• Value: 19/20

• Comfort: 19/20

• Quality: 17/20

• Aesthetics: 18/20

• Warming Ability: 19/20

TOTAL: 92/100

Some piercing Cocomelon song is blasting on loop, my daughter’s shrieking that she doesn’t want to go to preschool, I spilled cold brew on my shirt—and yet, morning drop-off feels all right. Borderline dreamy. Why? Because of one of the top five gifts I’ve ever been given: heated seat covers.

I know, I know—it sounds absurd, but it’s unreal what joy a heated seat cover can bring. Lower back pain and cramps? Instant relief. Frigid day? These little Amazon covers warm up faster than the heat in my Kia (as in, before I can get out of my neighborhood). I had long admired friends’ cars with heated seat cushions, but since we fully intend on running our SUV into the ground before buying a new one (read: we’re cheap—very cheap), I had kept that on my wish list for a future vehicle, say, in 2026. Then my husband surprised me with a pair of $30 HealthMate Velour Heated Seat Cushions. And they made such a radical difference in my commute that I need to tell you about them.

They plug into a DC outlet—and heat up fast

There are no bulky battery packs or chargers to deal with, though you may want to invest in a DC outlet splitter to heat two seats at once (or charge your phone while you warm your bum).

Each cushion features an on/off switch that also lets you toggle between high and low heat, though be warned: The high setting can reach 114 degrees F. It seems to cycle through, warming up then cooling down, but even then, on the high setting, it can get scorching fast, so you might want to stick to low for the most part.

They’re slim and sleek (yet still cushy)

Healthmate’s velour cushions are incredibly soft (and not at all like the Juicy tracksuits of the early aughts, as I initially imagined), but best of all, they’re less than a couple inches thick, so it doesn’t add a lot of bulk to your chair. Elastic bands keep the seat secure, too, so you’re not readjusting it every time you get in and out of the car. (Both were chief complaints of other brands I’ve looked at.)

My only concern is whether the elastic will stretch out after a year or so, but so far, so good. And if it does, I may just replace the straps, because now that I’m experiencing the luxury of heated car seats (especially in January, especially as I prepare for a 19-hour road trip), I can’t imagine going back to anything else. Although, in researching this review, I did see HealthMate makes a massaging heated seat cover for $15 more…I guess I’ve already come up with my Christmas 2022 wish list.

$30 AT AMAZON

The PureWow100 is a scale our editors use to vet new products and services, so you know what’s worth the spend—and what’s total hype. Learn more about our process here.

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