Autotrader's Eric Lanford says, "For most people, choosing the color of their next vehicle is a matter of taste." However, many will choose lighter or darker car colors because of the perception that black cars get hotter in the sun.
In the summertime, you might want a white car to keep you cool, though cold winters might also tempt you toward a black car.
How true is it that color effects a vehicle's cabin temperature?
Very.
Autotrader took two identical Toyota vehicles, and let them sit in the sun. At the end of two hours, the black SUV was almost 20 degrees hotter than the white SUV. After 10 minutes running the air conditioning, the black SUV was still 7 degrees warmer than the white one.
Notice that though the black SUV was hotter than the white one, even after turning on the AC, it actually dropped in temperature more rapidly. That is because of a scientific phenomenon called Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation. The faster an object absorbs radiation, like the sun's rays, the faster it emits radiation (loses heat).
What does that mean for your color choice of car?
If you have a black vehicle, park in the shade during the summer, and you'll find the AC will cool the cabin more quickly. Park in the sun during the winter, and you'll get a little melting assistance when it snows.
If you have a white vehicle, your car will stay cooler in the sun, and in winter, it may hold heat better when you turn on climate control.
Visit LCM Used Car Center for used vehicles in East Petersburg offered in a rainbow of color options.
