The creature comfort of heated seats tops the list of desirable extras when US citizens set out to buy a new car, a new 2026 survey by AutoPacific reveals.
It seems seats with comfy, warm cushions are more desirable than blind-spot monitors, lane-change assist and adaptive cruise control, according to the survey conducted among 19,000 people.
Four-wheel drive ended up in 15th place, says the poll carried out by the automotive market research and consulting company. But parking sensors and rear automated emergency braking took second and third place, respectively.
Heated seats were tops with 47% of those canvassed, with dash cameras and so-called large animal detectors way down the list.
Compared with last year’s survey, automated parking increased in popularity, to finish in 10th place, showing that a significant number of people are looking for self-parking features in their new vehicles.
In a parallel straw poll on the website of US car magazine Car & Driver, which asked readers “Are heated seats the top of your list”, 56% agreed. Some 44% say there were other features they would prefer to have.
Safety is still very important for car buyers but priorities have changed, says AutoPacific.
Over the years, some driver assistance and safety features have become required by law, says the company. Features like backup cameras and emergency braking systems, once surveyed by AutoPacific, are now found in every new vehicle.
“Yet beyond those required features, it is becoming increasingly common for consumers to find more advanced safety systems in new vehicles.”