10 Top SUVs with Ventilated Seats

2018 Lexus LX 570 seats ・ Photo by Lexus

Although people used to shop for sport-utility vehicles primarily because they needed the capability, today’s customers are just as interested in SUVs with ventilated seats and other premium extras. There are plenty to be had, too, since nearly all SUVs provide relatively upscale trim levels. These also can go well beyond cooled seats to offer a full range of additional luxury content. 

Both premium comfort cues and some of the industry’s hottest technologies are in the mix on this list, and among them are richly appointed cabins, LED lighting, and mobile Wi-Fi connectivity. Of course, even despite all these niceties, today’s vehicles are ready to live up to their SUV roots with robust tow ratings, massive cargo capacities, and three-row seating for up to nine. So please read on the see the top 10 SUVs with ventilated seats.

2017 Chevrolet Tahoe

The 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe is a full-size sport-utility with three rows of seating, and up front, the range-topping Premier trim showcases heated and vented 12-way power-adjustable seats as standard equipment. The second-row bucket seats are heated as well, as is the standard leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel and the power-folding exterior mirrors with integrated turn-signal indicators. 

The third row then completes the seating package with a power-folding function. On the topic of power, the Tahoe earns its SUV stripes with a standard 5.3-liter V8, 355 horsepower, 383 lb.-ft. of torque, available four-wheel drive, and a maximum tow rating of 8,600 lbs.

Photo by Chevrolet

2017 Chevrolet Suburban

For SUVs with ventilated seats and maximum cargo space, the Bowtie brand offers the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban. Like the Tahoe, the Suburban is sold in a luxurious Premier trim that supplies, well, all the trimmings. The driver and front-seat passenger can relax in climate-controlled chairs with 12-way power-adjustability, and the optional second-row bucket seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel—along with the standard exterior mirrors—also are heated. The same high levels of technology, connectivity, and capability also are on hand in the Suburban. The differences include a longer wheelbase and a similar increase in rear storage space. To be exact, the Suburban is super-sized to handle up to 121.7 cubic feet of cargo.

Photo by General Motors

2017 Ford Expedition

The Blue Oval is another company that has SUVs with ventilated seats and EcoBoost engine technology. The 2017 Ford Expedition stands out with available heated and cooled seats even for its entry trim, and those climate-controlled front buckets are standard throughout the rest of the lineup. They also enhance comfort with 10-way power adjustability and leather appointments, while second-row passengers can benefit from heat at the outboard positions. Another advantage comes under the hood, where all Expeditions feature a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that makes 365 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s enough for a 9,200-lb. trailer rating and in the back is more than 108 cubic feet of total cargo space.

Photo by Ford

2017 Lincoln Navigator

Most SUVs with ventilated seats serve up their share of premium content, but the 2017 Lincoln Navigator takes things to the next level. Heated and cooled front bucket seats are standard, and the second-row seats are heated. The standard third row? That has a power-folding mechanism. Moreover, the Navigator displays traditional luxury touches that extend to real-wood trim for its leather-wrapped steering wheel, instrument panel, and door panels. As is the case with the Ford Explorer, the Navigator builds on that foundation with more than 100 cubic feet of maximum storage space and a standard EcoBoost V6. The engine for the Navigator, though, raises output levels to 380 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque.

Photo by Lincoln

2017 GMC Yukon

The 2017 GMC Yukon also furnishes a more premium ownership experience than many mainstream SUVs with ventilated seats—especially in its flagship Denali trim. That model’s standard seating package has all the luxury favorites, such as climate-controlled and leather-appointed front seats, second-row heating, and a power-folding third row. The Denali also checks in with a standard heated steering wheel, plus three cutting-edge connectivity features; Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. In fact, mobile Wi-Fi is standard in all Yukon models. The Yukon proves it also does not shy away from work with a standard 5.3-liter V8 making 355 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque, which enables an 8,300-lb. tow rating, complemented by a 94.7-cubic-foot storage capacity.

Photo by GMC

2017 Toyota Land Cruiser

Don’t be fooled by the mainstream origins for the 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser. This is an impressively high-end choice, and it comes with standard equipment that more typical SUVs with ventilated seats can’t match. For starters, those luxurious seats are standard on all Land Cruiser trims, which also boast standard equipment such as a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, and a four-zone climate system with 28 vents. Toyota also delivers an important tech advantage with a standard Safety Sense-P bundle. It bundles adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection and automatic braking. And unlike most SUVs in today’s gallery, the Land Cruiser is configured with a standard full-time four-wheel-drive system.

Photo by Toyota

2017 Toyota Sequoia

For more room for both passengers and cargo, the largest of Toyota’s SUVs with ventilated seats is the 2017 Toyota Sequoia. A full-size, three-row sport-utility, the Sequoia can fit up to eight occupants or a whopping 120.1 cubic feet of gear. It also meets most customers towing needs, thanks to a standard 5.7-liter V8 engine that’s responsible for 381 horsepower, 401 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 7,300-lb. towing limit. To meet the requirements of today’s gallery, the Sequoia supplies heated and ventilated front seats in its Platinum edition, which also boasts perforated-leather trim, heated second-row captain’s chairs, and a rear-seat Blu-ray entertainment system with a nine-inch drop-down display and two wireless headsets.

Photo by Toyota

2017 Nissan Armada

Based on the globally popular Nissan Patrol, the redesigned 2017 Nissan Armada is both tougher and more luxurious than ever. Consider the Armada Platinum. This flagship trim is a triple threat in terms of premium seating, with a heated and cooled front row, a heated second row, and a power-folding third row. Naturally, the multi-function steering wheel for the Platinum trim is heated and wrapped in leather. Also providing an elevated look for all Armada trims are standard LED low-beam headlights, halogen high beams, LED daytime running lights, and heated exterior mirrors with puddle lamps. Power for this nifty Nissan suv comes in the form of a standard 390 horsepower V8.

Photo by Nissan

2017 Lexus GX

The two-row 2017 Lexus GX is one of the midsize suvs with ventilated seats, meaning that it combines superior levels of comfort with slightly nimbler dimensions than the full-size entries. To be exact, the GX is 8 inches shorter than its three-row sibling, the 2017 Lexus LX. But it’s no less luxurious. The GX not only offers heated and ventilated front-row seats, it's also packaged with heated and ventilated second-row seats (and semi-aniline leather cabin trim and four-zone automatic climate control.) The steering wheel follows the same pattern, moving past the typical heated and leather-wrapped setup with real wood trim. Turning to the more truck-like attributes of the GX, customers enjoy a standard V8 with 403 horsepower and a 7,000-lb. trailer capacity.

Photo by Lexus Media

2017 Cadillac Escalade

Probably the least surprising entry on our list of SUVs with ventilated seats is the 2017 Cadillac Escalade. A long-time leader on the luxury suv scene, the current version carries heated and cooled front seats—and the proverbial much, much more—as standard equipment. The standard second-row bucket seats are heated, as you’d expect, and bolstering the Escalade’s lux credentials are standard treats such as a power-folding third row of seats and a heated, leather-wrapped, and wood-trimmed multi-function steering wheel. All of GM’s premier connectivity technologies also are standard, including a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. Meanwhile, in terms of power, the Escalade’s 6.2-liter V8 delivers 420 horsepower, 460 lb.-ft. of torque, and an 8,300-lb. towing capacity.

Photo by Cadillac