Best Car Sunshades of 2025, Tested

Car and Driver

19 hours ago

You know the feeling: You open your car door, and a cloud of hot dragon breath welcomes you to scorching seats and a sizzling steering wheel. Your sweaty fingers slip off the A/C button in a frenzy to "crank the air!" Summer sun at its finest.
Graciously, some smart chap went ahead and invented the car sunshade—a relatively cheap way to help keep your vehicle's interior cool. It's a simple device, but we wanted to know which car sunshade was the best. There are a few different styles, each with various pros and cons. Which one stashes the best? Which shade fits the windshield of our 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz the best? What about durability? We set out to answer these questions and more with a test of the top sunshades you can buy.
Key Takeaways:
The is our Best Overall choice because of its quality and value for the price.
is our choice because of its quality and value for the price. Like most of WeatherTech's products, the is a premium product that's laser-cut to perfectly fit your vehicle's windshield; it costs more than most, but the best usually does.
is a that's laser-cut to perfectly fit your vehicle's windshield; it costs more than most, but the best usually does. Want the latest style? The has a distinctive design that keeps it tight against the windshield.
Things to Consider When Buying a Car Sunshade
Testing car sunshades in the Gear Team's usual fastidious, data-driven fashion would have been impossible due to variables such as unpredictable outside temperatures, direct or indirect sunlight, and more. Instead, we focused on the UX of these sunshades: how easy they were to use, install, and stow; quality of construction and materials; design and function; variety of sizes and styles; and more.
Style
Car sunshades come in a few distinct styles, each lending their own benefits and drawbacks. The style you choose should be determined by which type works best for your situation.
Umbrella : Designed just like an umbrella, this style is the king of compact. By compressing it into a small, tuckable cylinder, you can easily stow one of these under the seat or in the glovebox. However, we found that they can be a bit tricky to fit just right, and the wire support tips can scratch your dashboard.
: Designed just like an umbrella, this style is the king of compact. By compressing it into a small, tuckable cylinder, you can easily stow one of these under the seat or in the glovebox. However, we found that they can be a bit tricky to fit just right, and the wire support tips can scratch your dashboard. Folding : These thin, cheap car sunshades are the most popular style due to their low cost and ease of installation. Their lightweight construction also makes them easy to store, but folding them down can be tricky. The quality of materials and construction usually matches the inexpensive price.
: These thin, cheap car sunshades are the most popular style due to their low cost and ease of installation. Their lightweight construction also makes them easy to store, but folding them down can be tricky. The quality of materials and construction usually matches the inexpensive price. Roll-up/Accordion: We're combining these two styles as they compress largely the same way. This style is super easy to install and put away but can get pricey depending on the material, and they aren't particularly compact. Permanent car sunshades also fall into this category.
Installation
Making sure your car sunshade is installed correctly is the most important aspect in keeping your vehicle's interior cool. You'll want to ensure that the entire windshield is covered to minimize any light intrusion. We found that custom-fit shades do this best, but they cost more.
Additionally, you'll want to make sure the reflective, shiny side is pointing outward toward the sun. The material is designed that way to bounce light away from your interior. Installing them backward can result in them not working at all.
Storage
As our vehicles fill with more accessories, compactness is key. Car sunshades are no exception. If you're limited on space, you'll want to pick a sunshade that can fit in your door panel, beneath your seat, or in your glove box. If you live somewhere hot year-round, you may want to consider a permanent sunshade that sticks to your windshield all the time.
Model-Specific Sunshades
While universal sunshades are typically cheaper, model-specific sunshades are definitely worth considering, even though they cost more. We found they fit better and required less fiddling to get them installed properly. If you're shopping on Amazon, verify that the sunshade you've picked fits your vehicle.
Best Car Sunshades, Tested