Honda Civic Moonroof: What To Know
Brazilian Honda Civic touring 2017 by JasonVogel — CC BY-SA 4.0
The first sunroof has its roots as far back as 1937, but it wasn’t widespread or popularized in the United States until the late 1960s and 1970s. In 1973, the moonroof with glass joined the party. The big panoramic sunroofs of today are a type of moonroof that has a large glass area. Luxury vehicles and SUVs are where you’ll find these most often, but are becoming more common with sedans.
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Different from convertibles, and different from classic sunroofs, moonroofs bring in extra light, style, and weather permitting, a connection with beautiful sunny days. The Civic’s moonroof has been similar since the 2017 model and has been consistent on different vehicle trims since then.
What is a sunroof?
A sunroof is a plate on a car’s roof that slides back or may be removed to let in extra light, air, or both into the vehicle’s main cabin. A sunroof was historically an opaque-colored plate that would match the color of the car’s interior, and it may be tilted open or totally removed by drivers. However, a traditional sunroof that is both invisible and movable is uncommon.
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What is a moonroof?
A moonroof, on the other hand, normally has a tinted glass panel on top of the car, almost similar to the shaded tints on windows. Moonroofs are not intended to be detached from the car, but they normally slide and tilt open, to varying degrees. They are designed to let in light without completely letting in the elements and you’ll usually see a slanted angle and bug guard that most vehicles in the Honda family have. Many moonroofs will have an interior sliding panel that matches the interior of your vehicle. When the window is closed completely, very little or no light gets comes into the cabin.
While the words “sunroof” and “moonroof” are often interchanged, there is a distinction between the two. Both are panels in the car’s roof to let the sunshine and fresh air in, but that’s where the similarity ends.
The Civic’s moonroof with a tilt option is standard on EX and higher trims. The switch’s one-touch functionality eliminates the need to hold it for long stretches of time, and if resistance to closing is automatically detected, the moonroof has an auto-reverse feature that will reverse to close. A manually operated sliding sunshade is attached that you can use as a shade on those extra bright or hot days.
The Civic’s moonroof is about 20 inches across, which is pretty common for a mid-size sedan but still provides plenty of sun. It covers the front two seats but will provide plenty of airflow for the rest of the cabin. It opens with the one-touch option, and can be tilted, or slid fully with just a tap.
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Pros
Openness - The Civic is routinely rated as one of the best mid-size sedans on the market, and having one of the bigger moonroofs in the class creates a sense of freedom and a more open vibe while driving. It won’t quite feel like a convertible, but having what is essentially an extra window on the roof can really open up the feel!
Less noise - Civic’s and sedans are aerodynamic with the basic sedan body style, and keeping the moonroof open helps keep the vehicle cabin quieter than riding with the windows down all the way down. This is different from the larger SUVs that have the panoramic roof that opens up completely.
Ventilation - Naturally, having better airflow keeps the vehicle better ventilated which is a win for everyone. Even by leaving the Civic’s moonroof cracked just an inch, it can provide much-needed fresh air and help the air circulate throughout the vehicle.
Resale and trade-in value - Honda’s are one the best brands at retaining their value and having a moonroof will increase the overall value when selling or trading in down the road. As long as it works properly, this can add another $1,000 to the trade-in value.
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Cons
Price - since not all Civic’s come with a standard moonroof, you’ll need to add an extra few thousand to your budget to make sure it comes with one.
Less insulation - While it isn’t much, the CX5’s moonroof covers essentially the front row and maybe noticeably affected by the outdoor elements. Frost, snow, and water will more likely be felt in the front two seats.
Structural integrity - With all vehicles that have moonroofs, the glass material is more susceptible to cracks than the rest of the roof’s exterior. Minor damages might be more noticeable than other areas of the car.
The Civic EX starts at around $25,000 and is one of the top-rated sedans in 2021. While you can get most of the Honda features on the base LX and Sport models, these won’t have as many standard features or the moonroof, which is a bummer. For a few extra thousand, you can have the upgraded EX and most of the safety and technology features commonly found with the higher-end trims.
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