The catch
Thule Motion 3 XL
Compared with Force, the selected glossy shell adds neither ski length nor cargo rating.
Side by side
Thule Motion 3 XL vs Thule Force 3 XL, compared: Motion needs less hatch clearance, and both top out at 200 cm skis
Quick verdict
Motion 3 XL is the pick if your car meets its shorter hatch-clearance requirement or your garage height is tight. If both boxes fit, Force 3 XL wins on its matte finish and lower published empty weight. The two share a 200 cm ski limit and a 165 lb box load limit, always subject to the vehicle and rack limits.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
The choice changes with a 53-inch hatch measurement
Measure 53 inches from the front crossbar to the roof-hatch junction and Motion is the candidate, while Force misses the published threshold. That matters if the rear door has to open for a stroller or dog crate. When both cars in the household will share the box, repeat the measurement on each before you pay for the convenience of swapping it between them.
Where this comes from
For Motion, Thule requires a measurement greater than 52.125 inches, and for Force, 53.0625 inches. In the example, that is 0.875 inch above Motion's threshold and 0.0625 inch below Force's. It assumes compatible crossbars in an approved position, and it is a fit screen and not vehicle certification.
The catch
Thule Force 3 XL
More front clearance is needed, and that can rule it out on a car that accepts Motion.
Thule Motion 3 XL
- Why pick it
- The hatch stays usable at 53 inches of front clearance, provided the rack otherwise fits
- A tight garage makes the lower published height above the crossbars a good starting point
- The catch
- Compared with Force, the selected glossy shell adds neither ski length nor cargo rating.
Thule Force 3 XL
- Why pick it
- You like the matte finish and your car satisfies the stricter hatch requirement
- The lower published empty weight appeals, once you have confirmed the specification of the supplied box
- The catch
- More front clearance is needed, and that can rule it out on a car that accepts Motion.
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What this page compares
Before you pick a box for family luggage or skis, weigh Motion 3 XL against Force 3 XL on hatch access, garage height and roof payload.
Motion 3 XL is the pick if your car meets its shorter hatch-clearance requirement or your garage height is tight. If both boxes fit, Force 3 XL wins on its matte finish and lower published empty weight. The two share a 200 cm ski limit and a 165 lb box load limit, always subject to the vehicle and rack limits.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
The front-bar-to-hatch distance measures 53 inches
At this measurement, the strict greater-than rule in the fit chart admits Motion and rules out Force. Fixed bars should not be repositioned without vehicle and rack approval.
- Thule Motion 3 XL
- Candidate after rack checks
- Thule Force 3 XL
- Below its clearance threshold
Crossbar tops sit 70 inches high, and the garage opening is 85.5 inches
Nominal totals come to 85 and 85.8 inches. The Motion estimate leaves only 0.5 inch, so a physical measurement and a suitable margin are still essential.
- Thule Motion 3 XL
- Measure the assembled box before entry
- Thule Force 3 XL
- Published estimate exceeds the opening
You have to carry 205 cm skis
A 200 cm maximum is published for both. A different shell finish or nominal volume does not extend the approved ski length.
- Thule Motion 3 XL
- Exceeds the listed ski limit
- Thule Force 3 XL
- Exceeds the listed ski limit
The roof limit is 165 lb, with the rack at 20 lb and luggage at 100 lb
Totals reach 171 and 169 lb even with the lower published empty weights. Neither box handles this particular load.
- Thule Motion 3 XL
- Exceeds the assumed roof limit
- Thule Force 3 XL
- Exceeds the assumed roof limit
You prefer a matte shell, and both pass the vehicle checks
Force offers the preferred finish with the same side-opening and locking features. The finish alone does not establish a durability winner.
- Thule Motion 3 XL
- Glossy selected variant
- Thule Force 3 XL
- Matte selected variant
In practice
Differences you will notice
The choice changes with a 53-inch hatch measurement
Measure 53 inches from the front crossbar to the roof-hatch junction and Motion is the candidate, while Force misses the published threshold. That matters if the rear door has to open for a stroller or dog crate. When both cars in the household will share the box, repeat the measurement on each before you pay for the convenience of swapping it between them.
How we worked this out
For Motion, Thule requires a measurement greater than 52.125 inches, and for Force, 53.0625 inches. In the example, that is 0.875 inch above Motion's threshold and 0.0625 inch below Force's. It assumes compatible crossbars in an approved position, and it is a fit screen and not vehicle certification.
The mounted height decides garage entry
With crossbars 70 inches above the ground, the published estimates come to 85 inches with Motion and 85.8 inches with Force. An 85.5-inch opening leaves Motion as the only candidate for a physical clearance check. A half-inch estimated margin is too small to count as permission to drive in without measuring the installed box.
How we worked this out
Take an assumed ground-to-crossbar height of 70 inches and add the manufacturer height above the crossbar: 70 + 15 = 85 and 70 + 15.8 = 85.8. Before use, compare the highest installed point with the actual lowest garage obstruction, door included. Conflicting overall-shell heights are not used in the estimate.
165 pounds of luggage does not follow from a 165-pound roof rating
Picture an illustrative 165-pound-rated roof carrying a 20-pound rack. Even then, 100 pounds of luggage is already too much for either box. Choose lighter cargo or a different transport arrangement, because moving from Motion to Force cannot rescue this load, even with the lower published box weights.
How we worked this out
Rack, box and cargo are added together, as both manuals require. With the lower product-page weights, that is 20 + 51 + 100 = 171 pounds for Motion and 20 + 49 + 100 = 169 for Force. Each total goes over the assumed 165-pound roof limit, and a lower rack limit can restrict loading even more.
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
- The hatch stays usable at 53 inches of front clearance, provided the rack otherwise fits
Facts we checked
- Needed from front bar to hatch: More than 52 1/8 in, per the US fit chart
- Crossbar spacing: 21 13/16 to 36 9/16 in, per the fit chart
- Height above the crossbar as published: 15 in
- Box cargo and vehicle load: The box cargo limit is 165 lb, and the rack and box also count against the roof limit
Option B
Thule, Force 3 XL
Thule Force 3 XL
This box has 18 cubic feet of space and takes gear up to 200 centimeters long.
- Best for
- You like the matte finish and your car satisfies the stricter hatch requirement
Facts we checked
- Needed from front bar to hatch: More than 53 1/16 in, per the US fit chart
- Crossbar spacing: 21 7/8 to 36 5/8 in, per the fit chart
- Height above the crossbar as published: 15.8 in
- Box cargo and vehicle load: The box cargo limit is 165 lb, and the rack and box also count against the roof limit
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Thule Motion 3 XL | Thule Force 3 XL | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front-bar-to-hatch requirement | More than 52 1/8 in in the US fit chart | More than 53 1/16 in in the US fit chart | The Motion threshold is cleared by a 53-inch measurement, while the Force threshold is failed. Confirm approved bar positions and the actual hatch movement. |
| Crossbar spread | 21 13/16 to 36 9/16 in in the fit chart | 21 7/8 to 36 5/8 in in the fit chart | On fixed-position bars, both ends count. If you move a rack to gain hatch clearance, it still has to keep an approved spread and vehicle mounting position. |
| Published height above crossbar | 15 in | 15.8 in | For an initial garage screen, measure from the ground to the top of the crossbar and add this value. Before driving underneath, measure the installed assembly. |
| Box cargo and vehicle load | 165 lb box cargo limit, with rack and box also counted against the roof limit | 165 lb box cargo limit, with rack and box also counted against the roof limit | Long before either box hits its own cargo rating, the roof can become the lower limit. |
| Published empty weight | 51 lb on the product page, 52.7 lb in the manual | 49 lb on the product page, 49.6 lb in the manual | Force comes out lower in both documents, yet the conflicting figures rule out a precise lifting or maximum-payload advantage. Confirm the specification of the unit delivered. |
| Ski length and loading access | Up to 200 cm skis, dual-side opening, PowerClick and SlideLock | Up to 200 cm skis, dual-side opening, PowerClick and SlideLock | Switching between these XL boxes neither solves a 205 cm ski requirement nor adds a new side-opening function. |
| Selected shell finish | Black glossy, model 639850 | Black matte, model 645850 | Once fit is settled, finish comes down to preference. No measured noise, fuel-saving or scratch-resistance advantage is inferred. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Thule Motion 3 XL
- Higher published empty weights mean removal and refitting still need a suitable lifting plan.
With Thule Force 3 XL
- A low garage can become less practical because of its higher published height above the crossbars.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
My fixed rack leaves exactly 53 inches of front clearance
Go with Thule Motion 3 XL. At this measurement, Motion passes the published clearance threshold. Force needs more than 53 1/16 inches.
I want the matte shell, and both fit my car and garage
Go with Thule Force 3 XL. Black matte is the finish of the selected Force 3 XL, which keeps dual-side access, PowerClick mounting and SlideLock.
I have to carry skis longer than 200 cm
Neither model fits. The published maximum ski length is the same 200 cm on both models.
Decision guide
How to decide
Judge the fit while the tailgate gets used
What you gain here is a better fit on your actual car. If the rear door has to swing fully open for a stroller, a dog or a loading shelf, front clearance matters a great deal. When you measure, have the current chart and the rack's approved mounting positions side by side. Any second car needs its own check, even with the same crossbar brand.
Think about leaving the box on overnight
Having a garage can alter how you live with the box. When the loaded vehicle will not fit inside, you may have to unload and take the box off outside after every trip. Motion's lower published height relative to the crossbars is a useful first screen. For a low opening, a few tenths of an inch on paper will not settle it, so measure the real assembly and the lowest obstruction.
Bulky luggage is not the same as a heavy load
Gear that fills up space before it uses up the roof allowance is what these boxes suit best. Add up the rack, the box and the packed contents, then compare the total with every limit that applies. With the same ski limit and shared access hardware, there is little reason to swap out a box that already fits. Where published documents disagree, confirm the real empty weight and the shape of your luggage.
What this page can’t tell you
- Only the car and rack instructions can settle vehicle fit and permissible loading. The examples here are dimensional screens.
- Thule's current product pages and manuals contradict each other on some empty weights and internal dimensions. We make no promise of an exact weight saving or of rigid-case fit.
- Without matched wind-noise, fuel-use or scratch-resistance testing, no performance winner can be named.
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 Force 3 XL |
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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
The hatch stays usable at 53 inches of front clearance, provided the rack otherwise fits
See price & reviews on AmazonThule Force 3 XL
You like the matte finish and your car satisfies the stricter hatch requirement
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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