Thule Cargo Boxes Compared (2026)
November 7, 2026 · 17 min read
You went looking for a Thule Evolution and found that nobody sells one. Thule has renamed or replaced almost every box people search for, and several names that still rank have been out of production for years. Here is the current range in one table, with the old names mapped onto what replaced them.
Updated — first published
Quick answer
If you are replacing a Thule Evolution, the closest current box is the Thule Force 3 L at 450 litres, and the Thule Motion 3 L at 440 litres is the better-finished equivalent. Both open from either side and carry 165 lb of cargo. The Evolution itself is discontinued, and so is its mounting hardware.
Thule Motion 3 L
440 litres, 42 lb empty and a lock that will not release the key until the lid is shut.
Thule Force 3 L
Ten more litres than the Motion 3 L in a squarer shell, at the cost of more wind noise.
Thule Motion 3 XL
18 cubic feet for a full family load, if your tailgate has the room behind it.
Who this guide is for
This is for you if you have crossbars on the roof already and you are trying to work out which Thule box fits on them, fits your garage, and fits what you actually pack. A crossbar is the bar running side to side across the roof; every box here clamps to a pair, and none will mount without them.
It is also for anyone searching a model name that no longer exists. Evolution, Cascade XT, Mountaineer, Sidekick and Pulse Alpine are all out of production, and the mistakes section says which are still worth buying used.
This is for you if
- You already have crossbars and want to know which box clears your garage door
- You are replacing an older Thule box and need to know what replaced it
- You take two or three long trips a year and the trunk runs out of room every time
Look elsewhere if
- You have no crossbars yet, which is the first purchase, not the second — start with best roof bars and crossbars (2026)
- You want a soft bag rather than a hard shell, which is a different trade in security and weatherproofing
How these picks were chosen
Cedar Buy ranked these five on published specifications alone, weighting the two numbers that decide whether a box is usable at all: the height it adds above the crossbar, and the volume in litres. Every figure below comes from Thule’s own documentation.
Our selection method
- Thule’s US product pages for the Motion 3, Force 3, Vector and Pulse 2 lines were compared in November 2026, together with the manufacturer specification text supplied with each Amazon listing.
- Height off the crossbar was weighted most heavily, because it is the number that decides whether the box fits the building you park in, and it is the one specification a buyer cannot change afterwards.
- Discontinued boxes were excluded from the five picks on the grounds that Cedar Buy cannot confirm a current source for them or for their mounting hardware. They are covered in the mistakes section instead.
- Specifications come from manufacturer documentation. Cedar Buy does not physically test products — see our editorial policy.
The Thule range in one table
Read the height off the crossbar column first, then the volume. Everything else on this table is a preference; those two are pass or fail.
| Product | Volume | External size | Opening side | Empty weight | Lock | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thule Motion 3 LBest overall | 440 L / 16 cu ft | 77 x 36 x 17 in | Both sides | 42 lb | SlideLock | Amazon → |
| Thule Force 3 LBest value | 450 L | 76.8 x 33.3 x 16.8 in | Both sides | Not verified | SlideLock | Amazon → |
| Thule Motion 3 XLPremium | 18 cu ft | Not verified | Both sides | Not verified | SlideLock | Amazon → |
| Thule Vector Alpine | 380 L / 13 cu ft | 91 x 35 x 12.5 in | Both sides | 65.9 lb | SlideLock | Amazon → |
| Thule Pulse 2 M | 400 L | 68.9 x 32.1 x 16.6 in | Both sides | Not verified | Central lock | Amazon → |
What the table does not show
Volume does not tell you what shape the space is. The Thule Motion 3 L holds 440 litres inside a curved shell, and the curve eats the corners, so rigid bins stack badly. The Thule Force 3 L holds 450 litres in a squarer shell and takes the same bins without a fight.
Thule Motion 3 L — Best overall
The Motion 3 L earns the top slot because it is the only box here where Cedar Buy could verify every number that matters, and all of them land in the right place: 440 litres, 42 lb empty, and 15.5 in of added height.
Thule Motion 3 L
Best for a family of four on a sedan or midsize SUVThe Motion 3 L is the middle size of Thule’s main aerodynamic line, and it replaced the Motion XT. At 42 lb it is the lightest box here, which matters because you lift it onto the roof alone. The forward-leaning nose is why it is quieter than the Force 3 at speed.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- Lightest box here at 42 lb, so one person can fit it
- SlideLock will not release the key until the lid is properly shut
- Takes five to seven pairs of skis up to 180 cm
Limitations
- The curved shell wastes corner space that the Force 3 keeps
- Adds 15.5 in above the crossbar, which is a lot in a low garage
Editorial opinion
Buy this one if you load soft bags, lift the box alone, and care about road noise. Skip it if you pack rigid bins and coolers, because the curve costs you more space than the ten-litre gap to the Force 3 L suggests.
If you want one box and do not want to think about it again, this is the one.
See it on Amazon →Thule Force 3 L — Best value
The Force 3 L holds 450 litres, ten more than the Motion 3 L, and it now uses the same SlideLock catch that used to be reserved for the Motion line. That change is the reason it moved up to best value rather than best budget.
Thule Force 3 L
Best for people who pack bins, crates and coolersThe Force 3 L, Thule model 645750, is the box the Force XT became. It is boxier than the Motion 3, which is the whole point: a squarer shell means more of the 450 litres is space you can actually stack in. It measures 76.8 x 33.3 x 16.8 in and carries the same 165 lb as the Motion.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- 450 litres in a squarer shell that stacks rigid bins properly
- Now uses SlideLock, which the older Force XT did not
- Shorter than the Motion 3 L at 76.8 in, so it crowds the tailgate less
Limitations
- The blunter shape is louder than the Motion 3 at highway speed
- Thule does not publish an empty weight on the page Cedar Buy checked
Editorial opinion
Get the Force 3 L if what goes on the roof is camping gear in hard boxes. Do not get it if you drive long highway stretches with the box empty, because you will hear it for every one of those miles.
If you pack crates rather than duffels, this is the one.
See it on Amazon →Thule Motion 3 XL — Premium pick
The Motion 3 XL is the Motion 3 L stretched to 18 cubic feet, and it is the right call only when four people’s luggage genuinely will not fit in 16. Length is what you pay for it in.
Thule Motion 3 XL
Best for large SUVs on long family tripsThis is the same shell, lock and mount as the Motion 3 L in a larger size, rated at 18 cubic feet. It takes the Thule One Key System, so you can rekey it to match your other Thule carriers. Thule publishes fewer figures for the limited edition version than for the standard sizes.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- 18 cubic feet, two more than the Motion 3 L
- Rekeyable to one key across your Thule carriers
- Same quiet shell shape as the smaller Motion 3 sizes
Limitations
- Cedar Buy could not verify its external dimensions or weight
- The extra length is the part most likely to foul a rising tailgate
Editorial opinion
Buy the XL only if you have already filled an L-size box and wanted more. Do not buy it on the assumption that bigger is safer: the unverified length is the measurement a hatchback or low garage will punish.
If your last trip ended with bags in the footwells, this is the one.
See it on Amazon →Thule Vector Alpine — Best for skis
The Vector Alpine adds only 12.5 in above the crossbar, the lowest figure in this guide, and still swallows skis up to 200 cm. If your garage is the constraint, this is the box that solves it.
Thule Vector Alpine
Best for skiers and anyone with a low garage doorThe Vector Alpine, Thule models 613500 and 613501, is the long low box at the top of the range: 380 litres in a shell 91 in long and 12.5 in tall, with a felt-lined base and an LED light in the lid. It takes four to six pairs of skis, or three to five snowboards.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- Adds only 12.5 in above the bar, the lowest here
- Felt-lined base and an LED light in the lid
- Interior 80.5 in long, enough for 200 cm skis
Limitations
- 65.9 lb empty, so this is a two-person lift every time
- Only 11 in of internal height, so tall bags will not go in
Editorial opinion
Buy the Vector Alpine if skis, boards or a low garage set your limit. Do not buy it as a general luggage box: 11 in of internal height rules out most roller cases.
If the garage door is the problem, this is the one.
See it on Amazon →Thule Pulse 2 M — Also worth a look
The Pulse 2 M is the simplest box Thule currently makes, at 400 litres in a shell 68.9 in long. It is here because it is the one that fits a small car without hanging over the windshield.
Thule Pulse 2 M
Best for hatchbacks and small crossoversThe Pulse 2 M, Thule model 610250, replaced the older Pulse. At 68.9 x 32.1 x 16.6 in it is the shortest box here by eight inches, which is what makes it work on a short roof. It carries the same 165 lb as the boxes above it.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- Shortest box here at 68.9 in, so it suits a small roof
- Still opens from both sides, which the old Pulse did not
- Same 165 lb load rating as the boxes above it
Limitations
- Central lock, not SlideLock, so nothing tells you the lid is seated
- 400 litres is the least capacity of the full-size boxes here
Editorial opinion
Buy the Pulse 2 M if your roof is short and your trips are occasional. Skip it if you load the box in the dark at the end of a drive, because the central lock gives you no confirmation that the lid is properly closed.
If your car is small and the box comes out twice a year, this is the one.
See it on Amazon →What to look for before you buy
Height off the crossbar matters more than anything else on the spec sheet, because it is the only number that can make the box unusable the day it arrives. Work down from there.
Height off the crossbar
This is how far the box sticks up above the bar, and it ranges from 12.5 in on the Thule Vector Alpine to 15.5 in on the Thule Motion 3 L. Measure your roof, add the crossbar, add this number, and compare it to your garage door.
Shape, not just litres
Two boxes ten litres apart can hold very different loads. The Thule Force 3 L at 450 litres is squarer than the Thule Motion 3 L at 440 litres, so it takes rigid bins the Motion cannot. Pack soft and the curve costs you nothing. Pack hard and it costs you a lot.
Which side it opens, and what the lock tells you
All five boxes open from both sides, which was not true of the older Pulse. The lock is the real difference: SlideLock will not release the key until the lid is latched, while a central lock turns whether or not the lid is seated. The Motion 3, Force 3 and Vector get SlideLock; the Pulse 2 does not.
The 165 lb rating you will never reach
Every box here carries 165 lb, and that is almost never the limit that binds. Your car’s roof limit is, and it includes the crossbars and the empty box, which is 42 lb on the Motion 3 L and 65.9 lb on the Vector Alpine. Check the real ceiling in how much weight can your car’s roof hold? before you shop on the box rating.
Key terms, explained
Four names on Thule’s spec sheets mean nothing until someone tells you, and each one changes a buying decision.
Plain-language definitions
- Height off crossbar
- The distance the box adds above the bar it sits on, measured in inches. Across the current Thule range it runs from 12.5 in to 15.5 in, and it is the figure to compare against your garage door, not the box’s overall height.
- SlideLock
- Thule’s lock design that separates locking from opening, so the key cannot come out until the lid is properly shut. Buyers often read it as a security feature; its real job is stopping you from driving off with an unlatched lid.
- PowerClick
- Thule’s quick-mount clamp with a torque indicator that clicks when the box is tight enough on the bar. It means you do not need a wrench and do not need to guess whether you have over-tightened it.
- Dual-side opening
- A lid hinged so it can be opened from either side of the car. It matters most when you park on a street, because it lets you load from the sidewalk rather than standing in traffic.
Mistakes that cost people money
The expensive mistake in this category is buying a secondhand Thule box whose mounting hardware is no longer made, and discovering it after the box is in your garage.
- Buying a discontinued box without checking the hardwareThe Thule Evolution, Cascade XT and Mountaineer used the EasySnap or Quick Snap mounting systems, and those kits are discontinued. A used Evolution with no feet is scrap. A used Sidekick or Pulse Alpine is a fairer buy, but confirm the hardware is in the box before you pay.
- Shopping on volume and ignoring shapeTen litres between the Thule Motion 3 L and the Thule Force 3 L tells you nothing about which one holds your gear. If you pack hard cases, the squarer Force 3 L wins despite being the cheaper line.
- Trusting the box’s 165 lb ratingThat is what the box can hold, not what your roof can. Your car’s manual gives a dynamic roof load that includes the bars and the empty box, and on many sedans it is lower than 165 lb before you add anything.
- Searching for a model name that was renamedThe Motion XT is now the Motion 3, and the Force XT is now the Force 3. A listing still using the old name is either old stock or a different box, so check the model number rather than the name.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Thule Evolution still made?
No. The Thule Evolution has been out of production for years, and its EasySnap and Quick Snap mounting hardware has been discontinued as well. The closest current equivalents are the Thule Force 3 L at 450 litres and the Thule Motion 3 L at 440 litres, both of which open from either side and carry 165 lb, the same as the Evolution did.
What replaced the Thule Motion XT and Force XT?
The Motion XT became the Motion 3 and the Force XT became the Force 3. The change was not only a name. The Force 3 picked up the SlideLock catch that was previously fitted only to the Motion line, so a Force 3 will not release its key until the lid is properly shut, which the older Force XT would.
Which Thule box fits a low garage?
The Thule Vector Alpine, which adds 12.5 in above the crossbar. That is three inches lower than the Thule Motion 3 L at 15.5 in. Measure your roof height, add the crossbar height, then add the box figure and compare the total to your garage opening. Do not use the box’s overall height, which includes the part below the bar.
How much can a Thule roof box carry?
All five current boxes in this guide are rated to 165 lb of cargo. In practice your car sets the real limit, because its dynamic roof load covers the crossbars and the empty box too. The Motion 3 L weighs 42 lb empty and the Vector Alpine weighs 65.9 lb, so a heavy box eats a third of a typical roof allowance before you pack it.
Do all Thule boxes open from both sides?
Every box in the current range does, including the entry-level Pulse 2. Older boxes often did not. The Thule Pulse Alpine, for instance, opened from the passenger side only. If you are buying used, check the opening side before anything else, because loading from the traffic side of a parked car is the thing you will regret daily.
So which one should you buy?
Buy the Thule Motion 3 L unless a specific constraint pushes you elsewhere: a low garage sends you to the Vector Alpine, hard-sided gear sends you to the Force 3 L, and a short roof sends you to the Pulse 2 M. If your car is a RAV4, start instead with best roof carriers for the toyota rav4 (2026), which covers the fitment specifics this guide does not.
| If you need | Best pick | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Thule Motion 3 LBest overall | 42 lb empty, the only box here one person can fit alone | Amazon → |
| Best value | Thule Force 3 LBest value | 450 litres in a squarer shell that stacks rigid bins | Amazon → |
| Premium pick | Thule Motion 3 XLPremium pick | 18 cubic feet, two more than the Motion 3 L | Amazon → |
| Skis, or a low garage | Thule Vector Alpine | 12.5 in off the crossbar, the lowest in the range | Amazon → |
| If you are still unsure | Thule Motion 3 L | 440 litres and 15.5 in off the bar, the middle of every scale here | Amazon → |
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