Feature of the Week:  Heated/Cooled Cupholders

Jul 22 2010 by Kristin Varela

I’m in and out of cars on a weekly or biweekly basis, so I often come across an interesting, quirky or useful feature in a test car that may simply get glossed over in my complete review. I thought it’d be fun to call out a Feature of the Week and give an extra bit of time and coverage to something that stands out in my test cars.

Recently, I drove the 2010 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid and was completely thrilled by the heated and cooled cupholders.  You might say cupholders are trivial, but I disagree. On a hectic morning when I have kids to drop off at summer camp, books to drop off at the library, dry cleaning to drop off, checks to deposit, groceries to buy and so forth, I get great pleasure out of having my tall, extra-hot, two-pump chai accompanying me through my morning errands. Once it gets tepid, it’s passed its prime.  The heated cupholders in the Escalade help keep it hot that much longer, extending my beverage pleasure throughout the entirety of the morning chaos. Nice!

What is your favorite feature in your car? Tell us in the comment section below.