The catch
Thule Motion 3 XL
Above the crossbars, it rises two inches higher.
Side by side
Thule Motion 3 XL vs Motion 3 XXL Low compared: Both hold eighteen cubic feet, and XXL Low fits longer skis two inches lower
Quick verdict
Motion 3 XL fits when 200 cm skis work for you and you value a lighter box, more internal height and an easier hatch-clearance requirement. XXL Low is for skis up to 215 cm or for two inches less height above the crossbars. Since both hold 18 cubic feet, the longer low box changes the shape and does not add volume.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Two inches at the garage can be won back with the lower profile
On the same approved rack and vehicle, the published heights above the bars are two inches apart. Near a doorway limit that can matter, so measure the complete installed height and leave a safety margin. The Low name alone does not establish that the car will clear.
Where this comes from
15 - 13 = 2 inches less above the crossbars. The nominal volume is the same 18 cu ft for both boxes.
The catch
Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
It weighs 4.9 lb more and asks for more hatch clearance.
Thule Motion 3 XL
- Why pick it
- Taller packed items get more internal height
- A lighter box and a smaller required front-bar-to-hatch distance
- The catch
- Above the crossbars, it rises two inches higher.
Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
- Why pick it
- Your skis are longer than 200 cm but not past 215 cm
- Two inches less published height above the crossbars
- The catch
- It weighs 4.9 lb more and asks for more hatch clearance.
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What this page compares
Long skis and garage clearance decide between Thule Motion 3 XL and XXL Low. See how equal cargo volume, roof-load costs, internal height and exact hatch-fit checks compare.
Motion 3 XL fits when 200 cm skis work for you and you value a lighter box, more internal height and an easier hatch-clearance requirement. XXL Low is for skis up to 215 cm or for two inches less height above the crossbars. Since both hold 18 cubic feet, the longer low box changes the shape and does not add volume.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
My longest skis measure 210 cm
The published ski length is met only by XXL Low. Rack, hatch and load checks still apply.
- Thule Motion 3 XL
- Not suitable
- Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
- Depends
I measured 54 inches of Thule front clearance
The stated threshold is cleared by XL. XXL Low needs more than 54 13/16 inches.
- Thule Motion 3 XL
- Depends
- Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
- Not suitable
I need published cargo volume above 18 cu ft
The size names differ, yet both are rated at 18 cu ft.
- Thule Motion 3 XL
- Not suitable
- Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
- Not suitable
The center spacing of my fixed crossbars is 38 inches
Each tops out at 36 9/16 inches. Bars should not be moved outside the vehicle-approved positions.
- Thule Motion 3 XL
- Not suitable
- Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
- Not suitable
A rigid case has to stay upright, and it is 14 inches tall
Internal height is listed at 15 inches for XL, subject to the tapered shape, and at 13 inches for XXL Low.
- Thule Motion 3 XL
- Depends
- Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
- Not suitable
I want mounts that need no tools, plus dual-side opening
Dual-side access and PowerClick mounting are used by both.
- Thule Motion 3 XL
- Good
- Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
- Good
In practice
Differences you will notice
Two inches at the garage can be won back with the lower profile
On the same approved rack and vehicle, the published heights above the bars are two inches apart. Near a doorway limit that can matter, so measure the complete installed height and leave a safety margin. The Low name alone does not establish that the car will clear.
How we worked this out
15 - 13 = 2 inches less above the crossbars. The nominal volume is the same 18 cu ft for both boxes.
On a light roof allowance, a low box uses up more of it
Take a hypothetical 165 lb vehicle limit and a 15 lb rack. XL leaves 99 lb for cargo and XXL Low leaves 94.1 lb, so the low box costs 4.9 lb of that allowance. Go by the lowest applicable vehicle, rack and box limit.
How we worked this out
XL: 165 - 15 - 51 = 99 lb. XXL Low: 165 - 15 - 55.9 = 94.1 lb. A separate 165 lb cargo maximum is listed for both boxes, and it cannot override the vehicle limit.
Long skis might fix one fit problem and cause another
XL tops out below a 210 cm ski, while XXL Low’s stated ski length covers it. The catch is that the low box asks for more hatch clearance. A measured 54-inch front clearance meets the XL threshold used here and misses what XXL Low requires.
How we worked this out
In cm, 210 > 200 and 210 ≤ 215. Using the same Thule measurement method, 54 > 52.125 inches, yet 54 < 54.8125 inches.
Option A
Thule, Motion 3 XL Black Glossy
Thule Motion 3 XL
Capacity is 18 cubic feet, and gear up to 200 centimeters long fits inside.
- Best for
- Taller packed items get more internal height
Facts we checked
- Volume for cargo: 18 cu ft
- Longest ski length: 200 cm
- Rise above the crossbar: 15 in
- Internal length, width and height: 80 × 29 × 15 in
Option B
Thule, Motion 3 XXL Low Black Glossy
Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
It holds 18 cubic feet and accepts gear as long as 215 centimeters.
- Best for
- Your skis are longer than 200 cm but not past 215 cm
Facts we checked
- Volume for cargo: 18 cu ft
- Longest ski length: 215 cm
- Rise above the crossbar: 13 in
- Internal length, width and height: 87 × 30 × 13 in
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Thule Motion 3 XL | Thule Motion 3 XXL Low | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo volume | 18 cu ft | 18 cu ft | Next to regular XL, XXL Low brings no extra nominal volume. |
| Maximum ski length | 200 cm | 215 cm | Go by the length of your longest ski and ignore the size name. |
| Height above crossbar | 15 in | 13 in | The vehicle and the rack still count toward installed height. |
| Internal length, width and height | 80 × 29 × 15 in | 87 × 30 × 13 in | Interior height is the price of Low’s longer, wider cavity. |
| Empty box weight | 51 lb | 55.9 lb | With the heavier box, less of the vehicle’s roof-load allowance is left for cargo. |
| Crossbar center spacing | 21 13/16 to 36 9/16 in | 21 13/16 to 36 9/16 in | Moving up a size leaves the permitted spread range where it was. |
| Conservative hatch clearance used here | Greater than 52 1/8 in | Greater than 54 13/16 in | Per Thule’s method, measure from the front bar’s center to where the roof meets the hatch. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Thule Motion 3 XL
- It tops out at 200 cm for ski length.
With Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
- Upright bulky cases may be ruled out by the lower 13-inch interior.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Your longest skis are longer than 200 cm and 215 cm at most
Go with Thule Motion 3 XXL Low. Only XXL Low has that length rating, if it fits the vehicle.
A rigid item standing upright needs over 13 and up to 15 inches of internal height
Go with Thule Motion 3 XL. Regular XL lists the taller interior, though you still need to check that the shape clears.
Fixed crossbars sit farther apart than 36 9/16 inches
Neither model fits. Neither falls inside the published spread range.
Decision guide
How to decide
The XXL Low name signals a different shape
Nominal volume is equal for the standard XL and XXL Low. The lower cavity can suit long skis and soft bags, whereas the taller regular XL may work better for an upright suitcase. Measure what you will pack, and keep in mind that the lid tapers away from the largest internal dimensions.
Do the hatch and garage checks one at a time
A lower box may ease overhead clearance, yet its longer shape makes rear-hatch clearance harder. Follow Thule's specified reference points for the hatch, and measure from the ground to the top for the garage. Passing one measurement says nothing about the other.
Deduct the empty hardware before you pack
The rack, the empty box and the contents all count toward roof-load limits, and the low box is 4.9 lb heavier here. Work from your vehicle's dynamic roof limit and the rack instructions, then respect the cargo limit of the box itself. More cubic space never allows more weight than the lowest applicable limit.
What this page can’t tell you
- No vehicle or garage is declared universally compatible. Interior dimensions are maximum published figures, so they cannot guarantee that a rigid item fits under the tapered lid.
- The lower shape is not taken to imply any fuel-economy or wind-noise advantage.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the roof cargo boxes we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thule Motion 3 XL |
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| Thule Motion 3 XXL Low |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Thule Motion 3 XL
Taller packed items get more internal height
See price & reviews on AmazonThule Motion 3 XXL Low
Your skis are longer than 200 cm but not past 215 cm
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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