In 2020, the Tesla Model Y made headlines for all the wrong reasons when the glass panel of its roof flew off on a California highway. The incident occurred just a week after an owner took delivery of the new SUV. Coincidentally, Ford had to recall the Model Y's direct rival, the Mustang Mach-E, for a similar issue.

Be it a glass roof or an expansive panoramic sunroof that you can even find on attainable vehicles like the Jeep Compass, these roofs do raise questions about safety, particularly in a rollover accident. In such a scenario, can a panoramic sunroof really offer the same degree of safety as a car without one? Consumer Reports (CR) looked into this specific issue to find out if that airy, spacious feeling you get from a glass roof is really worth it.

It found that crash tests conducted by government agencies have shown that a sunroof is insignificant when it comes to evaluating the overall strength of a roof.

"The structure of a car consists of a strong steel frame wrapped by relatively thin metal panels," said CR. "That steel frame is what is helping to keep you safe. "The high-strength steel used in the pillars that hold up the roof - called A, B, C, and D pillars, based on their location - is where the energy is being absorbed in a crash - not the center of the roof."

CR says that passenger ejection is a more serious concern in a rollover, and that the simple act of wearing your seatbelt can reduce the likelihood of this happening. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), unbelted occupants are ten times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle in a crash than those wearing their seat belts.

Some Mercedes-Benz models, and those from other brands, have an accident-detection system that will automatically close the side windows and roof in certain situations.

But what about the issue of shattering glass roofs during a rollover? CR says that the best roofs use laminated glass that will still hold together even when shattered, and ideally, this is the kind of glass roof you'd want your car to have. Other roofs have glass designs that will crumble instead of turning into sharp, dangerous shards.

Nobody wants to think about being involved in a rollover crash, or any crash for that matter, but the consensus right now is that your panoramic sunroof won't compromise your vehicle's roof strength, and you'll still be shielded from the worst in a crash. If the feature appeals to you, there is no reason not to tick that box when buying your next car - just wear your seatbelt.