Tlyard Automatic Electric Sunshade Review
The Laziest (and Best) Tesla Upgrade
Purchase Price: $249.99
If you own a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y, you already know that the massive front windshield acts like a magnifying glass when parked in the sun. Standard foldable or pop-up sunshades work, but wrestling with a giant, flimsy piece of reflective fabric every time you park—and finding somewhere to stash it when you drive—gets old fast. The Tlyard Automatic Electric Windshield Sunshade aims to solve that frustration by turning sun protection into a seamless, one-touch motorized experience. There are a few different makers of electric sunshades like this for Teslas that slightly differ, but in essence are the same product so this review can apply to the function and operational execution of this type of form factor as a whole. While this kind of sunshade is compatible for both the Model Y and the Model 3, I have it installed in a 2019 Model 3 for this review.
Design & Build Quality
The housing is made from an aluminum alloy frame
Right out of the box, the unit feels substantial and well-engineered. Instead of cheap plastic, the main housing uses a sturdy aluminum alloy frame that sits flush along the base of the windshield without looking like an awkward aftermarket eyesore.
The shade itself is crafted from a high-density, dual-layer fabric coated with a titanium silver sun-blocking layer. It feels thick, durable, and resistant to creasing, while the supporting scissor/lift arms on the back provide enough tension to keep the shade taut as it climbs the glass.
Installation & Setup
One of the biggest selling points of this unit is that it is completely tool-free and non-destructive. The base is secured using heavy-duty silicone suction cups, meaning you don't have to deal with permanent adhesives or residue on your dashboard or glass. It’s not too difficult to set up as you drop the unit on one end and adjust the suction cup on the dashboard to even out the height before setting the other side down and repeating the procedure.
A Smart Shade
Because it plugs directly into your Tesla’s low-voltage data networks via the OBD-II port, you can set it up with voice control (using Siri Shortcuts or your phone) or automate it to raise and lower automatically based on your location, time of day, or when the car enters "Sentry Mode" or "Cabin Overheat Protection."To power the unit, it draws low-voltage power directly from the vehicle's OBD-II port (with wire routing that tucks cleanly into the trim along the A-pillar/dash). Because it taps into constant low-voltage power, you can still raise or lower the shade even after the screen and vehicle power down. This did not apply to my Model 3 though. The Model 3’s OBD-II port is located under the steering wheel for current models, but I have a 2019 Model 3 which does not have an OBD-II port there. I had to purchase an OBD-II to cigarette lighter adapter cable from Amazon to then route the power to the 12V cigarette lighter port located in the center compartment of the car. It wasn’t difficult to do at all and was simply an extra step to take that still operates the sunshade exactly the same as if it were plugged in directly to the OBD-II port on a newer Tesla.
The shade retracts in a single button
Because the housing rests at the very bottom crease of the expansive Tesla windshield, it barely encroaches on your forward line of sight once you’re seated in the driver’s position. However, it is literally sitting on the bottom of your windshield and some people may find it distracting or an eyesore to their peripheral view. I do not think it impedes visibility at all, but a car’s decor is like a person’s home decor and every modification can be either a positive or negative aesthetic addition.
SNAP SHADE REVIEW
A near perfect snap on fit to keep the sun out of your vehicle.
Daily Operation
Using the sunshade feels legitimately futuristic. It operates via a dual-button control that lets you deploy or retract the shade with a single press. You stick the button with tape on the dashboard by the driver’s side and press it when you park and need the shade to come up. There’s a second button on the side that locks the button from registering the click to prevent pressing it while driving or other scenarios where you wouldn’t want the sunshade to deploy.
The electric motor is surprisingly quiet—producing a low, smooth hum rather than a loud mechanical grind—and takes just a few seconds to glide from the bottom of the dash to the top of the windshield. You can also pause the shade at any custom height along the way. The initial setup of the sunshade will deploy the shade to a height that won’t cover the entire window. There’s a small arrow on the housing that points to a little opening where you can put a finger into to adjust the height in which the motor will deploy the shade to. It took me way too long to realize that this was the opening to the motor used to adjust the height as I was using a flathead and smushing my face on the windshield to get a better look at where the motor was. Learn from my mistakes. It’s pretty easy to do this.
Rated for 99% light blockage and UV protection, the titanium-coated dual-layer fabric makes an immediate difference. It keeps the cabin noticeably cooler, prevents the steering wheel and seats from becoming scorching hot to the touch, and reduces the load on your Tesla’s Cabin Overheat Protection and A/C system (saving battery range on hot days).
From actual experience during ironically the hottest couple of weeks here in California this year where temperatures hit 105°, it was absolutely noticeable that the cabin was significantly cooler to touch when the sunshade was deployed. This isn’t rocket science as any $30 sunshade will do the same function of blocking sunlight. This is merely a luxurious way of doing that task that removes those few seconds of annoyance or frustration of folding and unfolding. It absolutely is not necessary, but it’s also so damn cool to use where I could see carmakers selling an option on their models that implements an automatic sunshade somewhere in the future of automobiles.
final thoughts
The Tlyard Automatic Windshield Sunshade is one of those "quality of life" upgrades you didn't realize you needed until you use it. While a traditional $30 folding sunshade will block the sun, half the time people don't bother putting them up because they're a pain to deal with. Because this one works at the push of a button, you’ll actually use it every single time you park. For Tesla owners who park outdoors regularly and want a sleek, effortless way to beat the heat, it’s a fantastic gadget upgrade.
We said this at Sypnotix back in 2019 and were grilled for it, but the Tesla Model 3 and now the Model Y are this generation’s Honda Civic. Back in the 2000’s (I know some of you remember those days) the Honda Civic was the car to mod and customize to make your own. There were so many little things you could add to modify it to be just the way you want it to be. It was the perfect pimp my ride car. There's no other mass produced consumer car on the market right now that has cooler, or more creative, easily purchasable, add-ons than the third-party market for Teslas. It’s just amazing seeing how out of the box the market has become in less than a decade for these cars. This is just another example of why Teslas are such an enthusiast vehicle, yet have still captured a big market of the casual crowd.
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Alex
With nearly a decade under his belt running his video production team, and countless hours traveling the country to report on pop culture events during his tenure as a contributor for AXS Examiner, Alex has relied on a lot of gadgets over the years. That still hasn’t satiated his need to get his hands on the newest and greatest the world has to offer!