Cars equipped with glass roofs such as sunroofs, moonroofs, or panoramic roofs are becoming increasingly popular. Apart from enhancing the impression of elegance, these types of car roofs also offer a unique driving sensation.

However, many people still don't understand the differences between the three types of roofs. In fact, sunroofs are often considered the same as moonroofs, even though both have differences in terms of usage and benefits.

So, what are the basic differences between the three?

Sunroof

Cars with a sunroof can be opened and closed using an electric system. A car with a sunroof allows light, fresh air, or both to enter the car cabin. Or to describe it more simply, there is a window on the roof of the car.

Usually, sunroofs carry two types of panels, which are made of the same solid metal as the exterior of the car's ceiling and can be pulled by hand to open the glass panel. On top of it, there is tinted glass that can be tilted backwards to allow air from outside to enter the cabin.

Moonroof

The moonroof, on the other hand, is actually a type of sunroof, but the materials and uses are different. Moonroof is made so that the car owner can enjoy the view at night on the roof without having to get out of the car or open the roof of the car.

Moonroofs feature tinted glass panels that allow light and air to enter without having to move the visor. But nowadays, moonroofs are also equipped with metal coatings to block sunlight from entering directly into the cabin, especially during the day.

Usually, the moonroof roof opens slightly so that air and light can enter, not as wide as the sunroof, but there are also some manufacturers that now make the moonroof wide open like a sunroof.

Then the moonroof and sunroof work system is also slightly different. The sunroof roof will open outward when activated, while the moonroof glass will open backward into the roof of the car. Until now, there is no certain standard to distinguish between sunroof and moonroof roofs. For information, in the 80s, sunroof roofs were only coated with metal and did not have glass.

Panoramic Roof

In recent years, a car roof called panoramic roof has emerged, which is usually embedded in luxury cars. Increasingly, panoramic roofs are becoming more popular on premium-labeled SUVs.

This type is generally similar to a moonroof that has a large glass panel stretching across the roof, right above the front passenger to the passengers in the second row. This panoramic roof can open wider than a typical moonroof. The panoramic roof also has a sunshade to keep the cabin cool when the glass layer is closed, but the view of the sky remains visible.

Indonesia

Mobil yang dilengkapi kaca atap seperti sunroof, moonroof, atau panoramic roof kini kian populer. Selain meningkatkan kesan elegan, jenis atap mobil ini juga menawarkan sensasi berkendara yang unik. 

Akan tetapi, masih banyak yang belum memahami perbedaan di antara ketiga jenis atap tersebut. Bahkan, sunroof seringkali dianggap sama dengan moonroof, padahal keduanya memiliki perbedaan dalam hal penggunaan dan manfaat.

Lalu, apa saja perbedaan mendasar antara ketiganya?

Sunroof

Mobil yang atapnya menggunakan jenis sunroof, dapat dibuka dan ditutup dengan menggunakan sistem elektrik. Mobil beratap sunroof memungkinkan cahaya, udara segar, atau keduanya masuk ke dalam kabin mobil. Atau untuk lebih mudah menggambarkannya ada jendela di atap mobil.

Biasanya sunroof mengusung dua jenis panel yakni terbuat dari logam padat yang sama dengan eksterior langit-langit mobil dan dapat ditarik dengan tangan untuk membuka panel kaca. Di atasnya terdapat kaca yang berwarna dapat dimiringkan ke belakang sehingga memungkinkan udara dari luar masuk ke dalam kabin.

Moonroof

Sementara moonroof, sebenarnya merupakan salah satu jenis dari sunroof. Hanya saja material dan kegunaannya berbeda. Moonroof dibuat agar si pemilik mobil dapat menikmati pemandangan di malam hari di atap tanpa harus keluar mobil ataupun membuka atap mobil.

Moonroof mengusung panel kaca berwarna sehingga memungkinkan cahaya dan udara masuk tanpa harus menggeser visor-nya. Tapi di jaman sekarang, moonroof juga dibekali pelapis logam untuk menghalau cahaya matahari masuk langsung ke dalam kabin terutama di siang hari.

Biasanya atap moonroof terbuka sedikit agar udara dan cahaya bisa masuk tak selebar sunroof. Namun ada juga beberapa pabrikan yang sekarang membuat moonroof dapat terbuka lebar layaknya sunroof.

Kemudian sistem kerja moonroof dan sunroof juga sedikit berbeda. Atap sunroof akan dibuka keluar ketika diaktifkan, sementara moonroof kaca bakal terbuka ke belakang masuk ke dalam atap mobil. Hingga saat ini tak ada standar tertentu untuk membedakan antara atap sunroof dan moonroof. Sebagai informasi, pada tahun 80-an atap sunroof hanya berlapiskan logam yang tidak memiliki kaca.

Panoramic Roof

Kemudian beberapa tahun terakhir muncul lagi atap mobil bernama panoramic roof yang biasanya tersemat di mobil-mobil mewah. Semakin ke sini, panoramic roof semakin populer terpasang SUV berlabel premium.

Jenis ini umumnya mirip dengan moonroof yang memiliki panel kaca besar membentang di atap, tepat di atas penumpang depan hingga penumpang di baris kedua. Atap panoramic ini bisa terbuka lebih lebar dibandingkan moonroof pada umumnya. Panoramic roof juga memiliki kerai pelapis agar kabin tetap dingin ketika lapisan kacanya ditutup, tapi pemandangan di langit tetap terlihat.