Here in the south, people don’t understand just how hot it gets, do they?
A popular misconception is that if you live in a warmer climate, you should choose a lighter interior when purchasing a car since a lighter inside will assist will help lessen the sun’s wrath and keep you cooler. But is this really the case?
Consumer Reports' tested 2 cars: one with a light interior and one with a dark interior and parked them both outside in the summer heat. Both had a starting temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. They both reached over 100° F in an hour. There was a slight increase in temperature in the darker automobile, but it was minimal.
Although the light-colored interior will be a little bit cooler in Phenix City, when the temperature inside exceeds 100° F, it's still very hot. One caveat: even when it's not the height of summer, a car can get dangerously hot. Parents and pet owners should be aware of this. Some may think, even in the fall, it is ok to run into a store in the Columbus or Phenix City area and leave their child or dog in the car. But that is a grave mistake.
No matter how mild the outside temperature may feel, a car will heat up significantly when the sun is shining on it due to the large amount of glass. However, the difference isn't significant enough to heavily influence your decision on the color of your car or interior.
The fact that a black interior hides dirt better than a lighter one is one reason you might want to choose one. Smudges and stains will be visible on a gray, beige, or tan interior and may be challenging to remove. So, if you’ve always loved that sporty, sexy look of black leather – go for it in your next Acura!
