Accessory: Seat heaters.

Cost: $20 to $100 per seat. This range encompasses the lower-cost, fold-over Wagan Tech seat heaters found online and higher-end options such as the Universal Carbon Fiber.

If you're looking to buy a new car, consider that cold morning commute as you browse the lot. Dan Edmunds, director of vehicle testing at Edmunds, says seat heaters are becoming more widely available on many new models as a standard feature in luxury vehicles and an add-on on lesser car offerings.

But you don't have to buy a new car to stay warm.

Some aftermarket, seat-heating kits can be installed beneath your seat covers. However, Edmunds cautions that self-installation can be complicated due to potential compatibility issues with a car's electrical system.

Baukus Mello recommends heaters that simply fold over the seats as an eco-friendly alternative to remote starter systems. Available at a lower price, these kits also take the self-installation dilemma out of the equation.