Snap Shades12 min read
Snap Shades in Australia: How to Tell If One Fits Your Car
Snap Shades in Australia: How to Tell If One Fits Your Car
"Snap shades" gets typed into Google in two different ways, and they want different answers.
Some people mean Snap Shades, an Australian company that sells custom-cut car window shades. If that is what you are after, go to their site — they publish their own model list and their own prices, and we are not going to paraphrase either.
Most people mean the category: a shade cut to the shape of one specific window, held on by magnets or a frame, that goes on in a couple of seconds and comes off just as fast. No suction cups, no sagging mesh, no gap down the side. Several brands sell them in Australia. We are one of them.
If that is you, the only question that actually matters is does one exist for your car — and that is a harder question than it sounds, because fitment is not decided by badge. This page is about how to answer it.
Custom-fit means one shape, one car, one generation
A universal shade is sold to fit everything, which is another way of saying it fits nothing well. A custom-fit shade is cut from a pattern taken off a specific window, so there is exactly one correct part for your car and every other part is wrong.
Four things decide which part that is.
- Generation. Not model year — generation. A window shape changes when the body changes, not when the calendar does.
- Body style. A hatch and a sedan wearing the same badge have different rear door glass and completely different rear windows.
- Seat count or wheelbase. Seven-seat versions of five-seat cars usually gain a window.
- Which windows you want covered. Front doors, rear doors, the boot or tailgate glass, the little rear quarter windows. Different sets cover different combinations.
The rest of this page works through the first three against our actual catalogue, because that is the part people get wrong.
What we cut: 459 fits across 39 makes
Every one of these is a real, orderable product, all from $49.99.
| Make | Fits | Make | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota | 63 | Volkswagen | 12 |
| Hyundai | 43 | Land Rover | 10 |
| Kia | 35 | BYD | 8 |
| Mitsubishi | 25 | Peugeot | 8 |
| Ford | 24 | Mini | 7 |
| Honda | 24 | Isuzu | 6 |
| Mercedes | 24 | Skoda, Subaru | 5 each |
| Nissan | 22 | Daewoo | 4 |
| Mazda | 21 | MG | 4 |
| BMW | 19 | Volvo | 4 |
| Lexus | 16 | Zotye | 4 |
| Holden | 15 | BAIC, Geely, Lynk & Co, Omoda, Porsche | 3 each |
| Audi | 14 | Renault | 2 |
| Suzuki | 13 | Daihatsu, GAC, Haval, Hongqi, Jaguar, Proton, SsangYong | 1 each |
The distribution is the interesting part. Toyota, Hyundai and Kia alone account for 141 of the 459 — that is what a catalogue built for the Australian road fleet looks like, rather than one built for a US or European fleet and shipped here.
Generation splits: the thing people get wrong
Here is what "generation, not year" means in practice. These are separate products with separate patterns. Ordering the neighbouring one gets you a shade that is close, and close is useless.
Toyota HiLux — three fits, and the 2015 cars are split by half-year.
| Years | Also known as | Product |
|---|---|---|
| 2007–2015 | Vigo | toyota-hilux-2007-2015 |
| 2015–2018 | Revo | toyota-hilux-2015-2018 |
| 2019–2025 | AN120 / AN130 | toyota-hilux-2019-2025 |
Ford Ranger — three, plus a separate Raptor.
| Years | Product |
|---|---|
| 2006–2011 | ford-ranger-2006-2011 |
| 2014–2021 (T6) | ford-ranger-2014-2021 |
| 2022–2025 | ford-ranger-2022-2025 |
| 2019–2022 Raptor | ford-ranger-raptor-2019-2022 |
Toyota LandCruiser — four, and the chassis code is the reliable way to say which one you have.
| Years | Code | Product |
|---|---|---|
| 1990–1999 | LC80 | toyota-land-cruiser-lc80-1990-1999 |
| 2000–2010 | LC100 | toyota-land-cruiser-lc100-2000-2010 |
| 2011–2021 | LC200 | toyota-land-cruiser-lc200-2011-2021 |
| 2022–2026 | LC300 | toyota-land-cruiser-lc300-2022-2026 |
Prado is catalogued separately again — 2004–2010, 2011–2022 and 2024–2025. A Prado is not a short LandCruiser as far as glass is concerned.
Mitsubishi Triton — four, and the 2015 split catches people out because the outgoing and incoming shapes overlapped in showrooms.
| Years | Product |
|---|---|
| 2008–2015 | mitsubishi-triton-2008-2015 |
| 2015–2018 | mitsubishi-triton-2015-2018 |
| 2019–2023 (MQ / MR) | mitsubishi-triton-2019-2023 |
| 2024–2026 | mitsubishi-triton-2024-2026 |
Honda CR-V — four, covering 2007 to 2025 with no gaps: 2007–2012, 2012–2016, 2017–2022 (the RW1), 2023–2025.
Hyundai Tucson — four, and the middle two were badged ix35 here, which is the single most common mix-up in Hyundai fitment: 2002–2009, 2009–2015, 2016–2021, 2022–2025.
Hyundai Santa Fe — five, back to 2000: 2000–2006, 2007–2013, 2013–2018, 2019–2023, 2024–2025.
Toyota Camry — the deepest run in the catalogue, seven fits from 1987 to 2026 (1987–1992, 1993–1997, 2001–2006, 2007–2012, 2012–2017, 2018–2024, 2025–2026), plus a separate Camry LE 2007–2012 and the Aurion 2009–2014, which is catalogued in its own right rather than as a Camry.
Note the gap: 1998–2000 Camrys are not covered. Gaps are normal in a generation-split catalogue and we would rather show you the gap than sell you the neighbouring shape.
Body-style splits: same badge, different glass
If your car came as both a hatch and a sedan, the badge alone will not get you the right part.
| Model | Separate fits |
|---|---|
| Ford Focus | hatchback 2007–2013 / 2014–2020 and sedan 2007–2013 / 2014–2020 |
| Ford Fiesta | hatchback / sedan |
| Mazda 3 (2020–2025) | hatchback / sedan |
| Toyota Yaris | hatch 2013–2018, hatch 2019–2022 — the sedan is catalogued as Vios, five fits from 2003–2007 to 2024–2025 |
| Volkswagen Polo | hatchback / sedan |
| Kia Rio | hatchback / sedan |
| Hyundai i10 | hatch 2009–2013, 2014–2020, 2021–2025; sedan 2014–2020, 2021–2025 |
| Hyundai Accent | hatchback 2010–2016 / sedan 2011–2016 |
| Nissan Tiida | hatchback / sedan |
| Kia Cerato / Forte | Cerato / Forte / Cerato / Forte hatchback |
Seat-count splits: the extra row usually means an extra window
| Model | Split |
|---|---|
| Nissan Qashqai | 5 seats (Dualis) / 7 seats (Dualis+2) |
| BMW 2 Series | 218i 5 seats (Active Tourer) / 218i 7 seats (Gran Tourer) |
| Honda / Acura | 5 seat (RDX) / 7 seat (MDX) |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | Tiguan 2022–2025 / the longer Allspace 2018–2024 |
| Land Rover Range Rover | Autobiography / Autobiography LWB |
| Mitsubishi Xpander | Xpander / Xpander Cross |
The car you own may be listed under a name you have never used
A lot of Australian cars were sold elsewhere — or previously here — under a different badge, and grey imports arrive wearing the export name. Our catalogue carries those as aliases, so searching the name on your own boot lid is not always enough.
| If your car says | Look under |
|---|---|
| ix35 | Hyundai Tucson |
| Avante | Hyundai Elantra |
| Verna | Hyundai Accent |
| Starex, H-1, iMax | Hyundai iLoad 2010–2016 |
| Morning | Kia Picanto |
| Sedona | Kia Carnival |
| Forte, K3 | Kia Cerato |
| Optima | Kia K5 |
| Dualis, Dualis+2 | Nissan Qashqai |
| Rogue | Nissan X-Trail |
| Frontier | Nissan Navara 2015–2024 |
| Vezel | Honda HR-V 2016–2022 |
| Fit | Honda Jazz |
| Demio | Mazda 2 |
| Axela | Mazda 3 |
| Atenza | Mazda 6 |
| Kuga | Ford Escape |
| Endeavour | Ford Everest |
| Highlander | Toyota Kluger |
| Vios | Toyota Yaris Sedan |
| Kijang, Kijang Innova | Toyota Innova |
| Xenia | Toyota Avanza |
| Agya | Toyota Wigo |
| Space Star | Mitsubishi Mirage |
| RVR, Outlander Sport | Mitsubishi ASX |
| Montero Sport, Shogun Sport, Challenger | Mitsubishi Pajero Sport |
| Chevrolet Aveo, Daewoo Kalos | Holden Barina |
| Holden Jackaroo | Isuzu Trooper |
| Holden Viva | Daewoo Lacetti 2006–2010 |
| Yuan Plus | BYD Atto 3 |
| Xingyue L, KX11 | Geely Monjaro |
| Chery Omoda 5 | Omoda C5 |
| Trumpchi M8 | GAC M8 |
| Samsung QM5 | Renault Koleos |
| Dacia Duster | Renault Duster |
Chassis and body codes work the same way. If you know yours, it is faster than the year: BMW E90 / F30 / G20 320i, Nissan X-Trail T30 / T31 / T32, Mitsubishi Pajero V43 / V73 / V93, Hyundai i30 GD and PD.
Where our year ranges stop being precise
Be aware of this before you order: 184 of our 459 fits — about 40% — carry no published year split. They are single-pattern fits, usually for models with one body shape in the Australian market or a long unchanged run: Mazda CX-3, Kia Seltos, MG ZS, Hyundai Kona, Subaru Outback, the BYD range, most of the newer Chinese and Vietnamese makes.
For those, the year on your rego papers does not narrow anything down, and the product page is the authority on what the part covers. If the car has had a facelift you are unsure about, ask before ordering rather than after.
Two more practical notes on years:
- Use the compliance or build plate, not the marketing model year. Cars built late in a year are routinely sold as the following year's model, and our splits follow the body change.
- Where two of our ranges touch on the same year — HiLux 2015, Triton 2015, CR-V 2012, Tucson 2009 — that year genuinely contains both shapes. Check the build month.
What we do not cut
Being straight about this saves everyone time. There is no fit in our catalogue for:
- Holden Commodore — 15 Holden fits, none of them a Commodore.
- Ford Falcon — 24 Ford fits, none of them a Falcon.
- Toyota HiAce — 63 Toyota fits, none of them a HiAce.
- Toyota Prius — no fit, in any generation.
- Tesla — no Tesla fits. Among EVs we do cut the BYD range, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volvo EC40, Geely EX5, and Mercedes EQS 500.
If your car is not on the list, it is not cut. We would rather say that than send you something approximate.
If nothing fits your car
You have three honest options, in the order we would try them.
- Check the aliases and body-style tables above. A surprising share of "not listed" turns out to be listed under the export name or the other body style. This is the most common outcome.
- Ask us before you assume. The catalogue moves — 39 makes now, and the newer Chinese and Vietnamese models were added as they arrived in volume. If a car is selling here, it is a candidate.
- Measure and use a universal set as an interim. If there is genuinely no pattern, our guide to measuring car windows covers how to do it properly and, more usefully, when you do not need to bother.
Deep fitment pages
For fifty of the most common Australian vehicles there is a dedicated page with the generation breakdown and the sets that suit each one. A sample:
- Toyota HiLux · RAV4 · LandCruiser · Prado · Camry
- Ford Ranger · Everest
- Mitsubishi Triton · Outlander · Pajero Sport
- Isuzu D-Max · MU-X
- Mazda CX-5 · CX-8 · BT-50
- Hyundai Tucson · Santa Fe · Kia Sportage · Carnival
- Nissan X-Trail · Navara · Subaru Forester · VW Tiguan
Common questions
Are snap-in shades legal in Australia? On rear side windows and the rear screen, generally yes, with conditions that differ by state — and the driver's front side window is where the rules get strict. We cover it state by state in Are car sun shades legal in Australia?.
Is there a difference between magnetic and snap-in? They are two ways of solving the same problem — holding a cut-to-shape panel against the glass. Snap Shades vs magnetic shades goes through it, and magnetic vs suction cup covers the one comparison where there is a clear loser.
How much are they? Every one of the 459 fits starts from $49.99. What varies is which windows a set covers, which is shown on each product page.
My car is a facelift. Which side of the split am I on? Go by the build plate month and the body, not the model year. If our ranges touch on your year, ask before ordering.
Are the shades worth it at all? That is a fair question and we have answered it separately, including the cases where the answer is no: Are snap shades worth it?
Start with your make: Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Audi — or search the full 459 fits on the products page.
If Snap Shades doesn't make a set for your car
Snap Shades sells patterns for the models it has already cut, so if your make, model or year isn't on its list there is nothing to buy. A custom-fit set works the other way around: the pattern is cut from your own car's glass, so coverage isn't capped by someone else's catalogue. Send the make, model and year and the fit is confirmed before anything is made.
Ready to fit yours?
Custom-fit magnetic sun shades, made to your car's exact windows.
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