[Steve in Central Vermont]

If you put the settings to "Auto", the car sets its own "settings" when remotely started. You can change that to manual (I think that's what it's called) and whatever you have set the car on before you shut it off: heating, fan speed, heated seats on, etc..., those settings will be applied when you remote start the car.

 

[Steve in Central Vermont]

No that's actually how it works in the Escape.
The last settings only apply to climate (HVAC & rear defrost), it doesn't apply to seats and wheel, those only turn on when the ignition switch is pressed after a remote start.

Nope....not on our 2023 Escape St Select vehicle. If the seat and steering wheel are turned on when we shut the car off, after remote start in the morning, the seat(s) and steering wheel are warm.

 

[Steve in Central Vermont]

If you live in a cold climate like we do, New England, press the MAX button so the heat and fans are on full blast. That will come on when remotely started if you have "last used settings" turned on.
Then when you get in the car, if it's too hot then, just press the "Auto" on the touch screen and it'll bring all the temp settings back to normal (where you had them before you pressed the MAX button).