14

The tag here states:

The opening in the roof of a car. Usually a glass panel that opens by sliding down and back.

However, the owner's manual of my 2006 Mazda 6 refers to the opening only as a moonroof, and never mentions a sunroof. I've never heard the term moonroof before. To the best of my knowledge, everyone here in Australia refers to it as a sunroof. Are they synonyms, or is there some difference?

For what it's worth, the opening in my Mazda is electronic, and both slides and tilts.

Is there a difference between a sunroof and a moonroof?

Improve this question
2
  • Great question. When I was a kid I always assumed a moonroof was darker (what I would eventually learn to be called 'tinted') and a sunroof was not.
    – MooseLucifer
    Commented Jun 20, 2016 at 22:19
  • 1
    Moonroofs are sunroofs, but sunroofs aren't moonroofs. Moonroofs have the sliding/tilting mechanisms while sunroofs are either enclosed or will come out like t-tops. The term is pretty much interchangable since you don't see sunroofs anymore really and people just call moonroofs sunroofs.
    – Ben
    Commented Jun 20, 2016 at 22:25

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
17

After a little digging, I have found pretty much what Ben said in the comments above: A moonroof is a sunroof, but a sunroof is not a moonroof.

The difference is not in how the mechanism moves, but what it holds. A sunroof consists of a metal panel that can either tilt up, and/or slide back into or above the roof of the car. A moonroof, on the other hand, consists of a glass panel with the same movement functions, The difference being that a moonroof can be closed while still permitting light to come through.

I assume they were named this way because a sunroof was a logical name for the device when it was first invented in 1937 (according to this Wikipedia article). The moonroof, invented in 1973 ('37 and '73 - coincidence!?!?), was named as a play on the word 'sun'roof.

Improve this answer
4
  • 2
    Moonroof, that's just silly.
    – I have no idea what I'm doing
    Commented Jun 21, 2016 at 8:05
  • 3
    The glass is usually tinted, so it can shade you from weak moonlight, but not from harsh sunlight. Moonroof it is.
    – Agent_L
    Commented Jun 21, 2016 at 9:44
  • 2
    I don't recall moonlight ever blinding me so badly that it needs shading. Or cooking my forehead.
    – I have no idea what I'm doing
    Commented Jun 21, 2016 at 9:57
  • 1
    I always just figured they were brand names.
    – T.E.D.
    Commented Jun 21, 2016 at 13:48
4

In UK usage, an opening glass panel over the front seats is a sunroof whether it tilts, slides or both. A second such opening over the back seats was sometimes called a moonroof (this was common when the Espace first came out, so late 80s).

Improve this answer
7
  • This is my understanding of the terms as well (I'm in the UK). I remember the Land Rover Discovery being the first such vehicle that I heard this talked about: minimodelshop.co.uk/picture/New-RayToys-54683DG/…
    – Matt Wilko
    Commented Jun 21, 2016 at 13:43
  • This was my understanding too. I first encountered a Moonroof in a 1985 Mitsubishi people carrier.
    – Steve Matthews
    Commented Jun 21, 2016 at 14:00
  • My Kia Venga has a moonroof that is a single large glass panel covering both front and rear seats. When opened it slides back over the luggage area.
    – Chenmunka
    Commented Jun 21, 2016 at 14:29
  • 1
    @Chenmunka if there's only one, it's a sunroof (to me).
    – Chris H
    Commented Jun 21, 2016 at 14:32
  • 1
    Its a moonroof according to the handbook. I'll go with that.
    – Chenmunka
    Commented Jun 21, 2016 at 14:48

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .