We've just experienced England’s warmest ever June on record with temperatures reaching highs of 37.7 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country.And forecasters say summer heatwaves are set to continue in 2026, with another intensely hot period on its way this week.For drivers, this means another uncomfortable series of days behind the wheel. But it doesn't need to be that way.Whether you’re commuting, going to the beach to bask in the sunshine, or heading on a staycation, features that allow you to stay cool in your car are more than welcome.While air conditioning is thankfully a given in almost all modern cars, there's other technology that can make your journey in high temperatures much more bearable.From ventilated seats to chill box storage compartments, here are five features that will make your vehicle your favourite place to hang out during the next heatwave. Want to stay cool in your car in a heatwave? Here are five high-tech features that will transform summer driving - from remote cabin pre-cooling to vehicle-to-load1. Cabin pre-coolingIt's never fun getting into a car that's been parked in the sun for a prolonged period.The sauna-like levels of heat inside the cabin can leave you worried about getting stuck to the driver's seat or scalded by the metal seatbelt buckle. But for many electric and hybrid car owners, it doesn't need to be this way. This is because many of the latest models now come with cabin pre-cooling as part of their pre-conditioning feature.Using a dedicated application on a smartphone, owners can lower the temperature in the car's cabin minutes before getting inside.It's a common feature with EVs and hybrids because it uses grid electricity while the car is plugged in to avoid reducing its electric range.However, your car doesn't have to be plugged in to utilise the feature and it won't be a significant drain on battery range.2. Chilled storage compartments Being able to sip on a cool bottle of water or an icy soft drink on a hot day is blissful.But storing drinks in cars during heatwaves is not recommended.For bottled water, there are concerns that chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates used in some plastic materials - which act as binding agents to make bottles more flexible - can leach into the water. And cans of fizzy soft drink are at risk of bursting due to the increase in pressure caused by soaring temperatures.But some cars now come with a very clever solution. A number of brands, including Chinese newcomers Jaecoo and Omoda (which have them as standard), come with chilled storage compartments - or in-built 'cool boxes'. Usually located in the central armrest, chilled storage compartments can fit small water bottles and cans (not 1.5-litre bottles) and use cooling air vents to keep the drinks at low temperatures.Don't try putting in ice lollies – it's not that cool - but these refrigerated centre cubbies are a great summer addition. Ventilated or cooled seats will be a huge plus-point to any car you buy, especially if every seat is equipped with this tech, and will keep you extra cool in a heatwave3. Ventilated/cooled seats While people probably think this tech is new, due to their re-emergence in the last few years, ventilated seats have been around since Saab introduced them in the first-generation 9-5 in 1997. These days, the terms ventilated and cooled seats are used interchangeably, but they technically mean slightly different things.While air-con keeps the whole cabin cool, ventilated seats recirculate vehicle-temperature air through the perforated seat coverings. Cooled seats, on the other hand, blow refrigerated air through the perforated seat coverings - either taken from air-con or from the seat's own special air-con unit. Either ventilated or cooled seats are a huge plus point in any car you buy, especially if every seat is equipped with this tech. Just a few carmakers that offer this heat-reducing feature include Tesla, Omoda and Jaecoo, Volkswagen, Kia, Hyundai and Ford.4. 12V socket A 12V socket is a standard feature in most cars - from budget to high-end. While you can use it for many things, in a heatwave its most obvious use is powering a cool box for when you're having a picnic in high temperatures. Or you can use an extension lead and feed the cable from the boot to rear passengers so they can help themselves to cool drinks on the go. It also keeps food fresh and chilled while you're on the road. If your car doesn't have a cooling compartment, 12V is a useful alternative. Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) allows you to use your EV or plug-in hybrid car as a portable power bank. You can hook up everything from fans to keep cool to ice making machines5. Vehicle-to-load (V2L)This EV and plug-in hybrid technology allows you to run external electric devices from the car's battery. Essentially, it makes your car into a large, portable power bank. This means you can use vehicle-to-load (V2L) to blow up a paddling pool or power portable air conditioning units or even ice cube makers - anything that requires electricity and has cooling potential can be hooked up to your car with V2L. So, for brave staycationers heading off on a camping trip in a heatwave, this feature can transform the experience, taking it from camping to glamping – while helping you stay safe outdoors in the heat.