This experiment indicates that the interior of a black car may not be that much hotter than a white car: http://tom-morrow-land.com/tests/cartemp/index.htm Executive Summary: For those who just want to know the results of the test, I'll tell you. The glass temperature (which I assume to be a proxy for interior temperature) varied only 5 to 6 degrees between the black and white cars on average. So I conclude that the interior temperature only varied somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 to 6 degrees. The paint temperature, however, varied by about 55 degrees, which is ten times as much. So it is indeed true that black paint is much hotter than white paint, but the interior of the black car isn't that much warmer than the white car.
I've owned a black car (untinted windows, too) in sunny SoCal for the last 9 years, and I can honestly say that while the outside of the car may be noticeably hotter than other lighter color cars, the interior was not noticeably hotter than the interiors of other lighter color cars (whites, silvers, light blues) that I've been in. Which is why I'm not afraid of getting a black Prius...although Seaside Pearl ties for my top 2 color choices b/c it's such a 'fun' color.
My theory is that it's the interior color that makes the most difference. So I'd think a black car with a white interior would be cooler inside than a white car with black interior.
Oh, yes, that's for sure! When I told him I was getting a Prius and considering the leather package, a friend of mine told me NOT to get black leather interior like he has in his car, because it will burn your 'buns' off in hot weather, whether you're wearing shorts or pants. Not that Prius is available w/black leather (short of getting it special ordered). I'm leaning towards the lighter tan/beige leather interior anyhow.
so you (being whoever did the test) is measuring the temp of the glass - but you could have easily put a staionary thermoniter inside the car on the seat- facing the window - on the dashboard - and in the rear seats and in the rear window - granted this would take more money and cordination but I feel that the density of glass and the desnity of fabric,plastic,cotton, leather, metal all the complonents that make-up the inside of the car would HOLD more heat themselfs combined then just a 1/4 inch sheet of glass (i'm assumeing the thickness) so granded i'm sure the tests are not off by much but I dont think they are acurate to the inside temp. but i'd be ignorant and buy a black car with black interior just because it looks HOT - even if i am Hot when i get in hahah I'm on a pretty waiting list for an 06' hopefully i can get black/black package 7 (my spelling is off but please be aware that I am aware and dont care i just wanted to make a post) -Brian
The TV show Myth Busters on The Discovery channel did this. They actually had the digital thermometers in the cars, one white, one black, side by side in the sun. I forget the exact temp difference, but the black car got hotter and stayed hotter longer than the white car.
Shucks I missed this... I think I was the first one to suggest this test on the mythbusters forum. I've heard reports that the difference was 5-10 degrees. Were the cars otherwise identical?
Indeed, that's what I intended to demonstrate in my test, but Toyota doesn't make dark interiors for very many cars... it's actually hard finding a single car model that comes in both light and dark interior for both light and dark exterior. Anyone watched the mythbusters show who could say whether the two cars were the same in all ways except paint color? In particular, did they have the same interior color?
I've got a black '06 on order (my first black car) -- I'm wondering if the greater exterior temp on the paint makes it fade or crack faster? That would seem to make sense.
