Many people are lucky enough to live in places where the air doesn’t hurt their faces for half the year, and some enjoy year-round warm weather. Those folks likely have days where their vehicles’ interiors are too hot for comfort, but even those of us living in cooler regions experience hot days. While getting into a hot car can be a real pain, the good news is that there are several things you can do to help cool the interior before hopping in for a drive.
Shade Is Your Friend
The best thing you can do to keep your car’s interior cool is to find the shadiest parking spot possible. That could be a garage, carport, or even a spot tucked away under a tree. The goal is the same with any shady parking spot: avoid the sun altogether. Direct sunlight raises the interior and exterior temperatures faster and more intensely than anything else, so it’s best to stay in the shade. Sunlight also damages interior materials, causing fading, cracking, and premature wear.
Bring Your Own Shade
It’s not always possible to park in a shaded spot, but a portable car sunshade is the next best thing. Depending on the make and model of your car, it might be possible to buy a custom-fit shade for the front and rear glass, but one of the simple accordion-style shades does the trick just fine. Shades for side windows are also available. It’s important to note that the vehicle will still be in direct sunlight when using a portable shade, but blocking as much of that light from entering the cabin will help significantly reduce interior temperatures.
Aim for Airflow
If possible, vent the windows when you park the car to allow as much of the hot air inside to escape. Used in combination with a portable shade, vented windows can keep the air flowing and reduce interior temperatures. That said, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the weather forecast to prevent riding home in a wet and hot car. You should also regularly service your car’s air conditioning system to avoid unexpected issues. A well-maintained climate control system can quickly cool a hot interior and keep it cool, so don’t ignore your car’s service schedule.
Lighter Interiors Are Best
We don’t expect you to run out and buy a new car when summer rolls around, but choosing a vehicle with the lightest colored interior possible will help keep cabin temperatures lower in the heat and sun. Light colors reflect more sunlight and heat than darker shades; colors like black and dark gray absorb heat and radiate it back into the cabin. Light interior colors have drawbacks, including that they show dirt more easily and can sometimes be more expensive than the standard black interiors many automakers use.
If you’d like to learn more about keeping your car cool in the summer, interior protection options, or any of the new Mercedes-Benz models, Mercedes-Benz of Plano should be your first call. We’d be excited to walk through the ins-and-outs of keeping your car cool, and we can help you schedule a test drive or order the new car of your dreams.
AdChoices