Best Steering Wheel Covers in 2021

The problem with factory steering wheels, though, is that they can often be too slippery, too warm in the hot summer months or even cause discomfort in your hands if the ergonomics just aren’t right.

The problem is compounded by the fact that a manufacturer can only design one steering wheel per vehicle, and a one-size-fits-all approach can translate to the perfect wheel for some, while others struggle to quite literally get a grip. 

Opting for an aftermarket steering wheel cover can help your hands from building up sweaty surfaces, maximising the amount of grip you can grab the wheel with, and importantly, protect your factory steering wheel from the damage of sun rays and significant amounts of wear and tear as you clock up hundreds of hours behind the wheel.

With those factors in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best steering wheel covers available on the market and break down some of the major features and benefits on offer. 

Why Buy a Steering Wheel Cover? 

There’s a number of reasons to buy a steering wheel cover for your car, most significantly, the value that you can add to your vehicle’s interior when you protect the factory wheel, avoiding damage from the sun and deterioration from wear-and-tear.

When it comes time to sell your car, maintaining the quality of your interior and retaining its factory-fresh appearance can be a helpful bargaining chip when negotiating your desired price for the vehicle. 

Aside from retaining value in your vehicle’s interior, steering wheel covers can also help give the driver more grip and control over the steering wheel itself, as well as making the wheel more comfortable and resistant to certain temperature changes.

An aftermarket steering wheel cover can add a layer of soft, sponge-like comfort to an otherwise hard surface, which can make a profound difference to your hands on long journeys. 

• Protect your vehicle’s factory steering wheel condition

• Retaining the value of your vehicle’s interior  

• Avoid extreme heat and cold temperatures 

• Added grip from textiles like microfiber 

• Reducing wear and tear from repetitive use and stress

• Eliminate UV deterioration from the sun 

Best Overall Steering Wheel Cover: SEG Direct Microfiber Leather Steering Wheel Cover 

The steering wheel cover that has absolutely dominated the market in recent years comes from SEG, which features a durable, weather-proof and heat resistant microfiber leather. Since its introduction, SEG’s Direct Microfiber wheel cover has garnered tens of thousands of positive reviews on online marketplaces, offering up that all-important social proof that adds confidence to your purchase. 

 It takes our award for the overall winner due to its durable construction and materials, blending leather for the surrounds and microfiber where your hands are likely to sit, which adds massively to its grip levels, while retaining a comfortable surface that is heat and cold-resistant in a stylish package, available in a range of colours. It’s suitable for mid-sized steering wheels with a diameter of anywhere between 37-39cm, with the retailer saying it’s compatible with wheels from Audi, BMW, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, Honda, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo and more. 

Best Cooling Steering Wheel Cover: Sharper Image Cooling Gel Steering Wheel Cover 

If you’re looking specifically for a steering wheel cover that can help keep your hands cool in the brutal conditions of an Australian summer, the Sharper Image cooling gel cushion grip wheel cover looks to be your best option. It features raised, cushioned side grips that allow air to pass underneath your hands as you drive, offering some much-needed ventilation on a harsh summer’s day. Better still, this wheel cover can be easily removed and washed if it does become covered in sweat, keeping your wheel safe from UV deterioration and interior clean all at the same time. 

Best Heated Steering Wheel Cover: Boxgear Heated Steering Wheel Cover 

If you live in a predominantly cold climate, you’d know that stepping inside a car and gripping a freezing cold steering wheel is an unwelcome start to the day. You’d be glad to know, then, that heated steering wheel covers, like the Boxgear cover, are one of the most simple yet effective means of keeping your hands warm and cosy in the cold winter months. It features a PVC leather design with a fabric heating element underneath which is powered by a 12-volt DC outlet that plugs directly into your vehicle’s auxiliary power, and starts warming instantly. In terms of suitability, the Boxgear heated steering wheel cover is said to offer near-universal sizing for wheels between 36-39cm. 

Best Leather Steering Wheel Cover: BDK Leather Wheel Cover

If you’re looking for a simple, refined and understated leather steering wheel cover, BDK has some of the best on the market. The BDK leather steering wheel cover features a durable, double-stitched seam construction, and is made from 100% genuine leather that has been formed into an ergonomic design for added grip and comfort.

While some wheel covers can look like a cheap novelty, BDK’s understated design means it will look at home, even in more premium vehicles.Better still, they offer unique sizing depending on your vehicle, rather than a universal one-size-fits all approach to fitment. 

Let’s quickly list out some of the other notable additions to the range of steering wheel covers you can buy for your vehicle. These include, in no particular order: 

• Valleycomfy Leather Steering Wheel Cover 

• Bokin Microfiber Leather Steering Wheel Cover 

• Moyishi Top Leather Steering Wheel Cover 

• Rueesh Microfiber Leather Steering Wheel Cover 

• Sino Banyan Bling Steering Wheel Cover 

• Valleycomfy Microfiber Leather Steering Wheel Cover 

What Types of Steering Wheel Covers Work Best? 

It’s impossible to say which steering wheel covers work better than others, so long as you’re purchasing a quality product from a recognised manufacturer. Bold promises and cheap prices from some of the bargain aftermarket retailers often can’t stand the test of time, and deteriorate quickly, which is a good reason to pay a little bit extra and opt for a higher-quality steering wheel cover.

The rest comes down to personal taste and preference for what you need and appreciate from a steering wheel cover, be it build materials, design or ergonomics.