Car Roofboxes Tested

A roofbox will transform the smallest hatchback into a real luggage carrier. We looked at 10 to find out which is best...

Auto Express Car Reviews

January 2010

When your car fails to cope with the holiday luggage, the only way to go is up – with a roofbox. Bolt one on to a set of bars and your family motor will suddenly boast the load-lugging capacity of an estate.

But which box is right for you and your car? They come in all shapes and sizes, and manufacturers are constantly developing technology to make them easier to fit, pack and use. To help you decide, we loaded up 10 to find the ideal holiday companion.

The Test

We used a selection of hard and soft luggage – which included large and small suitcases, a camera case and a rolled-up sleeping bag – to see just what each box could hold. Extra points were awarded to units that were easily fitted on to the roof bars, whether it was through the lid opening on both sides or quick-fit fasteners.

We also preferred designs which could be opened and closed by one person. Finally, boxes that were simple to store when not in use were given additional points.

Verdict

Our Best Buy, Kamei’s Husky XXL, is not only a huge, high-quality box at a very competitive price, but being able to reduce its overall height by nearly half makes it much easier to store than most of its rivals. Kamei also takes second place, with the Corvara 390K Duolift. It’s undoubtedly a premium product, with many features to justify that higher price.

Our final podium place goes to Hapro’s Roady 422. Although a very traditional design, it proves that simple is often best – and offers a lot of storage at a budget price.

Contacts
Halfords, 08457 626625, www.halfords.com

The Roofbox Company (Atera, Autoform, Hapro, Kamei, Karrite, Thule), 01539 621884, www.roofbox.co.uk

Thule, 01275 340404, www.thule.co.uk