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It’s a fact. Heated cup holders are the ultimate luxury and deserve their own category. When driving in frigid temperatures, nothing is more satisfying than knowing you can keep your coffee warm.
However, not all car models are created equal. For example, most luxury cars will come with heated cup holders. Conversely, a lot of economy-sized vehicles won’t.
Fast-forward a few decades, and you’ll see that this feature has become standard on any new model you purchase —regardless of what class it belongs to.
But there is no need for a time machine because we have already outsourced some of the best cars with heated cup holders that are pretty affordable and luxurious at the same time.
12 Cars With Heated Cup Holders
1. Mercedes-Benz S-Class Hybrid
Mercedes-Benz S-Class Hybrid’s sophisticated bodywork and design make it look like something out of a sci-fi movie. This luxury car has been designed with hybrid technology in mind. This means that it will be environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient!
The interior is equally impressive; plenty of luxurious features are available to make your drive more enjoyable. Perhaps most importantly, it has temperature-controlled cup holders in the front compartment console. But the models that offer this luxury are 2016, 2017, and 2020 hybrid models.
Also, you’d have to choose the Executive Rear Seat Package PLUS to get the heated/cooled cup holders. They also have a lamp that indicates when they’ve been turned off and a switch. For instance, you must repeatedly push the switch for the cooling function until you see that blue indicator lamp light up. For warming, press it again and again until a red one lights up.
2. BMW X5 M
The BMW X5 M SUV has a lot going for it. It’s got the room of a minivan but the sleek lines and sharp handling of a sports car. It’s got all the comfort and convenience of a luxury SUV but with enough juice to handle any terrain you throw at it.
And it comes with heated cup holders located in the front center console. These cup holders can be heated up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which is perfect for keeping your drink warm during those cold winter months! Although, this feature can be found particularly in the 2020 and 2021 Base models.
But if you’re looking for something even more luxurious, you can upgrade to heated side-facing seats. These seats will keep your drink nice and warm as you take off down the road in your BMW X5 M.
3. Cadillac XT5
The Cadillac XT5 is a spacious crossover SUV with all the bells and whistles you could want, including heated cup holders. It has a high-quality interior with a sporty look and feel. It’s comfortable and stylish yet rugged enough to handle rough roads easily. However, this newly developed feature is only available in the 2020 to 2022 models.
The worst-case scenario is you won’t get it in a standard Cadillac trim. You have to upgrade to either the premium or the sport trim.
They are operated by simply pushing a button and have built-in lighting that looks very cool—especially at night. To set them to cooling mode, press the button once: it will turn blue as soon as you let go; push again and release to turn off.
And to set the holder to heat mode, press and release the button. The lights should turn red.
The car also comes with advanced safety features, including dual front airbags, side curtain airbags with rollover protection, anti-lock brakes, stability control system (TCS), traction control system (TCS), hill start assist system (HAS), and rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA).
4. Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is a car that combines style, comfort, and convenience into one streamlined package. A large array of features means that you can customize your car to suit your tastes, and the car will be ready to go when you are.
But let’s focus on some built-in features, such as the Heated Cup Holders. While this feature is ONLY available in the 2014 and 2016 models, it’s found in the Premium 1 Package on the GL350/GL450. However, you can have it as a standard feature on the GL550.
Also, these cup holders are not only heated, but they also have an adjustable temperature setting. The cup holders are equipped with a blue/red lighting scheme to indicate whether it is in hot or cold mode.
It also has a spacious interior, a powerful engine, and impressive safety features. The GL-Class offers a high level of comfort for long trips, sporty handling, and many more.
5. Dodge Charger
It’s hard to find a better-looking car on the road and even harder to find one with heated cup holders. But the Dodge Charger comes through! She is a full-size four-door muscle car that can seat five passengers.
Dodge has made some changes to the interior of their vehicles in recent years, turning them into comfortable places to be rather than just functional spaces. The Dodge Charger has been redesigned with an eye toward style and comfort, making it a perfect choice for folks who want to take their driving experience up a notch.
And the cup holders in the front and back of the car feature a snowflake logo, and three arrows indicate their primary function (heating). However, this feature was first included in the 2013 model and then stopped. The news is: the heated cup holders are standard on the 2013 SE trim level, so you don’t have to upgrade to enjoy a hot drink.
6. Audi SQ5 Sportback
The Audi SQ5 Sportback is a luxury crossover SUV in three trims: Premium Plus, Prestige, and Sport. The SQ5 has a 3.0-liter V6 engine with 340 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque.
This car has many features for the driver and passengers, such as heated seats and cup holders, dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, a power trunk opener, a satellite radio, and much more.
Sadly, the standard trim does not have the heated cup holder option, so you must upgrade to the 3.0T Premium Plus Quattro model under the Prestige Package. The cup holders can be cooled as low as 38 degrees Fahrenheit, while the hot setting heats up to 104 degrees.
7. Cadillac Escalade
The Cadillac Escalade is perfect if you need a big car but don’t want to spend too much on it. It comes with Heated Cup Holders and other great features that will make your life easier while driving in cold weather conditions or heavy traffic.
The heated/cooled cup holders are only available in the Sports Platinum trim level (the highest) —more precisely, in the 2021 and 2022 models. Aside from that, GM manufactures the engine in the Cadillac Escalade. It has a V8, 6.2-liter that offers 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque.
The engine in this car has been designed to produce an incredible amount of power while also achieving fuel efficiency, yet it produces a lot of power. The Cadillac Escalade engine can produce 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, making it a powerful ride.
8. Tesla Model S
The Tesla Model S is an all-electric luxury sports sedan that has received numerous awards.
It has several features that make it an attractive vehicle choice for such a car. And one such feature is its heated cup holders, which keep your drinks at a comfortable temperature even when you’re on the road.
This allows you to enjoy your drink while driving without worrying about spilling or burning yourself! On top of that, it’s not a rare feature, as you can get it in the 2015 to 2022 S models.
Furthermore, Tesla Model S has a range of up to 450 kilometers on the NEDC test cycle and just over 200 miles on the EPA test cycle. The engine contains a battery pack made of lithium-ion cells, which provide electricity to power an electric motor that generates torque, propelling the vehicle.
Two types of batteries are used in Tesla’s cars: lithium-ion as a starting and backup power source and nickel-cadmium as an energy source for accessories and electronics.
9. Nissan X-Trail
The heated cup holders are a great feature available on the X-trail too. This built-in heating element will come in handy during the winter when you want your beverage or drink piping hot until you arrive at your destination. And with the X-Trail’s cup holders, you can use your beverages as a makeshift coaster while you drive!
That’s not even the best bet. You’re getting this feature from 2018, 2019, 2021, to the 2022 models. However, the cruise control comes only with one version: 2.5 Tekna CVT 4WD trim level.
Furthermore, the X-Trail is a spacious and stylish SUV with heated cup holders, automatic climate control, and a sliding moon roof to keep you comfortable on those long drives. It has plenty of room for passengers, cargo, and gear, with seven seats and space for up to 60 cubic feet of cargo (depending on trim level).
The X-Trail’s powerful V6 engine delivers performance that impresses you with its fuel efficiency, while its innovative all-wheel drive system provides traction in all weather conditions.
10. Volkswagen Atlas
The Volkswagen Atlas is an award-winning SUV that’s sure to impress. With its sleek style and refined interior, the Atlas has won praise from all quarters.
But what makes this model truly stand out is its heated cup holders. The Atlas has a total of 17 cupholders located throughout the cabin, from the first row through the third.
Furthermore, the exquisite interior offers roomy seating, standard Bluetooth connectivity, an audio system, and all the bells and whistles you want in your car.
11. Lincoln Navigator
The Lincoln Navigator is an incredibly luxurious SUV. The interior is filled with rich leather, high-quality wood trim, and sleek accents. It has a spacious cargo area that can hold lots of your things.
One of the creature comforts of the Navigator is its multi-cupholder design. It has 13 cupholders scattered around its cabin—no driver will be left wanting something to drink! So, all passengers are assured they will have a place to hold their drinks during trips.
The 2018 model comes equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine that produces 300 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque for the front-wheel drive version and 310 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque for the four-wheel drive version.
12. Toyota Tacoma
Toyota Tacoma’s heated cup holders are useful in any vehicle. The cup holders are on both sides of the center console, making it easy to reach no matter what seat you’re sitting in. Though they may not boast as many cupholders as some other vehicles in its class, Tacoma owners still fall head over heels for this truck.
For example, in Tacoma’s five-seater cabin, each occupant has access to around two cupholders. Moreover, the cup holders also come with an auto-off function so that if you forget to turn it off, it will automatically shut off after 15 minutes so as not to waste energy and get too hot.
The other specifications on the Toyota Tacoma are just as impressive, from the 2.7L 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve engine with VVT-iW, which can produce 159 horsepower and 180 lb.-ft of torque, to the high level of reliability. The Toyota engineering that powers this vehicle prevents breakdowns from happening early on in its life span.
Conclusion
So that’s all we have on cars with heated cup holders. If you’ve spilled a hot drink into your lap while driving, you’ll realize why this is such a great feature. It’s often so difficult to juggle a hot drink and drive simultaneously.
So having a heating system in the cup holder to keep your beverage warm until you’ve finished it is an excellent idea. It will encourage people to drink hot beverages inside the car instead of on the road, reducing accidents caused by distracted driving.