I now drive a (company-supplied) sedan, but am looking for a car of my own, and would like more cargo capacity, so I am leaning to a crossover. My concern is that my cargo is typically very valuable, and I'm not keen on a vehicle that allows any kid with a decent-sized rock to break a window and access the cargo compartment.

It occurs to me that laminated glass (side and rear windows) would help to deter all but the most determined thieves, however it's not a feature that I see in spec sheets (and I realize that laminated glass could also interfere with exiting the vehicle if the doors won't open).

A few days ago I stumbled onto a forum where there was some discussion of laminated glass being an option on... I think... the RDX, but I think that the forum was UK-based and the thread was from 2010 or so. I also stumbled upon a parts supplier offering aftermarket glass, but it was $700 just for the rear window, and about $250 each for side windows.

I'm wondering if any of the RDX glass (aside from the windshield) is laminated, or if laminated is an option or standard feature on any crossover...

Thoughts anyone?

 

The side and rear glazing is tempered. Check out the luxury car makers such as Mercedes if this is that important of an issue. Laminated glazing is used on expensive cars for its superior noise damping properties.

 

Laminated glass will not stop even basic thrives... An armored car would..

 

Thanks for that. As it happens there are a few pricier cars on my maybe list... Q5, RD350, and XC60... but I'm guessing that any cars that have laminated glass as standard are more likely to be found only in vehicles that are far more $$$ than even these crossovers. As it happens I visited the Volvo showroom and the salesman insisted that the XC60 had laminated glass all round, but I had the feeling that he really didn't have a clue as to what I was talking about, but since the lamination is invisible he figured he would just tell me what I was hoping to hear.

Nonetheless, he may have been correct with regard to the tinted windows, assuming that the tint is a film which is sandwiched between layers of glass. It also occurs to me that I could likely get some kind of security film installed by a company that does aftermarket window tinting.

 

I recognize that a determined thief can overcome laminated glass. But I am just as concerned about the opportunistic thief who will smash a window with a rock to get at a dollar in coins in the cupholder (and then explore the cargo area). I would likely take twenty or thirty seconds of repetitive smashing to through laminated glass and few thieves would stick around that long, particularly if the alarm had gone off.

 

I guess that this Scotchshield™ Automotive Security Film is the stuff that I want...


FWIW I've found a gazillion companies offering to install automotive tinting film, but none make mention of security film.

 

they are still going to smash a window and the automotive stuff can be easily cut with a box knife

 

I found out with my old Mazda MPV that when the back window is broken out the alarm does not go off. I doubt the RDX alarm would go off either. Apparently, a door needs to be unlocked and opened to set off the alarm. In my case a "smash and grab" got a bag out of the rear cargo area without any alarm. You should check on the RDX to make sure.