Rear Sunshade Test

June 2007

We all enjoy some summer sun, but if you are stuck in the back of a car, too much can make journeys uncomfortable and a few minutes in direct sunlight can send cabin temperatures soaring.

Young children and babies are often the worst affected. One solution is to fit a window blind, but which should you go for? We assessed eight of the biggest-selling sunshades to find out.

Our champion blind had to do more than block the sun - a sheet of card or plastic would do that. We also wanted one that could be taken on and off, and allowed us to open the window for ventilation. To judge performance, we measured light reduction with a photographer's meter, measured the area of glass that was covered, and considered ease of attachment. All were tried at up to motorway speeds, while price was also a consideration.

Verdict

Australians clearly know a lot about dealing with the glare of the sun, and it shows with the Window Sox, which ticked all our boxes.

For a more conventional blind seek out your nearest Halfords store, because it has the best of the versatile rollers. For the ultimate protection, OE has the answer with its tailor-made kits designed to fit all your car's rear glass. The results are top-quality - but be prepared to pay for the privilege.

Top 3

1. Shevron Window Sox
2. Halfords Roller Sunblind
3. OE Sunshade Blind

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