There is nothing more beautiful and attractive than the appearance of a car with a panoramic sunroof. The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class or Kia Stinger are worth a look; the cars, equipped with all-black tinted glass roofs, look simply stunning. What’s especially cool is the contrast between a dark roof and a lighter overall car color, such as Snow Pearl White or Light Silver Metallic.

Most people will agree that these cars look very good, but in practice Having a car with a panoramic sunroof may raise important questionswhich you need to consider when buying a new car before checking this option.

1. Increase in temperature inside the car

It’s obvious, of course, but the panoramic sunroof literally creates a massive window through which direct sunlight streams into your car. The severity of this problem depends on your geographic location, how high the summer temperatures are, and the clarity of the sky – which will determine how strong and intense the sunlight will be. For example, in Australia, the average summer daytime temperature sometimes exceeds 40°C, coupled with crystal clear blue skies. These conditions allow the sun to be simply “sizzling.” In Russia you can also find places with a hot and sunny climate.

On hot days, leaving any vehicle in the sun for 15 minutes or more will see the interior temperature rise significantly, and in a car with a panoramic sunroof, the cabin temperature will instantly skyrocket. You might think that tinted glass would help, but unfortunately, in our experience, it makes little difference. Tinted glass works by directly absorbing UV rays instead of letting them in, and essentially creates a large black superheated element on top of the car.

Retractable fabric awnings mounted directly below the panoramic sunroof prevent some of that heat from transferring into the cabin, but it also means that an incredible amount of heat will accumulate in the space between them. This heat can radiate into the cabin for some time after you get into the car and start driving, meaning your car’s air conditioning system will have to work much harder to lower the temperature inside the cabin and then maintain it.

2. Reducing the ceiling height in the cabin

If you think that choosing a panoramic sunroof in your car will give you more space, then this is not the case. You see, the extra space required for the panoramic sunroof motor and sun rollers means that your car will likely have less headroom than one you used without it. Sometimes the difference can reach 50 mm.

Removing the canopy or opening the sunroof does not solve the problem either, since the hole itself is not located far enough from the place where the driver’s head is. Simply put, taller drivers would have to tilt their head toward the center of the car to position their head within the panoramic roof opening. The only alternative for tall drivers is to recline the seatback to increase headroom, but this can create ergonomic issues with the steering wheel and pedal reach.

Therefore, if you are a fairly tall person, then you should definitely check the seating position in a car equipped with a sunroof before you decide to buy a car with this option.

3. Added weight to the car

Car manufacturers are working hard to reduce the weight of their vehicles because it offers benefits when it comes to acceleration, braking and fuel economy. Where possible, they also try to position heavy items (such as the engine, gearbox and fuel tank) as low as possible to improve the vehicle’s stability and handling.

Therefore, experts do not need to be reminded that a glass roof weighing more than 100 kg, extending through the very top of the car, is not a good idea. The reason they weigh so much is because glass is a hell of a lot thicker and heavier than steel or aluminum roofing panels, not to mention all the extra rebar, motors, and drainage ducts that are required.

Think of it this way. Having a panoramic sunroof on your car can be like having an extra passenger in your car—and that’s pretty much forever.

4. Complicating the design and adding noise

Although this is similar to the problem of excess weight that we mentioned above, it is an important issue that needs to be addressed separately. Panoramic sunroofs add additional complexity to the car. Where once there was only sheet metal and a headliner, suddenly two or more heavy glass panels appear; electric motors, switches, channels and rollers for the canopy; plus the main motor and sliding mechanism for the hatch panel itself.

On top of all these parts that can break or malfunction, they are also located directly above your head – with the potential for all sorts of noises, squeaks and rustling noises that can develop over time and irritate you while driving. It is also worth noting that raindrops falling on the glass roof also sound slightly louder.

A conventional steel or aluminum roof is not only quieter, but most importantly, it contains nothing that could rattle or break over time.

5. Reduced structural integrity

A panoramic sunroof is essentially a giant hole in the roof of your car, and while it may contribute to the car’s structural rigidity, it will never be as strong as a car with a regular roof. It is also worth considering that, by their nature, rubber hatch seals are not 100% waterproof. While the rubber seals keep most of the water out, the entire hatch design relies on drainage channels in the car’s roof to keep moisture out of the cabin.

These drain points can sometimes become clogged, which can cause the drains to overflow and allow water to enter the cabin.

6. How often will you use it?

People often buy convertibles because they think they’ll keep the roof off, but that’s not really the case. Often it is simply too hot, too cold or too windy to drive with the roof down, and as a result the driver eventually stops using it. Cars with a panoramic sunroof often face a similar fate.

Like the convertible, the panoramic sunroof is an all-or-nothing design. In most cars, the sunroof cannot be opened unless the interior shades are completely retracted, meaning the entire car will be exposed to the sun. This makes it pointless to leave the sunroof open while parked (in order to release hot air from the car), since the glass roof will let in much more heat than the sunroof can push out.

Additionally, sunroofs are often too loud when open at speeds above 80 km/h, unless you like to shout a lot at your passengers just to have a conversation.

So, do you still want a panoramic sunroof?

Despite their shortcomings, some car owners love their cars with a sunroof. But perhaps they live in a more gentle climate, or the systems used in their cars are better designed. Is it better to save money and buy a car without a panoramic sunroof?

These cars may look fantastic, and the idea of ​​owning a car with a panoramic sunroof installed is extremely attractive, but keep in mind that the reality may not live up to your expectations.

REMEMBER: You can always contact our car service center, where your car will be happy to receive professional technical assistance. You can also make an appointment with us for a scheduled technical inspection! Please familiarize yourself with our car repair and diagnostic services.