Best Rearview Mirrors of 2020
There are so many things that can be upgraded in a car to improve functionality and to make the driver feel safer, and the rearview mirror is the most important one. Most people don’t even think about upgrading their rearview mirror and just make do with the one that the car shipped with.
However, using a wider model will reduce the blind spots around your car and help you backup in tight spots without having to worry about hitting obstacles.
Rearview mirrors are essential for safe driving because they can help you keep track of everything that is going on the road and fortunately, there are many aftermarket options that you can pick from. If you don’t know which mirror model is best for your car, then you have arrived at the right place.
Today we are going to present the top five rearview mirrors available on Amazon in 2020.
Best Rearview Mirrors of 2020
1. Wolfbox Mirror
We are going to kick things off with one of the best, if not the best rearview mirrors that you can find on Amazon. The product is designed by Woflbox and it’s more than a simple mirror, it’s a high-end gadget. The Wolfbox Mirror is also a dashcam and it provides an ultra-wide view of the road.
Therefore, your chances of being blindsided by another car will be slimmer than ever. The amazing thing about this product is that it features a 12-inch IPS full touch screen that offers split functions.
Since this is a high-end gadget that we are talking about, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the manufacturer has equipped it with a built-in processor that can record footage from the front and rear cameras in full HD quality.
To make things even better, the Wolfbox Mirror ships with a microSD card that can be used to store camera footage and present it to the authorities in case of an unwanted accident.
The touchscreen functions of the product will make you feel like James Bond. You will have access to a plethora of useful features such as night vision, dual-view, parking monitor, reversing aid, loop recording, and also GPS support.
We also want to highlight that the installation process is fairly simple and anyone can do it without asking for help from a specialist.
Pros
- Touchscreen support
- Front and rear cameras
- Lots of useful features
Cons
- The price is high
2. Duteri Mirror Dash Cam
On the second spot, we have another high-end gadget that will make your car as smart as Elon Musk’s latest Tesla. The product ships with built-in front and rear cameras that record footage in 1080p. While the cameras are nice, this is not what makes the product stand out.
The best feature that this product offers is a 9.66-inch mirror that comes with touchscreen support. To make things even better, the rearview mirror features a wide-angle view so that it can eliminate all blind spots.
Parking will never be easier than after equipping your car with this product. The high-tech mirror will synchronously display footage from the rearview camera whenever you put the key into the ignition so that you can park in tight spots. The manufacturers have equipped the product with a 24-hours parking monitor.
You can pair the rearview mirror with parking sensors and you will instantly become extraordinarily good at parallel parking.
If you are worried that the battery will run out quickly, then you should be pleased to know that this is not the case. The folks at Duteri have equipped the product with a 450 mAh battery that can last for days on end.
The last functionality that we want to mention is that the rearview mirror form Duteri can adapt to all climates. The product is certified as IP68 waterproof and dustproof.
Pros
- Touchscreen support
- 24-hours parking monitor
- Front and rear cameras
Cons
- It doesn’t ship with a microSD card
3. Rally Panoramic
If you are not looking for a mirror that is equipped with touchscreen support and all other types of fancy features, then you might want to give the Rally Panoramic a try. Drivers need to see everything that is happening behind their cars to stay safe and there is no better rearview mirror to help you with that than the Rally Panoramic.
This product features five panels that are equipped with a unique mounting cradle that has been specially designed to cover all blind spots.
The amazing thing about the Rally Panoramic is that it doesn’t use convex glass and instead, it is equipped with five panels that feature a very wide angle. The lack of convex glass is quite important because it means that there is no distortion in the image.
What you see in the rearview mirror is exactly what you will find behind your car. The measurements of the Rally Panoramic are 27-3/4 inch long and 2-3/8 inch high. Therefore, the Rally Panoramic will capture all the blind spots around your car.
We also want to mention that the installation process for this rearview mirror model is quite simple. You don’t need to search for any online guides because the product ships with all the mounting hardware that you require such as a metal frame that can be mounted above the car’s windshield.
Additionally, the frame is made from tough plastic which increases the durability of the Rally Panoramic.
Pros
- Panoramic view (five panels)
- Easy installation
- No distortion
Cons
- It takes some time to get used to the length of the mirror
4. Heart Horse Mirror
Heart Horse is a popular aftermarket accessory manufacturer and its bestselling product is this rearview mirror model. This product is unlike other mirrors and this is thanks to the use of high-quality glass that provides crystal clear quality and no image distortion. The Heart Horse Mirror offers a wide-angle view, but it doesn’t use curved glass.
The reason behind this is that curved glass can show objects smaller than they are in the corners and therefore, this makes it difficult for the driver to approximate distance from objects.
The glass used by this product ships with an anti-glare coating that will increase your visibility and lower the reflection of the cars that are driving behind you. This may not seem like such a groundbreaking feature, but it will make a major difference when driving during night time because it helps protect your eyes from getting blinded by the headlights of other cars.
Moreover, the Heart Horse Mirror is anti-shake and this means that the image will not get distorted when you hit a pothole or accidentally drive over an obstacle.
Another great thing about using a wide-angle rearview mirror such as this one is that people who have neck problems will be able to avoid moving their head every time that they want to switch lanes or park in tight spots.
Not just that, but you will be able to keep track of everything that your kids are doing in the backseat during family trips or long drivers.
Pros
- Wide-angle view
- Anti-glare and anti-shake
- Affordable price
Cons
- It can block “factory mirror” controls
5. Kitbest Rearview Mirror
We want to end our list with a product that is affordable and easy to install. This is why we have picked the Kitbest rearview mirror. Despite being an affordable product, the mirror measures in at 11.2 inch and it does an amazing job of monitoring blind spots.
The size of the product is smaller than other wide-angle rearview mirrors, but there is a good reason behind that. Thanks to the smaller design, the Kitbest mirror will not ruin your car’s interior aesthetics.
The way that this product can monitor blind spots while also measuring in at only 11.2 inches is because it is equipped with a concave mirror. The concave design makes it possible for you to see everything that is going on behind the car and thus, increase your overall visibility when driving. With more visibility, you will be safer when sitting behind the wheel.
The product is manufactured from ABS plastic. This is a durable material and it guarantees that the rearview mirror is going to last for years. The folks at Kitbest are confident in the durability of the product that they are offering a 2-year warranty.
Therefore, you will get a full refund if the ABS plastic material cracks or if the concave mirror falls off. We also want to note that the small design makes the product great for all types of cars starting with the SUVs and ending with big rigs.
Pros
- 2-year warranty
- Small design
- Durable materials
Cons
- It doesn’t feature anti-glare
Rearview Mirror Buying Guide
If you are curious to find out what were the determining factors when we created our top five list so that you can search the best rearview mirror that suits your needs, then you should be pleased to know that we have prepared a second list for you. The second list will serve as a buying guide for everyone interested in upgrading their rearview mirror.
- The Installation Process
Even though rearview mirrors are car accessories that don’t have any extra parts, installing them can sometimes be complicated, especially for high-end gadgets such as the first two products featured on our list. This is why the first thing you should look for in a rearview mirror is for the installation process to be simple. Most manufacturers are shipping out their products with all the extra accessories that you need for the installation, but unfortunately, this is not the case for all of them.
- Visibility
The only reason why someone might want to upgrade their rearview mirror is to increase their visibility when driving. Therefore, the second determining factor that you need to check for is the visibility that the product will provide you with. Our advice is to pick large mirrors that can reflect wide angles so that you don’t have to look over your shoulder every time that you want to switch lanes. Additionally, anti-glare mirrors are the best ones.
- Shatterproof Glass
If there is one thing that no one wants to happen is to get into an auto accident. Even though you are doing your best to avoid this, you should also make sure to be prepared if it happens. This is why shatterproof glass is a must-have option! In case something goes wrong and you hit an obstacle, the mirror can cause serious damage if it shatters into small pieces. Also, the mirror shouldn’t have sharp edges. Rounded ones are always better.
- Durable Materials
Is there something more annoying than spending your hard-earned money on a product only to find out that it is completely useless one week after installing it in your car? While mirrors might not malfunction as other accessories do, it’s quite easy for them to get scratches, break, or even fall off from their mount. With that said, spending a couple of extra dollars on a rearview mirror that is made from premium-quality and durable materials is going to be worth it in the end.
- Backseat view
Other than eliminating all blind spots around your car, the rearview mirror is also a great tool to help you keep a close eye on the backseat passengers. Having a good backseat view is essential if you have kids because you never know what they might be doing. Wide-angle mirrors are what you are looking for if you need a product that will help you monitor the backseat either for security reasons or just to see if your kids are drawing on the seats or if they have spilled their drinks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do rear view mirrors work?
Car manufacturers are installing rearview mirrors so that the driver can see all the objects behind their vehicles. What many people don’t know about them is that this type of mirrors are made of two reflective surfaces so that they can better capture the light. Furthermore, the set-ups feature a regular mirror and a thin glass wedge that is located behind it.
The thin glass is used to reflect a low percentage of light and this increases the driver’s visibility during night time. Another important feature that we want to mention is that during the night time, the secondary surface will absorb all the light and only display the image.
This is quite important because it prevents the driver from getting blinded by the lights of other cars.
What is a concave mirror?
Curved mirrors have either convex or concave surfaces. The convex ones are bulging outward and the concave ones are recessed inward. Generally, manufacturers choose to go with concave mirrors because they do not distort the image on outer corners and thus, provide the drivers with an actual representation of what is happening behind their car.
The biggest benefit of using concave mirrors is that they have a curved profile and thus, they can eliminate blind spots.
How do I replace a rearview mirror?
If you are looking to upgrade your rearview mirror and you are worried that you don’t know how to replace the stock one, then you should be pleased to know that the installation process is fairly simple.
It depends on the type of mirror that you have purchased but generally, you will be required to only clip the new product over the stock mirror. Not only that, but most manufacturers are bundling their products with installation kits that contain everything you need, including a step-by-step guide.
Are rearview mirrors universal?
Most rearview mirrors are universal. The manufacturers want to make sure that they are not limiting their customer base to only one type of car. This is also the reason why most mirrors can be installed directly on top of stock mirrors instead of replacing them.
Although, this is not the case for all models.
Rearview mirrors come in different sizes and some of them are designed especially for certain types of cars. For example, a wide-lens mirror that is designed for trucks will be too big for a normal car and it will hinder the visibility of the driver instead of improving it.
Why does my rearview mirror turn blue?
One of the strangest things that happen to mirrors is that they turn blue. This can happen in an instant and the reason behind this is that they are equipped with an auto-dimming function.
While this function might seem useless at first glance, this is not the case. The auto-dimming function increases driving safety because it eliminates glare that can impair the vision of the driver.
Moreover, auto-dimming will provide the driver’s eyes with protection from the blinding lights from trailing vehicles. Additionally, this is not a standard function and it is not equipped on all rearview mirrors.
