The catch
Thule Motion 3 XXL
Among the longest and widest boxes listed here, it calls for exact checks of hatch clearance and roof length.
Side by side
Thule Motion 3 XXL vs XXL Low: Low trims three inches above the bars while the ski allowance stays as long
Quick verdict
Tall luggage calls for the regular XXL. XXL Low is for cases where cutting three inches above the crossbars changes whether you can get into the garage. The footprint is the same long one on both, and both accept 215 cm skis.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Same footprint, less room for luggage
Three cubic feet of volume are lost with XXL Low, and the exterior footprint is neither shortened nor narrowed.
Where this comes from
21 - 18 = 3 cubic feet, which is 14.3% of regular XXL volume. Outside, both measure 91.3 by 36.2 inches.
The catch
Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
Although it is low, the shell is long and still needs plenty of hatch clearance.
Thule Motion 3 XXL
- Why pick it
- Internal height beyond 13 inches is what your cases require
- Family luggage calls for all 21 cubic feet
- The catch
- Among the longest and widest boxes listed here, it calls for exact checks of hatch clearance and roof length.
Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
- Why pick it
- A lower installed profile suits your garage
- Soft bags go along with your long skis
- The catch
- Although it is low, the shell is long and still needs plenty of hatch clearance.
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What this page compares
Motion 3 XXL against XXL Low, judged on internal luggage height, garage clearance, capacity and the almost identical effort of lifting either box.
Day to day
How each one fits your routine
Look at the packed bag, wheels included
Suppose a rigid bag has to stay in an orientation that stands 14 inches tall. Regular Motion 3 XXL is the one to look into, since its published interior is 16 inches high, against 13 inches for XXL Low. That rules the Low out for that orientation before you compare total volume. Regular XXL still needs a physical fit check around the tapered lid, hinges and fastening points.
Where this comes from
Internal envelopes listed by Thule are 87 × 30 × 16 inches and 87 × 30 × 13 inches. A 14-inch item goes 1 inch over the maximum stated height of the Low. Staying under a published maximum does not prove that a rectangular case fits everywhere inside the curved shell.
The taller XXL is not needed for long skis
Take 210cm skis and compressible bags. XXL Low keeps the same documented ski-length allowance as regular XXL, since both list 215cm and both have an 87 by 30 inch maximum internal length-and-width envelope. Pick regular XXL when the extra height solves a packing problem. For a load that is mostly flat gear, the taller body brings no extra ski-length allowance to justify it.
Where this comes from
Both published ski limits sit 5cm above 210cm. How many bound ski pairs and bags fit together is not established by that. Check bindings, lid clearance, restraint points and vehicle load limits. Equal maximum dimensions are not identical usable floor-shape measurements.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Your case needs internal height of more than 13 inches and at most 16 inches
Regular XXL lists a 16-inch interior height and XXL Low lists 13 inches. The opening and the case shape still have to be checked.
- Thule Motion 3 XXL
- Better fit
- Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
- Not suitable
A lower installed profile suits your garage
From 16 to 13 inches is how far the published height above the bars falls. Measure the complete vehicle and allow a clearance margin.
- Thule Motion 3 XXL
- Depends
- Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
- Better fit
Family luggage calls for all 21 cubic feet
Low lists 18 cubic feet against 21 for regular XXL, and it saves only 1.3 pounds of empty weight.
- Thule Motion 3 XXL
- Better fit
- Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
- Not suitable
You have less than 13 inches of clearance allowance above the bars
XXL Low still lists 13 inches above the crossbars. A smaller allowance is not satisfied by either compared model.
- Thule Motion 3 XXL
- Not suitable
- Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
Same footprint, less room for luggage
Three cubic feet of volume are lost with XXL Low, and the exterior footprint is neither shortened nor narrowed.
How we worked this out
21 - 18 = 3 cubic feet, which is 14.3% of regular XXL volume. Outside, both measure 91.3 by 36.2 inches.
Three inches more overhead clearance
The published height above the bars drops from 16 to 13 inches.
How we worked this out
16 minus 13 is 3 inches.
Handling stays about the same
Next to the 57.2-pound regular shell, Low saves only 1.3 pounds.
How we worked this out
57.2 - 55.9 = 1.3 pounds, equal to 2.3% of the regular empty weight.
Option A
Thule, Motion 3 XXL Black Glossy
Thule Motion 3 XXL
You get 21 cubic feet of space, with room for gear up to 215 centimeters long.
- Best for
- Internal height beyond 13 inches is what your cases require
Facts we checked
- Volume for cargo: 21 cu ft
- Outside height: 18.1 in
- Height inside: 16 in
- Rise above the crossbar: 16 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
- A lower installed profile suits your garage
Facts we checked
- Volume for cargo: 18 cu ft
- Outside height: 15.2 in
- Height inside: 13 in
- Rise above the crossbar: 13 in
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Thule Motion 3 XXL | Thule Motion 3 XXL Low | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo volume | 21 cu ft | 18 cu ft | Once each bag's dimensions are checked, compare the space they need. |
| Exterior height | 18.1 in | 15.2 in | Overall shell height is useful for comparing bulk and says nothing certain about installed garage clearance. |
| Internal height | 16 in | 13 in | Your tallest suitcase or boots have to fit under the curved lid with no need to force it closed. |
| Height above crossbar | 16 in | 13 in | To screen garage openings, add this to the measured top-of-crossbar height. |
| Empty box weight | 57.2 lb | 55.9 lb | Before you allocate cargo, take the shell and rack off the vehicle roof limit. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Thule Motion 3 XXL
- With a low roof rating, the empty box alone takes up a sizable share of the load allowance.
With Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
- With just 13 inches of interior height, tall luggage does not suit it.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
You need the lower of these two profiles and also carry skis up to 215 cm
Go with Thule Motion 3 XXL Low. Go with XXL Low only if its 13-inch height above the bars clears your measured limit and its 18-cubic-foot capacity is enough.
Decision guide
How to decide
Same footprint, less room for luggage
A second carrier gets no extra bar width from the Low version, whose gain is vertical clearance. If the car can take the regular lid and your luggage needs height, not just long horizontal space, pick the regular one.
Three inches more overhead clearance
Starting from an 80-inch top-of-bar measurement, you would expect 96 inches with the regular XXL and 93 inches with Low, before any safety margin. Treat that as a screening calculation. Measure the real car with the box fitted, and allow for sloping driveways or garage-door hardware.
Handling stays about the same
Lifting and storing the long, wide shell still takes care. When frequent removal worries you most, a smaller box overall does more for handling than a change in lid profile alone.
What this page can’t tell you
- Wind noise, fuel use and the way a given bag packs around the mounting hardware are things cargo dimensions and manufacturer load ratings cannot predict.
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 XXL |
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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 XXL
Internal height beyond 13 inches is what your cases require
See price & reviews on AmazonThule Motion 3 XXL Low
A lower installed profile suits your garage
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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