 

[Katalase]

I ordered my ID.4 back in mid 2021 (delivered in early 2022), so I think there are new options currently and soon to be available, but I purchased the VW, among other requirements, specifically for its dog friendly cargo capacity compared to its EV competitors. Given, my two are medium sized, but this is w/ the rear seats upright for 4+ passengers.

 

[p__x]

Yes, my one colleague I talk cars with is always telling me: if you don't need your heated steering wheel...

But that guy lives in Florida and doesn't know my cold hands... once you had it you don't got back! 😊

When I got the ID4 I looked up the physiology literature, because I wondered why it feels so friggin good to have a heated steering wheel. It turns out it helps with heat regulation in the whole body. Plus people like my wife who has Raynaud's phenomenon (spasm of the blood vessels in cold causing discoloration and pain), it's even more magical.