Cool Boxes Tested

Keep food and drink chilled on the go as we pick the best 12V cool box

Auto Express Car Reviews

July 2011

Chill out behind the wheel this summer: an on-board cooler will ensure that a refreshing drink is always to hand.

Powered off your car’s cigar lighter, these mini fridges can keep food and drink chilled, ensuring they are available just when you want them. This also means you don’t have to pay the steep prices at tourist traps or service stations.

Ideal for days out, they come in all shapes and sizes, with a wide range to choose from. Extras can include the ability to run on mains power and keep food warm. So, which is your ideal travel companion this summer?

We took nine top-sellers to find out which will help you keep your cool as the temperatures rise.

The Test

An essential factor here is just how cold the boxes get – after all, you want chilled, not tepid, drinks. All products were run for two hours, and we checked their progress regularly against the ambient temperature.

We then looked at how well each storage space was designed by filling it with 1.5 and 2.0-litre bottles, plus 330ml and 500ml cans stored upright. Extras such as mains hook-ups, warming mode and lead storage were also taken into account, as was value for money.

Verdict

By offering versatility at a great price, the Mobicool seals a narrow victory, pushing the bigger but not quite so efficient Kampa into second position. Halfords’ new 24-litre box takes the final podium place thanks to its excellent cooling abilities, closely followed by the expensive but highly effective Waeco Tropicool.