Everything You Should Know About Panoramic Sunroofs in Your Car
August 28th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
Cars with panoramic sunroofs are becoming all the rage with drivers throughout the country. It’s not difficult to understand why. At the touch of a button, panoramic sunroofs provide drivers with an open-air experience that is usually reserved for convertibles and motorcycles.
That said, panoramic sunroofs are not perfect; they have their pros and their cons. But before we go there, what is a panoramic roof and how exactly how is it different from a traditional moonroof? For starters, panoramic sunroofs open much more expansively and provide a 360-degree, panoramic view. They tend to be elegantly designed, in part with glass, and feature clean, smooth lines. Panoramic sunroofs are definitely not your grandparents’ moonroof.
Panoramic Sunroof: Pros and Cons
That said, sunroofs come with their advantages and disadvantages. If you think you might be in the market one day, here are some panoramic sunroof pros and cons to consider:
Pros
Panoramic sunroofs let in the air and sunshine, which may mean you’re going to be in a better mood when you get home from work. Your roommate or better half can thank us later.
If you want fresh air but also want to carry on a conversation with your passengers, lowering the window makes that nearly impossible, especially at higher speeds. Panoramic sunroofs generate considerably less wind noise. They also increase your fuel efficiency, because you’ll rely less on the air conditioner. Another pro is better road trips, because who doesn’t like to feel the wind and sunshine on their face or marvel at the stars and vast sky at night.
Cons
Some of the disadvantages include an increase in cabin temperature during the summer months, which happens when the hot sun hits down on the glass portion of the sunroof. During the cold winter months, moisture and condensation can seep into your car through the sunroof, causing you problems. Also, what is a panoramic roof going to weigh – have you considered that? It will add about 200 pounds to the weight of your car, potentially affecting the way your car handles and your gas mileage.
Finally, there are a lot of mechanical parts which may make it prone to malfunction. If that happens, bring your car to your local Fix Auto and let us fix it for you and get you back on the road again.
Panoramic roof safety
Among the cons you have to consider is panoramic roof safety – specifically, the reported cases of exploding sunroofs, which are increasing in frequency, and the repair bills that go with that. It happens when a sunroof suddenly and spontaneously shatters without apparent cause or explanation.
Is panoramic sunroof safe?
Consumer Reports reviewed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data compiled over a 20-year period. The data included 859 reported instances of shattered sunroofs, encompassing hundreds of different models and 35 different car brands.
One example is the case of Heather Savage. She was driving her 2016 Nissan Pathfinder, accompanied by two of her children, when her sunroof spontaneously exploded.
Understandably, folks want to know, is panoramic sunroof safe? The answer is, yes and no. It’s really about how much risk you are willing to accept, and your risk, in this case, is apparently relatively low, according to Consumer Reports. Their analysis concluded that the odds of a panoramic sunroof exploding, for the average driver, are low. You are more likely to experience a tire blowout on the highway than an exploding sunroof.
And as the auto industry responds to consumer demand with more rigorous safety standards, panoramic sunroofs should become even safer. And finally, keep this data point in mind as you think things through: No one has died, and there have been no serious injuries as a result of an exploding sunroof. None. Nada.
If you are having a hard time deciding, review the panoramic sunroof pros and cons listed above, and see if there are any deal-breakers. What is a panoramic roof going to do for your quality of life? It never hurts to talk to friends about their experiences. And if you’re curious, take a car with a panoramic sunroof for a test-drive and see how it feels. When your children ask, “What is a panoramic roof,” you will be an expert!
Although panoramic roof safety is not a common topic, it is an important one, because your safety matters. We hope you never experience anything as unnerving as a sunroof explosion. But if it happens to you and your sunroof malfunctions or explodes, bring your car to your nearest Fix Auto body shop, and our highly trained technicians will take good care of you.
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Anaheim North, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing Orange County.
