Difference Between Sunroof and Moonroof

Most of the luxurious cars have an operable panel in the vehicle roof which allows both air and light to enter the passenger space. This is certainly a very attractive feature of the cars belonging to the luxury segment. Sunroof is the generic term used to describe this operable panel. Sunroof was first designed by Hollandia, a Dutch company. Though moonroof or glass sunroof was created by the American Sunroof Company, it was installed first by Ford in early 1970s. The first car to have a moonroof was the Lincoln Continental Mark IV. Since then, the concept of this operable panel in the vehicle roof has become very popular.

How is a Sunroof Different From a Moonroof

Though Ford used this feature in the 1970s, the inspiration came from people. In those days, even before the introduction of moonroof by Ford, people had started placing opaque and metallic panels on the roof of their automobiles. These were manually operated. Due to the increasing popularity of this trend, the automobiles manufacturers decided to incorporate such a feature in their vehicles. As technology advanced, several changes were introduced. Earlier these panels were operated manually, but soon the automobile manufacturers came up with better features and these began to be operated electronically. With advanced technology and designing expertise, certain changes were made. The version that was introduced by Ford in 1970s used glass panel and was named as moonroof. One needs to look into the history of evolution of automobile design to understand the difference between a moonroof and a sunroof.

A sunroof is typically a solid body-colored panel that pops up or is removable, whereas, a moonroof is a particular type of sunroof. The sliding glass panel makes moonroof more stylish than sunroofs. The moonroof feature is considered sleek and that's the reason why you can spot the moonroof feature on various luxurious cars. Sunroof being an opaque panel allows light or air in, only when it is opened, whereas, moonroof on account of being a glass panel, allows light to enter even when it is closed.

When the concept of moonroof was introduced, it became increasingly popular because glass panels looked sleek and allowed the passengers to get a view of the sky even when the moonroof was closed. The market is flooded with all types of luxurious cars that use this feature. Over the years, the terms have begun to be used interchangeably. Metals are no longer being used to make sunroofs. The manufacturers have to cater to the taste of the buyers and improved versions are needed to satisfy them. Gone are the days, when a moonroof meant a single layer of glass that had to be operated manually and could just open minimally. These newer versions are panels of tempered glass that tilt up or slide back into the roof entirely and allow the car occupants to breathe in fresh air and enjoy the sunshine. Now the stress is on the better movement of the roof and several styles such as pop-in, folding, top-mount, spoiler, panoramic and removable roof panels have been introduced to provide better options. Most of the sunroofs are electronically operated.

This was some information on the difference between sunroof and moonroof. Since sunroofs are now made of glass, these terms are now used interchangeably. So, there is no need to get confused between the two.