What’s The Point Of A Sunroof In Cars? (Explained!)

When you are looking or shopping for cars, one of the things you might have noticed is that there are certain variants that are more expensive because they have a sunroof. This may lead you to wonder whether or not you should go for the model with the sunroof because it looks cool.

But, before that, what is actually the point of a sunroof in cars?

Here’s why cars have sunroof

A sunroof allows more light and to enter a car, especially if you live in a country that is cold. You can also view the night sky through a sunroof. It is also a way for people to partially expose their upper bodies through the roof to enjoy the scenery and breathe in fresh air, but this can be dangerous.

car sunroof open

In all honesty, a sunroof is something that can be unnecessary to a vehicle and is more likely a luxury, more than anything.

However, there are times when a sunroof can be quite useful and beneficial, even if it isn’t a necessity.

As such, it might be a good idea for you to know more about what a sunroof does so that you can decide whether or not to get a car with a sunroof.


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What’s the point of a sunroof in cars?

One of the things that you may notice when it comes to vehicles as you are shopping for a new car is that there are some car models that come with a sunroof. Of course, most of those models tend to be on the more expensive side of the price spectrum. 

A sunroof is basically a window for the roof. In most cases, sunroofs are transparent to allow light to pass through them. But it can also be covered in some cars. There are also cases where sunroofs can be opened fully to allow the interior of the car to get exposed to the outside air.

Now, this may lead you to think that it might be good to get the car with a sunroof because it looks cool and it gives you a more luxurious feel in your car. However, it should be best for us to first look at what the purpose of a sunroof is.

So, what exactly is the point of a sunroof?

Basically speaking, it serves plenty of different purposes that may or may not be useful to some people.

First off, the sunroof, as the name suggests, allows more sunlight to enter the cabin of the car. If you feel like the windows are not enough to light up the car, especially if you live in a cold city or if you are driving in a forested area where the buildings or the trees cover the sunlight that enters the window, a sunroof can be a good idea.

So, the sunroof, in this regard, will be able to improve the lighting of a car if you are driving in a particularly dark or colder area.

Similarly, the sunroof can also be a way for you to use the moon or the stars or even the city lights (for those living in bigger cities) to naturally light the cabin if you are driving at night. This can be useful if you don’t like to drive while the cabin is dark but you don’t want to use any of the indoor cabin lights.

Another purpose that a sunroof may serve is to allow fresh air to enter the cabin. In most cases, sunroofs can be opened to expose the cabin to the air outside. This will allow fresh air from the outside to enter the car, and this can be useful for those who live in particularly warm climates where the AC may not be enough to keep the entire cabin cool. But this can also be helpful if you simply want to breathe in fresh air instead of relying on the AC for air.

Then there is also the instance where you can open the sunroof and then climb through it to partially expose your upper torso so that you can enjoy the thrill of a good car ride. You may have seen this in movies where some of the characters open the sunroof of their cars while driving in the middle of lively cities like Vegas so that they can expose their upper bodies outside. However, this was never one of the main purposes of a sunroof. We also do not recommend that you use your sunroof for this purpose because doing so can be quite dangerous.

Is a sunroof on your car really necessary?

Now that you know the purposes of a sunroof, you might be wondering whether or not this is something that is necessary for a car. Knowing how necessary it is can be quite useful when it comes to deciding which car you should go for.

In all honesty, a sunroof is not a necessity but is more of a luxury. Plenty of vehicles in the market and on the road don’t even have sunroofs because they know for a fact that they can still drive their cars comfortably even without a sunroof.

Even when you are living in a particularly cold and gloomy place a sunroof is but a mere luxury that will allow you to allow more light to enter the cabin. The same can be said when it comes to living in a warmer region, as using a sunroof to improve the airflow in the cabin is also a mere luxury.

Does a sunroof add value to a car?

While the sunroof might not be a necessity for your car, what you should know is that a car with a sunroof will always have a higher value than a car without one. That means that, if you want your car to hold onto its value for a longer time, it might be a good idea to get the variant with a sunroof.

However, there are some things you need to know about sunroofs and your car’s value. Your car will only retain its value if it has a factory sunroof and not a sunroof that you merely added to the vehicle. Also, a sunroof that is broken or damaged will do more harm than good to the value of the vehicle.

So, if you do want a car that can be sold for a higher price than other vehicles, later on, it might be a good idea to go for the model with the sunroof. But take note that you have to take care of the sunroof because broken sunroofs or non-factory replacements may hurt the car’s value.

Sources

What’s the point of a sunroof?

Benefits of Having a Sunroof in Your Car

What is the purpose of a sunroof in cars?