Winter Car Grill Covers — Page 8

A winter grille cover is a plastic panel installed over the factory grille, following its shape. It’s also called a winter blanking plate, winter grille, or grille утеплювач. The cover reduces the flow of cold air to the radiator: the engine warms up faster after start-up, loses heat more slowly when parked, and the cabin gets warm sooner. These covers are most often bought for diesel vans and minibuses, as well as popular passenger cars.

Upper, lower, or both

For most models there is a separate upper cover—on the grille between the headlights—and a lower cover—on the grille in the bumper. These are different products and are ordered separately. The upper one covers the main part of the radiator; to block it more, people install both. For some vehicles the lower cover comes in several versions (for example, full-length or short), and the upper one depends on the facelift year, so please read the notes in the product title carefully.

Matte or glossy

For most models the cover comes in two finishes—what’s available is shown in the product parameters. The matte version is made from ABS plastic: scratches and marks are less visible, so it’s considered more practical. The glossy version is made from polystyrene and is chosen to match a glossy grille or bumper. The manufacturer of the covers in our catalog is Digital Designs.

How to choose the right one for your model

Don’t rely on the model year only—look at the front-end design: grille and bumper shape, facelift, and body type. Within the same model, grilles can differ, so the product titles include years and уточнения. Non-OEM covers are not selected by VIN—if you’re not sure, send our manager a photo of the front of your car. You can select your model using the filter on this page or in your brand section:

• Volkswagen — T4, T5, T6, Caddy, Crafter, LT, Passat, Golf, Touran, Sharan, Polo;
• Mercedes-Benz — Sprinter W901 і W906, Vito W638 і W639, Viano;
• Renault — Master, Trafic, Kangoo, Megane III, Duster, Logan, Sandero, Dokker, Lodgy;
• Skoda — Octavia Tour, Octavia A5 і A7, Superb, Fabia, Roomster, Rapid, Yeti;
• Opel — Vivaro, Movano, Astra G і H, Combo, Corsa, Vectra, Zafira;
• Ford — Transit, Focus II, Galaxy.

There are also covers for Chevrolet Aveo T250 and Lacetti, Daewoo Lanos, Citroen Berlingo and Jumper, Peugeot Partner and Boxer, Fiat Doblo and Ducato, Iveco Daily, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sportage, Toyota Yaris, Seat Alhambra, Dacia, and Gazelle.

Fastening and installation

The cover is installed onto the factory grille—no need to remove it. Depending on the model, the fastening uses hooks or zip ties; the type is specified in the product details (“Installation type”), and the hardware is included. Hooks are placed behind the slats of the factory grille and pull the cover tight; zip ties are threaded through the grille. After installation, make sure the hood opens freely and the cover doesn’t block parking sensors or the camera.

When to install and remove

Install the cover when cold weather starts and remove it when temperatures stay consistently warmer. It reduces airflow rather than sealing it completely, but you should still monitor engine temperature. If the gauge goes higher than usual—during a thaw, under prolonged load, or in traffic—remove the lower cover or both.

More details on choosing by generation are in the articles about VW T4, T5, T6 and Caddy, Mercedes Sprinter and Vito, Renault Master, Trafic, Kangoo, Opel Vivaro and Ford Transit, Skoda Octavia and Superb, and passenger cars—Megane III, Aveo, Lanos, Lacetti, Astra G, Passat B6, Santa Fe. A comparison of different options is in the article “What to cover a car radiator grille with”.

This description was prepared with the help of AI based on the analysis of over 1 million phone calls between DD Tuning managers and customers, as well as the company’s knowledge base. We collected the questions customers ask most often and provided answers verified in practice.