What's the weirdest optional extra in a car?

The Subaru XV's fabric seats come with a pair of switches to heat them. Is there any stranger interior option?

A doubly warm backside can be achieved in the XV thanks to its heated fabric seats

6 July 2012

Borrowed deputy editor Matt Burt’s just-arrived Subaru XV last night. He’ll tell you all about its everyday appeal in the coming weeks, but a pair of the Subaru’s interior switches are worthy of their own early story.

Tucked in behind the handbrake to the left of the driver’s backside are two switches for the heated seats. But our particular mid-spec SE version of the XV has fabric seats. And those switches aren’t just placebos; they work.

I know heated fabric seats are nothing new in Japanese cars; my own long-term Honda Insight a couple of years ago had them. I couldn’t work out why they were there then, and seeing them again in the XV has reignited my bafflement.

So, two questions to you all: can anyone enlighten me on the logic behind heated fabric seats? And is there an even more baffling optional extra you can think of that’s as bizarre as it is pointless?

Join the debate

Comments

winniethewoo

I think heated fabric seats

12 weeks 4 days ago

I think heated fabric seats make a lot of sense if its -20 degrees outside and you are running studded ice tyres. Imagine a Scandinavian winter... your car has been left overnight in tempuratures approaching -20 degrees... you get in and start it up... the air heaters will be blow cold air for a while... during this time you need faster heating options. I imagine heated fabric seats will be very welcome until the car has had a chance to heat up.

rizoalbert

Subaru XV

27 weeks 1 day ago

Subaru XV sounds good. It came with few great feture. Hope Subaru XV will make be able to make a brighter future. Make a insurance with the help of

New Jersey Auto Insurance .

tom111

I just found this blog and

26 weeks 8 hours ago

I just found this blog and have high hopes for it to continue. Keep up the great work, its hard to find good ones. I have added to my favorites. Thank You. best elliptical reviews

tpoynton

Sports Cars

31 weeks 23 hours ago

Modern sports cars are becoming rare as car makers recognize a need to maintain some level of functionality if they are to entice buyers. The innovations spurred by traditional sports cars are being adopted into vehicles of every size and shape. Car Insurance in Florida

tom111

Thanks for taking the time to

28 weeks 4 days ago

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. Look for Vesta Homes Here

basilbenedict85

Traditional sports cars are

32 weeks 5 days ago

Traditional sports cars are becoming increasingly rare as automakers recognize a need to maintain some level of functionality if they are to entice buyers. The innovations spurred by traditional sports cars are being adopted into vehicles of every size and shape. freight factoring companies

carman12

Why wouldn't you want them?

47 weeks 1 day ago

It's a luxury that I think must become a necessity and a standard feature on all new cars in this country. People probably said that exact same thing about Air conditioning in 20 years ago, but look at us now! I won't buy my next car unless it has heated seats. Waiting 5 minutes for the heater to get warm in -10 degree weather isn't actually that enjoyable you know!

alloydawg

Subaru heated seats

49 weeks 22 hours ago

Mark, here in Los Angeles where it constantly rains thin and shapely women. They love heated seats. It's just one of those aditional things a man needs to have, to please their thin and shapely women friends. Good job for Subaru.

Neil2129

Union jack roof

49 weeks 1 day ago

I can understand why a MINI - a British icon, could be had with a Union Jack/Flag on the roof.

But why was this also available on the Japanese-branded and Hungarian-built last generation Suzuki Swift?

sierra

Cooled steering wheels

49 weeks 2 days ago

Noting the references to heated steering wheels, does anybody do cooled steering wheels - if you've ever parked a car in the open in the Middle East, you'll know why?

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What's the weirdest optional extra in a car?

Join the debate

I think heated fabric seats

Subaru XV

I just found this blog and

Sports Cars

Thanks for taking the time to

Traditional sports cars are

Why wouldn't you want them?

Subaru heated seats

Union jack roof

Cooled steering wheels

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Choose a make

Then a model

Driven this week

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Audi A3 saloon 1.4 TFSI Sport first drive review

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