Sunroofs generally are opaque panels made of metal or even canvas in some cases, that are installed in the roof of a car, truck, or SUV. They pop up, can be removed, or slide open to allow light and air into the cabin.
Moonroofs, by contrast, are usually a clear or tinted glass panel that slides between the roof and the headliner and can sometimes also be tilted open to let in fresh air. Moonroofs are sometimes, but not always, larger than sunroofs.
When camping, I will open the cover (but obviously keeping the glass in place) when sitting in the rain (I am a tent camper, when it rains I will often spend some time sitting in my car)
OK, I’ve checked four different sites, and they all agree. A Sunroof has a metal panel that slides into place to close the roof of the car completely. A moonroof is a window in the roof, with no metal covering. Some also have a thinner cloth shade to obscure the sun. Then there is the panoramic roof, which is a really big roofwindow with no shade to cover it.
I hate the idea of sunroofs or moonroofs. I’m convinced that nearly all are going to leak. I didn’t consider buying cars that had them, until they became so ubiquitous that I couldn’t get a car I liked unless I accepted them along with the package. I would gladly pay an extra $1000 to NOT have one. My current, nearly new car has one and I have yet to try opening it; I hope never disturbing the seal will make leaking less likely. My spouse’s cars that had them all leaked and dripped on the driver’s cloth seat. In her last one, there were drain tubes that wouldn’t have passed a peppercorn, and a schedule and instructions for regularly cleaning and flushing them.
I wish I could buy a car I liked that had an earthroof. An earthroof is a roof designed for use on Planet Earth, where it rains.
FWIW, my 2010 Lexus has a moon roof, and has never leaked. As mentioned above, I never use it, so perhaps if I had opened and closed it a lot it might have leaked. But if you never open it it probably won’t develop leaks.
I’ve had multiple cars with moonroofs; all were factory installed & used regularly, some for double-digit # of years. Never had water in the car that wasn’t operator error, as in, I didn’t close it.
All of my vehicles for the last three decades have had sunroofs or moonroofs. Out of seven vehicles, only one developed a leak.
That was a 2013 Subaru Outback that leaked and got a fair amount of water inside before anyone noticed, damaging some of the electronics in a unit on the floor. The potential repair bill was so high that we actually traded in the vehicle well before we would normally replace a car. So there was that.
But I’ve also had two other Outbacks and a Forester that did not leak. Since the leak incident, we’ve always asked the dealer to check the drain tubes when we bring the Subarus in for service.
And I’ve had a BMW and two Toyota 4Runners that have never leaked once. Never checked the drain tubes, either (assuming there is one).
Yeah, I’ve been on team convertible for many year (with no leaks) but my eight of my wife’s cars going back 30 years have had sunroofs - no leaks ever, and much of that time was in Seattle.
I had a sunroof on one of my cars. Liked it OK but never missed it when the car died. I also had a Subaru Brat with a “T-Roof”, clear panels that could be flipped up or removed as desired.