Here’s Why You Should Avoid Cars With Panoramic Sunroof

Have you ever had a car that offered really cool features you never ended up using all the time? For example, maybe you thought for sure you’d love a car with heated seats, only to count on one hand the number of times you used them. 

Or it could be you opted for satellite radio and later had second thoughts about its value. The panoramic sunroof is another such feature for many car-buying consumers. 

A panoramic roof sounds like a luxurious extra. It might even prompt you to picture enjoying the open area and letting natural light in as you drive. But sunroofs are often expensive, and drivers who’ve had them in their vehicles can probably list several reasons why they’d never have one again. 

There could be more setbacks than benefits to a panoramic sunroof, and here’s why you should avoid getting a car with one already installed.

It Comes With Additional Heat 

The panoramic sunroof, despite tinted applications, can heat up the heat in the vehicle’s cabin. When it’s heated up, the interior temperature can increase exponentially. After all, you have a large sheet of glass radiating heat into your ride. Cooling the super-heated cabin becomes more work for your engine, in turn burning more fuel.

It Affects Vehicle Weight Distribution

When automakers design vehicles for efficiency and safety, they have to pay special attention to the overall weight of a vehicle and how well that weight is distributed. Heavier components are typically set as low as possible to improve handling and stability. 

But a 200-pound glass roof is far from lightweight, and it’s certainly not a feature that gets installed at a low point of the vehicle. This kind of weight distribution can affect vehicle acceleration, fuel economy, and even braking, Car and Driver explains.

Panoramic Roofs are Just Gaint Holes in Cars

A panoramic sunroof is designed to contribute to the structural integrity of the vehicle, according to this article. But it’s essentially a giant hole. That means it won’t offer the support of a conventional roof. 

And though panoramic sunroofs are typically sealed to prevent moisture intrusion, there’s a greater risk of drainage complications and leaks. There are also potential issues with road noise and wind penetration. For the most part, new installations of these panoramic roofs seem to perform wonderfully. However most car buyers keep their vehicles for a number of years, and the ageing and wearing of components can lead to panoramic sunroof failures.

Conclusion

Of course, it’s satisfying to recline in your vehicle seat and gaze at the stars through your panoramic sunroof. But panoramic sunroofs have their downsides, some more serious than others. And it may just be a feature you’d rather not have in the end.