Whats the difference between a sunroof and a moonroof?
A sunroof is a roof panel that opens to vent air or light, and can be metal or glass. A moonroof is a glass panel that slides or tilts to bring in light and is usually tinted.
In practice, automakers use the terms differently. Understanding the distinction helps when evaluating features, pricing, and shade options on new and used cars. Below is a clear breakdown of how sunroofs and moonroofs differ in design, operation, and marketing, plus tips for buyers.
What is a sunroof?
Sunroofs come in several designs and can be operated manually or electrically. They focus on opening the roof to vent air and light, and the material of the panel can affect how much you can see through when closed.
Types of sunroofs
These are the most common form factors you’ll encounter in today’s vehicles:
- Sliding sunroof: A panel, often made of metal or glass, slides backward into the roof cavity to open.
- Tilt/slide sunroof: The panel can tilt up for ventilation and also slide open for a larger opening.
- Solid (non-glass) sunroof: A opaque panel that retracts or tilts, typically metal or composite, which does not admit light when closed.
- Panoramic sunroof: A large glass panel (sometimes spanning multiple rows) that can tilt or slide, often with an interior shade.
In short, sunroofs prioritize giving you a vented opening to the outside; the panel material varies and affects how much light comes in when closed.
What is a moonroof?
A moonroof is typically a glass panel that slides or tilts, designed to let in light even when the roof is closed. It is usually tinted and often paired with an interior sunshade.
Common features of moonroofs
These features are frequently found with moonroofs, though exact configurations vary by model:
- Glass panel: A tinted glass panel that can slide or tilt to open.
- Tilting and/or sliding operation: Many are electric, with one or both modes available.
- Interior shade or sunshade: A built-in shade to block light when desired.
- Perceived openness: The glass panel provides light and a sense of openness even when not fully open.
Moonroofs emphasize light and ambience through glass, with shade options to control brightness. Not all moonroofs open as wide as traditional metal or opaque sunroofs, but many do offer venting through tilt or full slide.
Key differences at a glance
Here’s a quick comparison to help you spot the practical distinctions in the showroom or on a spec sheet:
- Material: Sunroofs can be metal, solid, or glass; moonroofs are glass by default.
- Light when closed: Moonroofs typically admit light through glass; solid sunroofs do not.
- Ventilation: Both can vent air, but the size and mechanism of the opening depend on the design (tilt vs. slide).
- Shade options: Moonroofs usually include a built-in shade; sunroofs may or may not have a shade depending on design.
- Marketing usage: Many automakers use and interchange the terms; check the vehicle’s exact specs to know what you’re getting.
Conclusion: The main difference is the panel material and how light is handled when closed. Always verify the exact mechanism (tilt vs slide), panel material, shade, and opening range in the vehicle’s specifications.
Choosing between them
When deciding, consider your priorities for light, ventilation, climate control, maintenance, and budget. Here are practical guidelines:
- Light and ambiance: If you want a bright interior with continuous daylight, a glass moonroof is advantageous.
- Ventilation and openness: If you value a larger opening for fresh air, a sunroof that slides or tilts may be preferable.
- Climate and heat management: Glass panels can add heat; look for tinted glass or an interior shade to manage glare and temperature.
- Cost and reliability: Moonroofs with expansive glass and panoramic layouts tend to be pricier and may require more maintenance to seal properly.
Conclusion: For many buyers, the choice comes down to whether you prioritize a light-filled interior with glass or a larger, ventilation-focused opening with a possibly opaque panel. Always read the exact specifications and, if possible, test the operation in person.
Summary
In practical terms, a sunroof is a roof panel that opens to vent air or light, while a moonroof is a glass panel that slides or tilts to bring in light and is usually tinted. The lines between them have blurred in modern marketing, with many vehicles marketed as moonroofs even when the panel functions like a conventional sunroof. Always verify the exact type, material, operation (tilt/slide), shade options, and panoramic scope in the vehicle’s specs before purchasing.
Does a moonroof on a car open?
Yes, most modern moonroofs are designed to open, either by sliding or tilting. While the term "moonroof" traditionally referred to a fixed glass panel that only let in light, today it typically describes a glass panel that can open to provide fresh air and sunlight, often with an interior sunshade for controlling the amount of light.
- Sliding and tilting: Most moonroofs open by sliding back or tilting up, and they often have both options.
- Interior sunshade: A panel of fabric or other material usually slides open to reveal the glass panel itself.
- Operating the opening:
- Pressing the "open" button will typically open the glass panel partway, and pressing it again will open it fully.
- To only open the sunshade without opening the glass, you can press the "open sunshade" button.
- The term "moonroof": Today, the terms "sunroof" and "moonroof" are often used interchangeably, and what was once a fixed glass panel is now usually an openable, sliding glass one.
Why do Americans call a sunroof a moonroof?
While the term "sunroof" is now used generically to describe any moveable panel in the roof, the term "moonroof" was historically used to describe stationary glass panes rigidly mounted in the roof panel over the passenger compartment. A moonroof has a glass panel that is transparent and usually tinted.
Is a moonroof and a sunroof the same thing?
Yes, there is a difference between a sunroof and a moonroof, though the terms are often used interchangeably today. Historically, a sunroof was an opaque panel that could be manually tilted or removed, while a moonroof was a transparent glass panel that could slide open. Modern vehicles often feature glass panels that slide or tilt, blurring the lines between the two, but a moonroof is generally understood as a glass panel while a sunroof could be opaque.
Sunroof
- Traditionally an opaque, metal panel that matched the car's body.
- Can be tilted to vent or removed completely for ventilation.
- The term is now used for any panel that opens, regardless of material.
Moonroof
- A transparent, tinted glass panel.
- Slides open, often with a built-in interior sunshade to block light when closed.
- It is a type of sunroof, but specifically one that is made of glass.
- Cannot typically be removed from the vehicle.
Key takeaway
- While the original distinction was based on material (opaque vs. glass), the modern usage often depends on a specific car's features.
- A modern "moonroof" will have glass, but the term "sunroof" can be used more broadly for any opening roof panel, whether glass or opaque.
- If you want to see the sky, you want a moonroof. If you want to feel the sun while driving, many modern sunroofs (which are often glass) also work well.
When did a sunroof become a moonroof?
1973
In 1937, Nash Motors introduced the first sunroof — a metal panel that slid open or could be removed for fresh air and light. The 1973 model year brought along the moonroof, first seen in the Lincoln Continental Mark IV. Unlike a metal sunroof, a moonroof had tinted glass with a retractable cover.
