Best in test – Roof-Boxes

Thule Motion XT XL Review | Switchback Travel

Here are four roof boxes that repeatedly end up as “best in test” in Nordic and European tests. Prices are indicative (street prices late-2025) so expect campaign deals and local variation.

Thule Motion XT XL – Overall “best in test”

Widely chosen as overall test winner by several comparison sites and very highly rated in Expressen / Teknikens Värld tests. (Test.se)

  • Size / volume: ~500 L, max load 75 kg. (Mekonomen)
  • Why it wins: Very easy mounting (PowerClick), smooth dual-side opening, stable in crash tests and good weather-sealing. (Mekonomen)
  • Typical Nordic prices:
    • Sweden: about 8 000–11 000 SEK. (Mekonomen)
    • Norway: about 9 500–11 000 NOK. (Prisjakt)
    • Denmark: about 6 100–6 600 DKK. (PriceRunner)
  • Typical rest-of-Europe price: Roughly 950–1 100 EUR depending on market (UK webshops list it around £1 050). (Autobulbs Direct)

Good all-round choice for family cars and EVs where you want a big but still fairly aerodynamic box.

Packline NX Premium / NX Twin XL – Crash-safety specialists

In M Sveriges heavy crash-test of roof boxes, Packline NX Premium took the overall win, with NX Twin XL in second place, ahead of Thule Motion XT XL. (Riksförbundet M Sverige)

  • Size / volume: NX-series around 430–450 L depending on version. (carparts.se)
  • Why they win: Very rigid double-shell construction, low and sleek profile, excellent crash safety. Often praised for design on modern SUVs and crossovers. (Riksförbundet M Sverige)
  • Typical Nordic prices (Sweden):
    • NX Traveller / Twin XL from about 7 000–12 000 SEK. (Prisjakt)
    • NX Premium XL often around 15 000–17 000 SEK depending on finish and retailer. (Prisjakt)
  • Typical rest-of-Europe price: Where Packline is sold (mainly Northern/Central Europe and UK), expect roughly 1 100–1 600 EUR for the big NX models (based on UK/Euro reseller pricing).

Great choice if crash safety and design are your top priorities and you’re okay paying a premium.

Calix Nordic Loader Premium – Low, EV-friendly Nordic box

Calix Nordic Loader Premium has been highlighted as test winner in Teknikens Värld and is marketed heavily on that result. (Mynewsdesk)

  • Size / volume: About 430 L, weight ~30 kg. (Lastexperten)
  • Why it’s interesting:
    • Very low, elongated shape – works nicely on EVs (less drag, fits low garages).
    • Dual-side opening, integrated LED light, “Safety Nose” to hold cargo securely. (takbox.se)
  • Typical Nordic prices:
  • Typical rest-of-Europe price: Where available through dealers, think roughly 1 200–1 400 EUR for the Premium version (based on conversion from Nordic street price). (takboxspecialisten.com)

Nice pick if you want a premium, low-profile box that looks clean on a Tesla, Polestar, Volvo etc.

Thule Force XT XL – Value all-rounder

Force XT XL isn’t always the number-one test winner, but it’s consistently recommended as a very solid all-round box and often cheaper than Motion XT. (thule.com)

  • Size / volume: ~500 L, max load 75 kg. (PriceRunner)
  • Why it’s good: Tough surface, dual-side opening, easier mounting, and a bit more “utility” finish than Motion XT – good for frequent use. (thule.com)
  • Typical Nordic prices:
  • Typical rest-of-Europe price:
    • UK / EU webshops list it roughly 530–1 000 USD/GBP, which lands around 600–800 EUR for most large markets. (PriceSpy UK)

Good choice if you want Thule quality at a slightly lower price than Motion XT.

Here are U.S. dollar reference prices for some top rooftop cargo boxes:

Summary of each product with price info:

  • Thule Motion 3 XL: ~$1,079.95 USD from official U.S. store. (Thule)
  • Thule Motion 3 XL Low: variant of XL with low-profile – U.S. stores list typical similar pricing (not always exact listed).
  • Thule Motion 3 L: smaller volume version (~L size) – U.S. equivalent versions likely ~$900-1000 USD range (extrapolated).
  • Thule Force XT: value all-rounder model; U.S. store indicates roof box models in the Force/XT line around ~$1029.95 USD for one size. (Thule)
  • Thule Motion XT L: another size variant in XT family; searches show listings from ~$849.81 USD for Motion XT XL version (older data) (E-katalog)
  • Thule Motion 3 XXL Low: largest size (~610L) variant – extrapolated U.S. price would likely be above ~$1100 USD or more.
  • Thule Motion XT L (Alt listing): alternate listing showing ~5 941 SEK (~$540 USD at current conversion) though U.S. price likely higher when shipping/imported.
  • Thule Motion 3 XL Low (Alt listing): another listing with Nordic price converted gives context (but U.S. direct list shows ~$1,079 USD).