Best cars with ventilated seats in India in 2024 - Price, specs & features

As buying preferences evolve, it’s hard to miss the fact that cars being sold in India are getting better equipped with features. The features being referred to here come in all shapes and sizes, but the one that’s particularly under the spotlight is cars equipped with ventilated seats.

What exactly is a car with ventilated seats, though? Simply put, manufacturers equip fans and ducts within the seats of a car to circulate air to the seat’s occupant. The advantages of having ventilated seats in a country as hot and humid as ours are obvious, so it’s not hard to understand why the feature is becoming common.

That said, do you have to break the bank to get a car with ventilated seats in India? More pressingly, which cars give you a good cocktail of convenience and safety features? Furthermore, does splurging on features mean a compromise on other key aspects of the car? In our list of the best Indian cars with ventilated seats in 2024, we give you the answers to those very questions.

List Of 10 affordable cars with ventilated seats In India

1. Kia Sonet

When Kia launched the Sonet in 2020, it was a revelation. The Sonet, as a compact SUV, brought plenty of segment-first features. Kia introduced refined and competitive engine and transmission options, and edgy styling with the SUV that really set it apart from the rest.

One of the key aspects about the Kia Sonet has been how well-equipped it is. The Sonet gets a total of 10 trim levels, ranging from the base HTE to the top-spec X-Line. The base HTE trim gets semi-leatherette seats with all-black interiors, and a fully folding rear bench seat. Two rungs up the ladder to the HTX trim gets you 60:40 seat back split fold seats. However, you’d need to go a step up to the HTX+ trim to spec your Sonet with front ventilated seats. The GTX trim adds a 4-way powered driver’s seat and black leatherette seats, and a rear centre armrest is available on HTX trims and up.

If ventilated seats are your priority, the most affordable HTX+ trim starts at ₹13.59 lakh (ex-showroom), which is paired to a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with an iMT transmission.

Kia Sonet key specifications:

Kia Sonet key features

• Ventilated seats offered in HTX+ trim and up
• ADAS
• 360-degree camera

2. Tata Nexon

The Tata Nexon is no stranger to the top spot on the best-selling SUVs list in India. Launched in 2017, the Nexon has always managed to capture the buyer’s attention better than most, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

The Nexon is available in a total of four trim levels: Smart, Pure, Creative and Fearless. Counting the optional packages, however, pushes the total number of trims to 12. 

If you’re keen on the ventilated front seats, then you’d have to settle for the ‘Fearless+ S’ trim, which is the highest spec Nexon available. The most affordable Fearless+ S trim costs ₹13.09 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), which is paired to a 1.2-litre petrol engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. This also gives you leatherette seats, a height adjustable front passenger seat, and even a leatherette front armrest.

On the other hand, the starting ‘Fearless’ trim makes do with a front centre armrest, 60:40 split and fold rear seats, and a leather wrapped steering wheel, among others.

Tata Nexon key specifications:

Tata Nexon key features

• 10.25-inch digital driver’s display
• 360-degree camera
• Front seat ventilation offered on in the top Fearless+ S variant

3. Tata Altroz Racer

The Tata Altroz Racer is the newest kid on the block. Launched in June, 2024, the Altroz Racer is Tata’s attempt at capturing the imagination of driving enthusiasts.

The Altroz Racer comes in three variants: R1, R2, and R3. The base R1 comes with leatherette seats, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, and a leather-wrapped front sliding armrest. The R2 adds features like a voice-activated electric sunroof and a wireless phone charger, among others. It is the top-spec R3 variant that features  the ventilated front seats, prices for which start at ₹10.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Tata Altroz Racer key specifications:

Tata Altroz key features

• 360-degree camera
• Ventilated seats in top R3 variant
• 10.25-inch touchscreen display
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

4. Kia Seltos

Since its debut in 2018, the Kia Seltos has always been known for its stylish design, cabin quality, and tech. Despite essentially being a close sibling of the Hyundai Creta, the Seltos has managed to distinguish itself from its stablemate quite well.

Just like the Kia Sonet, the Seltos is also the recipient of an extensive features list. The Seltos is available in a total of eight trims, including Kia’s optional packages that are donated by a ‘+’. In terms of cabin comfort, the base HTE trim receives fabric seats, a driver seat height adjustment option, and front seat belt height adjustment, among others. For leatherette seats and a 60:40 seat back split folding functionality, you’d need to opt for the HTX trim, while the HTX+ trim adds an 8-way adjustable powered driver’s seat and ventilated seats. The most affordable HTX+ trim comes in at an ex-showroom (Delhi) price of ₹18.72 lakh, which gets you a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and an iMT transmission. 

Kia Seltos key specifications:

Kia Seltos key features

• Panoramic sunroof
• ADAS
• Ventilated seats available in HTX+ trim and above

5. Tata Punch EV

Tata has been on a roll of late in terms of sales numbers. One of the reasons for that success is because of its model offensive, which includes the very likeable Punch EV. It’s built on the same platform as its ICE sibling, and is an appealing blend of safety features, tech, and affordability.

The Punch EV is offered in three trim levels: Smart, Adventure and Empowered. The base Smart trim comes well equipped, and offers features like a height adjustable driver’s seat, ISOFIX, and six airbags. However, it’s only on the top-spec Empowered+ and Empowered+ Long Range trims that you get access to leatherette and front ventilated seats. This means that the most affordable ventilated seats-equipped Punch EV comes in at ₹14.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). 

The Tata Punch EV also gets a host of features to keep its occupants comfortable and safe. This includes an electronic stability program, hill-hold assist, a 360-degree camera, and connected car tech, among others.

Tata Punch EV key specifications:

Tata Punch EV key features

• 360-degree camera
• Touch-sensitive climate control panel
• Punch EV Empowered+ top variant offers ventilated seats

6. Hyundai Creta

The Creta SUV is one of the biggest success stories for Hyundai in India. It’s been around since 2015, and has consistently been near the top of the sales charts. As part of a recent update in early 2024, the Creta is now even more refined, and offers a very appealing blend of style, comfort, features, and performance.

Hyundai offers the Creta in seven trim levels, including the optional packages. You get fabric seat upholstery on the bottom four trims (E, EX, S, and S (O)), while leather seats are only offered on the top-spec SX (O) trim. A 60:40 split rear seat is standard across the range, as is a two-step rear reclining seat. If you want to spec the rear seats with headrest cushions, that’s only available on the SX trim and up. Unfortunately, the only trim that front ventilated seats are available on is the top-spec SX (O), which has a starting ex-showroom (Delhi) price of ₹17.27 lakh.

Even then, the Creta’s overall features list isn’t lacking. Ventilated front seats, ADAS, a 360-degree camera, cruise control, paddle shifters, three drive modes, and a lot more make the Creta a package that’s brimming with value. 

Hyundai Creta key specifications:

Hyundai Creta key features

• ADAS
• 360-degree camera
• Ventilated seats only available on the top-spec SX (O) variant

7. Hyundai Verna

The midsize sedan segment has been through a revival lately, and one of the key players is the Hyundai Verna. As part of a refresh in 2023, the Verna received a significant update that has made it more competent than ever.

Hyundai offers the Verna in six trims, including the optional packages. What’s standard is a dual-tone beige and black interior colour theme, but the top-spec SX Turbo and SX (O) Turbo trims get black leatherette interiors with a smattering of red accents. Features like a height adjustable driver’s seat and adjustable headrests for all seats are standard across the range. However, if you wanted to spec ventilated and heated front seats and a powered driver’s seat, that’s only available on the SX (O) and SX (O) Turbo trims. The SX (O) trim starts with a 1.5-litre petrol option paired to a 6-speed manual, and will set you back ₹14.69 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Overall, it’s hard to give the Hyundai Verna a miss if you’re in the market for a capable midsize sedan.

Hyundai Verna key specifications:

Hyundai Verna key features

• Powered driver’s seat
• Heated and ventilated seats in the SX (O) and SX (O) Turbo trims
• ADAS
• 8-speaker Bose sound system

8. Volkswagen Taigun

The Taigun SUV is part of Volkswagen’s growing model portfolio in India. Its highlights include strong performance, a well-equipped cabin, 5-star safety rating, and an undeniable sense of quality through and through.

Volkswagen offers the Taigun in two main variants, Dynamic Line and Performance Line, with three trims each. Under the Dynamic Line, the base Comfortline trim comes well-equipped with in-cabin highlights like dual-tone interiors, fully-foldable rear seat backrests, seat belt reminders for all seats, and a height-adjustable driver's seat. A 60:40 split rear seat is available on the middle spec Highline trim and up, and the Topline spec adds ventilated front seats with leather inserts. The Topline trims start at ₹16.30 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

As for the Performance Line, the base GT trim gets partial leatherette seat upholstery, and you can pick between an ‘Amur Grey Glossy’ or ‘Dark Red Glossy’ decor. Ventilated seats are on offer from the mid-spec GT Plus trim.

Volkswagen Taigun key specifications:

Volkswagen Taigun key features

• 8-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.25-inch touchscreen
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Ventilated seats available in the Topline and GT Plus variants
• Wireless phone charger

9. Mahindra XUV700

Launched in 2021, the Mahindra XUV700 marked a significant leap for the Indian automaker. It showcased Mahindra's newfound focus on premium features and technology. Packed with safety features like an ADAS safety suite suite, multiple airbags, and electronic stability control, the XUV700 set a new benchmark for the segment.

Mahindra offers the XUV700 the following trims: MX, AX3, AX5 Select, AX5, AX7, and AX7 Luxury Pack. The base trim has features like adjustable headrests for all four window seats, a rear armrest, and a 60:40 second row seat split with one-touch tumble. Leatherette seats are available on the AX7, along with a 6-way adjustable powered driver’s seat. Ventilated seats are exclusive to the top-spec AX7 Luxury Pack model, which starts at an ex-showroom (Delhi) price of ₹22.49 lakh.

Mahindra XUV700 key specifications:

Mahindra XUV700 key features

• XUV700 offers ventilated seats in the top-spec AX7 Luxury Pack
• Sony sound system
• 2x 10.25-inch infotainment screens
• Panoramic sunroof

10. Tata Safari

The Tata Safari is a three-row SUV positioned above the Harrier. Originally launched in 1998, it’s been a core part of Tata’s SUV offerings over the years. The latest generation received a facelift as recently as 2023, and shares the same platform as the Harrier but offers a larger, more premium feel. Safety is a strong suit for the Safari, thanks to a 5-star GNCAP rating. 

You can choose from over 10 variants of the Tata Safari, but the base-spec Smart (O) and Pure (O) trims pack in all the essential features. This includes front row height adjustable seat belts, 3-point seat belt reminders for all seats, second row 60:40 split seats, 50:50 split third row seats, and fabric seats all around. The Adventure trim is the next rung on the ladder, and incorporates a front armrest with cooled storage, and a height-adjustable driver seat with lumbar support, among others.

It’s from the ‘Accomplished’ trim and up that you get ventilated front seats. The Accomplished+ trim further adds second row ventilated seats. In effect, the most affordable trim you can get the Safari with ventilated seats works out to ₹23.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Tata Safari key specifications:

Tata Safari key features

• Safari’s Accomplished trim and above offer ventilated seats
• Rear seat ventilation is available in the Accomplished+ variant
• Level 2 ADAS

Conclusion

Cars with ventilated seats are a growing trend in India. As is evident from this list, features like ventilated seats are gradually trickling down from more expensive cars to daily runabouts like the Tata Altroz.

That said, a majority of the cars on this list still don’t feature ventilated seats as standard across their respective ranges. For the most part, the feature is on offer on higher trim levels. However, as more manufacturers adopt the technology, there is every likelihood that this trend will be reversed, and we’ll soon begin to see them standard across the range.

FAQs

Q. Are ventilated seats worth it in India?

Given India’s hot and humid climate, ventilated seats in cars are worth the hype.

Q. Can we convert a normal seat to ventilated seats?

It’s a complex conversion, it is possible to convert a car with ventilated seats.

Q. Which one is better - ventilated or cooled seats?

Cars with cooled seats are a better option during hot summers.

Q. Do ventilated seats also come with heating options?

Yes, on certain cars like the Hyundai Verna.

Q. Are there any safety concerns with ventilated seats?

No. The mechanism behind ventilated seats isn’t complex, so there is little chance of any safety concern.