Many older cars had a sunroof which would be a small flap above the heads of those in the front, which popped open or slid back.
With the advent of air conditioning in cars in the 1990s, their popularity faded but then the manufacturers re-invented them with panoramic glass roofs.
They offer openings above both the front and rear seats and may be operable or fixed panels and provide natural air conditioning.
They are made from laminate glass which will crack, but will not shatter, just the same as the windscreen. Additionally, all new cars have to comply with the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 which doesn’t allow new cars on the road unless they were safe.
Panoramic glass roofs allow more light into the car, but they also need more instrumentation and some have said that they reduce the headroom in some models.
However, as they are now installed in a wide range of models it is possible to choose one that suits the driver’s needs – and height!
They have become a very popular feature for people buying a used car, because they can be very expensive on a new car, and therefore will help a used model to hold its value.
The black glass roof adds a real style element to the look of a car, this can be seen on a couple of cars I have available at the moment such as the VW Passat or ’15’ BMW 330d Luxury Automatic Touring.
