The Under $50 Upgrade to Make to Your Car This Year (Because It Makes Driving So Much More Enjoyable)

• 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: HealthMate 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.

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 December, especially as I prepare for a 19-hour road trip), I can’t imagine going back to anything else.

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.