Summer heat can turn a parked car into a genuine oven. According to Germany’s motoring association ADAC, after just 90 minutes parked in the sun, the temperature inside the cabin can approach 60°C, while the dashboard and steering wheel can heat up to more than 70°C.
In a separate study, ADAC experts examined which measures actually help keep a car’s interior cool.
The most effective measures
Several popular options were compared: exterior and interior windshield sunshades, a white cloth placed on the dashboard, tinted side and rear windows, and a half car cover.
The cover proved the most effective. While the interior temperature reached 53°C without any protection, it rose to only 43°C with the cover in place.
The exterior reflective windshield sunshade ranked second, keeping the interior temperature at 45°C. The more common interior windshield sunshade proved less effective, with the temperature inside the vehicle reaching 49°C.
White cars really do stay cooler
The engineers also compared cars with black and white paint. The difference was significant: the surface of a black car heated up to 65°C in the sun, compared with 44°C for a white one. At the same time, the interior of the white car remained about 5°C cooler.
Why tinted windows help
Tinted windows do not significantly affect the interior temperature, but they do help reduce the heating of interior surfaces. For example, on the rear seats, the specialists recorded a surface temperature of 57°C without tinted windows, compared with about 48°C in a vehicle with tinted windows. This can be particularly important for children during car rides.
What experts recommend
ADAC recommends covering the steering wheel and dashboard, airing out the car before a trip and never leaving children, animals or electronic devices inside the vehicle.
The experts concluded that any form of sun protection is better than none. However, the best results were achieved with exterior windshield sunshades and protective covers, which prevent the sun’s rays from directly heating the vehicle’s interior.
