Why Does Tesla Have Glass Roof? (Uses, Pros & Cons)

Last updated on April 18th, 2023 at 11:17 pm

Many customers have been impressed by the new glass roof on Tesla Models Y, X, S, and 3. The company now installs glass roofs on all Tesla models.

While some car owners worry about excess sunlight in the cabin, other Tesla owners love it. So, have you been wondering why your Tesla has a glass roof?

The glass roof provides more space in both the front and the backseat, according to owners of Tesla cars. Also, it is cheaper for the company to install only glass roofs on their vehicles. In addition, the lights and the space combine to give passengers an airy feeling like they’re in the open instead of feeling enclosed.

In addition to the reason behind Tesla’s glass roofs, you’ll find out about the Teslas that don’t have glass roofs. You’ll also discover how safe the glass roofs are and what they’re made with. 

Do All Teslas Have Glass Roofs?

Glass roofs are standard on all outgoing Tesla models, with no exceptions.

All Tesla models now come with glass roofs installed, and you can’t get another option without the glass roof.

The only Model you can find without a glass roof is the older Model 3. And you’ll have to buy a used one.

If you shop around for a while, you can find a used Model 3 without a glass roof. However, for new Teslas, you’ll only find ones with glass roofs.

Model 3, Model X and Model Y are made exclusively with glass roofs; that is the only roof option that Tesla offers.

Tesla vehicles used to have solid roofs and panoramic sunroofs. With new Tesla models, you can only get a glass roof. 

But, Tesla has offered quite a few roofs on their different models over the years.

But, they halted the installation of panoramic sunroofs and glass roofs. Now, Tesla only installs glass roofs on all their vehicles.

For instance, all Tesla models, including the Tesla Model S, have large sunroofs extending from the front to the back of the vehicle.

This open roof and resulting space create an open, spacy sensation, especially for the passengers. 

Also, the glass roofs make the cabin roomy, which is especially exciting for tall drivers.

The Tesla Model S used to have a panoramic roof. But Tesla discontinued both the solid roof and the panoramic roof. Tesla now installs all new Model S vehicles with a glass roof.

Thus, if you’re looking to get a Tesla vehicle without a glass roof, you can look for a used Model S with either a solid or a panoramic roof.

I’ll summarize Tesla’s roofs on both new and used Tesla models in the table below.

Tesla Model	Solid Roof	Glass Roof	Panoramic Sunroof
Model 3	–	✔	–
Model X	–	✔	–
Model Y	–	✔	–
Model S	✔	✔	✔

Why Does Tesla Use Glass Roofs?

When Tesla unveiled their new glass roof in 2021, it maintained that the glass would keep the cabin quiet.

It would also protect the occupants from harmful UV rays and can withstand over 4x the car’s weight. 

Installing only glass roofs on their vehicles means that Tesla will use less equipment, increase production speed and reduce production costs. 

Customers also suspect that Tesla switched to glass roofs because it makes production much easier for the tech giant.

The robot arms find it much easier to put more equipment into the vehicle with a glass roof than with a solid or panoramic roof. Tesla also uses a glass roof to maximize space in the vehicle’s interior.

The glass roofs Tesla installed on the Model S, Model 3, and Model X make the vehicle more airy and spacious.

In addition to the natural light the glass roof provides, it also makes the most of the cabin space. 

With the glass roof, there are a few extra centimeters of headroom for the passengers to enjoy.

Also, from the tests that Tesla has run, the glass roofs are durable and can withstand over 20,000 lbs of force, about 4x the car’s weight.

Tesla users have also maintained that the glass roof makes the car quiet and protects the occupants from dangerous ultraviolet rays. 

Additionally, many passengers enjoy looking through the roof and seeing the sky. The open roof gives an outdoorsy feeling that many passengers enjoy.

With the glass roofs, Tesla’s electric cars also have much more natural light flowing into the cabin. And the glass windows optimize the space in the cabins. 

Are Tesla Glass Roofs Made of Special Glass?

Tesla makes their glass roofs with a double layer of tempered glass laminated with thermoplastic. 

Then they combine thin films with radiation-reflecting properties, a 2% tint used on roofs, and standard polyvinyl butyral (PVB).

To protect occupants further, Tesla has added several layers of film in the glass to block heat and UV radiation. 

The manufacturers combine the 2% tint film with other kinds of film reflecting solar radiation. 

The PVB film combines all the layers to make the roof tougher and more flexible. 

The special Glass that Tesla uses for their vehicles is also very safe regarding UV radiation. The car roof absorbs all the ultraviolet rays, making the cabin safe for the occupants. 

The glass roof for Tesla met the maximum requirement for safety when the roof was tested to ensure that it was safe.

The roof is also very tough. Tougher than the minimum requirement. The glass roof can take about 4x the weight of the vehicle itself.

Although the glass break in the event of a particularly heavy impact, the laminate will hold the pieces of Glass together. 

With the laminate, the Glass won’t break and scatter all over the cabin. The side windows and some Tesla models’ windshields are made with laminated Glass.

Are Glass Roofs Safe?

Tesla and the United States Insurance Institute for Highways have tested Tesla’s glass roofs, and it’s safe to say that the roofs are very safe.

The IIHS ran the test on one of the Tesla Models in 2019, and the roof got the maximum score. 

The IIHS pressed about 20,835 lbs on the roof and didn’t cave. An accident occurred involving a Tesla where the car rolled over multiple times, but the roof remained intact. 

One can say that Tesla has raised the roof on car roof safety. In addition to that, the roof itself is laminated. 

That means it will remain in place even in unlikely circumstances when the Glass shatters. The glass may suffer damage, but it will not break down into several little pieces. 

The laminate will keep the roof from completely disintegrating, keeping flying objects out of the car and the occupants in the car. 

That additional feature is important for passengers as it ensures their safety.

In addition, you cannot get sunburn when you drive a car with a glass roof. Sunlight won’t affect you in the cabin.

The glass roof absorbs about 99% of the UV radiation from the vehicle, so you won’t be affected by any UV radiation if you drive or ride in a Tesla.

So, riding in a Tesla did not expose you to UV radiation. You can drive or get around in a Tesla, but that will not expose you to the risk of sunburn.

Also, while the outer part of the roof may get hot or warm to the touch, the sun won’t bother you when you’re in the vehicle.

The glass roof does not make the interior too warm. And even on warm days when some heat may seep through the glass roof, the air conditioning kicks in to counteract the heat.

Overall, glass roofs are very safe for cars and their occupants. If you’re apprehensive about buying a Tesla, you should know that the glass roofs are safe and produced with Greta care. 

Pros and Cons of Tesla Glass Roofs

Glass roofs are now standard on many Tesla vehicles regardless of the model. There were panoramic and even solid roofs, but not anymore. 

Glass roofs are enjoyable and good for aesthetics. But, like most things, they’re not perfect. To purchase a glass roof for Tesla, you should consider all the indices. 

Teslas with glass roofs are good to look at; the cabins on glass roofs in Teslas are also roomier.

In addition, the cabins have head space which is great for tall passengers. Furthermore, the natural light in a Tesla with a glass roof is much better.

The improved lighting and the glass roof make the scenery look natural and relaxing. It is also tinted and is usually very clean.

On the flip side, many people, especially in warm climates, have complained about the heat in the cabin on days when the weather gets very warm.

The Tesla glass roof keeps out a lot of heat, but the roof can also make the interior of the vehicle uncomfortably warm, inconveniencing many passengers.

If your Tesla’s cabin becomes warm, the only alternative is to increase the air conditioning, which in turn consumes more power.

The other option is to lower the window, making the cabin very noisy.

Either way, controlling the temperature in your Tesla is very uncomfortable for the occupants.

FAQs

Conclusion

Tesla began installing glass roofs on their vehicles because it cut down the cost of production. 

Also, with glass roofs, there is more space in the cabin of Tesla vehicles.

The glass roofs are safe both in terms of toughness and protecting the occupants from UV rays and heat.