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Heated seat for sorrento EX

LadyFeatherington

New member
Joined
Apr 26, 2025
Messages
4
City & State/Province
New York
My sister's trying to nail down a deal on a 2020 Kia Sorento EX at the local dealership here. She doesn't want to break the bank with the premium package but really wants those toasty heated seats that come with the LX convenience package.

Here's where the wheels fall off: the dealer tells me they can only install some off-brand aftermarket heaters. They can't use the original Kia buttons, and they'd have to hack in some cheap'o switches somewhere on the console.

Now, has anyone else out there gone down this rabbit hole of trying to add heated seats using the proper, factory Kia switches?

Hit me with your thoughts guys!
 
Your dealer is probably offering an aftermarket heater for seats with the generic switches, it's okay but it won't look or feel OEM. Your sister should check for local auto electronic shops that specialize in OEM upgrades. Of course it's best to go with the premium package, if the budget allows.
 
I once added heated seats to an older car and went through a local dealership that offered factory style kits. It was a bit more expensive than aftermarket but the integration with the original controls made it feel worth it, you might want to check with the dealership if they can source an official kit
 
My sister's trying to nail down a deal on a 2020 Kia Sorento EX at the local dealership here. She doesn't want to break the bank with the premium package but really wants those toasty heated seats that come with the LX convenience package.

Here's where the wheels fall off: the dealer tells me they can only install some off-brand aftermarket heaters. They can't use the original Kia buttons, and they'd have to hack in some cheap'o switches somewhere on the console.

Now, has anyone else out there gone down this rabbit hole of trying to add heated seats using the proper, factory Kia switches?

Hit me with your thoughts guys!
That's a tricky situation. Aftermarket heaters can be effective, but the installation can get pretty messy, especially with low-quality switches. If she can't find the EX trim, it might be worth searching for a higher-qualtiy aftermarket kit that fits better. It would definitely result in a neater setup than tryin to patch in random switches. Has she checked out any better aftermarkt alternatives?
 
My sister's trying to nail down a deal on a 2020 Kia Sorento EX at the local dealership here. She doesn't want to break the bank with the premium package but really wants those toasty heated seats that come with the LX convenience package.

Here's where the wheels fall off: the dealer tells me they can only install some off-brand aftermarket heaters. They can't use the original Kia buttons, and they'd have to hack in some cheap'o switches somewhere on the console.

Now, has anyone else out there gone down this rabbit hole of trying to add heated seats using the proper, factory Kia switches?

Hit me with your thoughts guys!
Factory switches should have all the OEM wiring and modules. Unless you're ready to go deep into the dash, just stick with the aftermarket option. It's an easier route for you, and it's cheaper too. It might not look like the factory ones but the seats will still be warm for you. Definitely does its job.
 
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