Sunroofs

Sunroofs

A view of the stars. A breath of fresh air. Freedom. Independence. A sunroof has become a popular automotive option simply because it's so good at triggering our emotions.

While many vehicles come from the factory with a sunroof, any model that's lacking in the open air department can easily get a retrofit. The question is which type of sunroof to choose.

There are the simple, economical pop-up designs. They feature a glass panel that can be tilted open to vent some hot air or removed for even more airflow. Not only are pop-up sunroofs the least expensive design, they also can be installed in virtually any vehicle, since they require a minimum of room. Some people even opt to install two petite pop-ups, side-by-side, for twin sunroof styling and independent driver and passenger operation.

If you'd like a more luxurious design, you can opt for a sunroof that slides open, either manually or at the touch of a button. Some even close automatically when you turn off the engine, so you don't have to worry about a security breach. There are actually two kinds of sliding sunroofs: internal sliders and tilt-and-slides.

Internal sliders are the most popular factory design for automakers' more luxurious vehicles, and they also are available for retrofit to most vehicles. These sunroofs feature a glass panel that slides between the vehicle's roof and its headliner. While this makes for a very neat appearance, an internal slider does eat up some headroom inside the vehicle, and it tends to be one of the pricier sunroof designs. Unfortunately, an internal slider is not an option in vehicles with a relatively small roof, such as regular cab pickup trucks, since there simply isn't anywhere for the sunroof to slide.

For this reason, a tilt-and-slide sunroof is a more popular retrofit design. It opens above the roof and can be installed on vehicles with smaller rooftops. True to its name, a tilt-and-slide can be tilted to vent or circulate fresh air, or it can be slid all the way open to provide plenty of airflow. While this type of sunroof design typically doesn't offer quite as large an opening as some of the other styles, it also doesn't cut into a vehicle's headroom.

Yet another sunroof design is European in flavor, although some might consider it a California surfer-style option. The folding sunroof is for folks who want maximum exposure. It provides the largest opening of any sunroof design, with a soft fabric panel that folds back, convertible-style.

Of course, most factory sunroofs are designed for the driver and front passenger. But it is possible to install one of these stylish air fresheners for back seat passengers in a van or SUV. Since they feature a glass panel, sunroofs will even provide additional light for passengers who want to read or play games while someone else does the driving.