If you require a quick answer, the best roof box is the Thule Motion XT, which is available in 6 sizes and has an optimised design for maximum space efficiency. However, if your budget doesn’t stretch that far, the Thule Ocean model is a more affordable alternative that’s available in a variety of sizes that range from 320 to 600 litres.
To rate the roof boxes within our roundup, we based our recommendations on testing, our experience using multiple models, the latest research and several factors. Some of the factors that we considered included the capacity, load rating, design, size and colour options, locks, ease of installation, supplied accessories, warranty and value for money.
Best Roof Box Overview
- Best Overall: Thule Motion XT
- Best Budget Thule: Thule Ocean 200
- Best All-Rounder: Farad F3 Marlin
- Best For Small Cars: Micks Garage Junior
- Best Value: M-Way MW5320 Venom
- Best Value Runner-Up: Art Plast BA320
Roof boxes come in a range of shapes and sizes and they vary in terms of their carrying capacity and load rating. Before making a purchase, it’s important that you have a set of roof bars installed because they are used to mount the roof box. You’ll also need to measure the distance between them in order to choose a compatible roof box for your car.
Below is a list of the best roof boxes that offer plenty of storage capacity and are suitable for most cars.
The Best Roof Boxes
1. Best Overall: Thule Motion XT Roof Box
Thule is a highly reputable brand in the UK that’s well known for their roof boxes and other accessories. The Motion XT series of roof box that they offer is regarded as one of the best on the market and it’s available in a variety of sizes to best suit your car and luggage requirements.
The sizes that are available with this particular model include capacities that range from 300 to 610 litres. There is also a low-profile option known as the Alpine model, which is designed for superior aerodynamics.
- Available in 6 different sizes
- Choice of a black or titan gloss finish
- Separate locking and opening functions
- Automatically locks the lid in place
- During testing, we found it easy to mount using the “PowerClick” quick-mount system
- Full trunk access due to the forward positioning
- One of the most expensive roof boxes on the market
Depending upon your budget, the Thule Motion XT is the ultimate car roof box that provides ample space for all your gear. The main drawback is the premium price tag but it’s a worthwhile investment that’ll last many years.
2. Best Budget Thule: Thule Ocean 200 Roof Box
Another Thule roof box is the Ocean series, which is a more affordable alternative that’s available in four different sizes. Whether you drive a small or large car, this roof box is suitable for all types of cars with a higher profile design.
A desirable feature of this roof box that makes it even more versatile is the fact that it can open at the front, rear or sides and this is thanks to its clever hinges.
- Capacities range from 320 to 600 litres
- Supplied with two retaining straps and U bolt mounting brackets
- Maximum load capacity of 50 KG
- Stylish gloss black finish
- Rear opening makes loading the roof box slightly difficult for certain cars
Overall, the Thule Ocean 200 is another high-quality roof box by the brand that’s easy to use and provides plenty of storage space. It ticks all the boxes and it’s far more affordable than similar-sized models produced by Thule.
3. Best All-Rounder: Farad F3 Marlin Roof Box
Farad is another brand that produces a wide range of roof boxes and the F3 is their flagship model. It’s available in two different styles and a choice of colours that includes gloss black or grey, metallic black or grey and white.
Although expensive, Farad provides an impressive five-year warranty with each of its roof boxes for peace of mind.
- Available as a Marlin or Zeus design
- Load capacity of 75 KG
- Adaptable to suit all roof bars
- Easy to use dual side opening and central lock
- Backed by a 5 year warranty
- During testing, we found that the fasteners aren't the easiest to use
To conclude, the Farad F3 is an excellent all-round roof box that’s suitable for medium to large cars and is also backed by a long warranty. If you want a high-quality and stylish roof box but don’t want to pay the Thule prices, it’s the best alternative.
4. Best For Small Cars: Micks Garage Junior Box
The Junior roof box by Micks Garage is a stylish option that’s TUV approved and comes with an affordable price tag. Compared to many of the alternatives, this roof box is shorter but taller and has an impressive 420-litre capacity. According to the brand, the internal capacity can be compared to the boot capacity of a Ford Focus.
- Lightweight at just 18 KG
- Opens on the right side (most desirable)
- Constructed of a UV protected polystyrene
- Max load capacity of 50 KG
- Stylish gloss black finish
- Not as high quality as the Thule alternatives
Overall, the Micks Garage Junior is the best roof box for small cars and it offers outstanding value for the money. It’s also one of the lightest, which makes lifting it onto the roof and mounting it to the roof bars much easier.
5. Best Value: M-Way MW5320 Venom
The M-Way Venom is another relatively affordable roof box that uses a stylish and aerodynamic design. In terms of the sizing, it has a 320-litre capacity and it’s capable of holding loads up to 50 KG in weight.
- Durable ABS construction
- Aerodynamic design for reduced wind noise
- Central locking system with multi-point latches
- Stylish curves and a black finish
- Supplied with two keys
- Lack of sizes to choose from
Overall, the Venom roof box by M-Way is stylish, aerodynamic and suitable for a wide range of vehicles. The only drawback is the lack of sizes but if the 320-litre capacity is all that you need, this model is a great option to consider.
6. Best Value Runner-Up: Art Plast BA320 Car Roof Box
If you want the best bang for your buck, the Art Plast roof box is an excellent option. It’s available in three different sizes that include 138, 165 and 198 lengths and these lengths relate to 320, 400 and 460 litre capacities.
Unlike many of the similarly priced alternatives, this roof box is built to a far higher standard. It has a robust polypropylene shell and aluminium closure axles that are built to last.
- Capacities range from 320 to 460 litres
- Lengths range from 138 to 198 cm
- Lockable and supplied with two keys
- Comes with U brackets and other accessories
- High definition carbon fibre effect
- Adaptable for all cars
- Not very aesthetically pleasing
To conclude, the Art Plast is a great budget option that’s a fraction of the price when compared to many of the premium alternatives. It isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing but this really isn’t an issue when you consider the budget price.
How We Rated
Over the years, we’ve tried and tested a variety of roof boxes (as shown in the image below) that range in budget and are manufactured by some of the top brands in the UK. The last roof box that we bought as a long-term investment was the Thule Motion XT and we’ve been using it for many years now. Since owning it, we have used it on several different cars that include estates, SUVs and even hatchbacks such as my friend’s Volkswagen Golf in the image.
During our testing of the roof boxes, we analyse their build quality, ease of installation, usability, locking functionality and any additional accessories supplied in the box.
To keep up our commitment to reviewing and testing the latest roof boxes (for this article), we are continually testing the latest offerings from top brands in the UK. This means that when we notice a brand has released a new and improved model, we will attempt to upgrade our roof boxes for testing (where applicable).
As well as our testing and experience of using multiple roof boxes, we also based our recommendations upon hours of research and a number of factors. Some of the factors we took into consideration included the capacity, load rating, design, size and colour options, locks, ease of installation, supplied accessories, warranty and value for money.
Conclusion
For any road trips that involve carrying lots of gear, a roof box can be used to add hundreds of litres of storage space. As long as you have a pair of roof bars installed and the roof space isn’t being used up, they are suitable for pretty much all vehicles. However, before purchasing any of our recommendations, it’s crucial that you measure the distance between the roof bars. You’ll then be able to choose a suitable length roof box to best suit your requirements.
If you require further information regarding our roof box recommendations, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.
