Pano Sunroof Makes Cabin Feel Bigger - 2015 Nissan Murano Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

Pano Sunroof Makes Cabin Feel Bigger - 2015 Nissan Murano Long-Term Road Test

The 2015 Nissan Murano's options sheet includes a panoramic sunroof. It's a feature worth considering if you expect to have regular backseat passengers.

Read the full story here

ebeaudoin

I don't understand the trend towards panoramic moonroofs. Sure, all that open viewing area is cool for back seat passengers, but it seems like a safety issue. Maybe I'm being a little crazy, but it seems like cutting a giant hole in the roof and filling it with glass is an awful idea. Anybody seen Jurassic Park?

In all seriousness, I wonder how one of these panoramic roofs holds up in a rollover crash.

socal_eric

It wouldn't surprise me if some vehicles gained a little structural integrity due to the reinforcement and frame required to support the panoramic/sunroof assembly. You might look at a conventional headline and think that it looks "soft" and that it would forgiving in an accident, but if a passenger isn't secured or there is catastrophic failure of the passenger cell where the roof crushes or is deformed it is easy to suffer head and neck trauma. In that aspect there probably isn't as much difference as you'd think.

As to the chassis and dynamics, the extra weight up high doesn't help the center of gravity but remember that while glass is brittle (especially when intentionally heat tempered) it is also very strong. A lot of people think of glass as structurally weak but the windshield for example is a key component in the vehicle's structure and why it's so important to replace correctly when damaged. Assuming a solid mount and that most vehicles don't have any significant cross-roof reinforcement outside the windshield header and top of the rear window, instead relying on the strength of the side roof rails, a sunroof might actually increase roof strength.

kyfdx

socal_eric said:

It wouldn't surprise me if some vehicles gained a little structural integrity due to the reinforcement and frame required to support the panoramic/sunroof assembly. You might look at a conventional headline and think that it looks "soft" and that it would forgiving in an accident, but if a passenger isn't secured or there is catastrophic failure of the passenger cell where the roof crushes or is deformed it is easy to suffer head and neck trauma. In that aspect there probably isn't as much difference as you'd think.

As to the chassis and dynamics, the extra weight up high doesn't help the center of gravity but remember that while glass is brittle (especially when intentionally heat tempered) it is also very strong. A lot of people think of glass as structurally weak but the windshield for example is a key component in the vehicle's structure and why it's so important to replace correctly when damaged. Assuming a solid mount and that most vehicles don't have any significant cross-roof reinforcement outside the windshield header and top of the rear window, instead relying on the strength of the side roof rails, a sunroof might actually increase roof strength.

The only vehicle I ever rolled over in had a roll bar and a canvas top. Fortunately, I was belted in, and walked away without scratch..

mirandammm

Hello. I was wondering if you could take a picture of the top of the sun roof where there is something like a mesh netting. I have seen that past Muranos have had issues with that component. You can also email me at martin19.miranda@yahoo.com if there is an issue. thank you.