# Thule Motion 3 XL vs SportRack Vista XL: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Thule Motion 3 XL (Thule) and SportRack Vista XL (SportRack) among rooftop cargo boxes. SportRack Vista XL is the cheaper of the two at $449.95.

## Side by side

| Spec | Thule Motion 3 XL | SportRack Vista XL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $1149.95 | $449.95 |
| Brand | Thule | SportRack |
| Capacity cubic (ft) | 18 | 18 |
| Length (in) | 84.7 | 63 |
| Width (in) | 35 | 38 |
| Height (in) | 17 | 19 |
| Weight (lb) | 51 | 42 |
| Max load (lb) | 165 | 110 |
| Opening side | dual-side | rear |
| Mounting system | PowerClick | u-bolt |
| Shell material | — | ABS |
| Locking type | key-lock | key-lock |
| Ski length max (cm) | 200 | — |

## Key differences

- Length (in): Thule Motion 3 XL 84.7 vs SportRack Vista XL 63
- Width (in): Thule Motion 3 XL 35 vs SportRack Vista XL 38
- Height (in): Thule Motion 3 XL 17 vs SportRack Vista XL 19
- Weight (lb): Thule Motion 3 XL 51 vs SportRack Vista XL 42
- Max load (lb): Thule Motion 3 XL 165 vs SportRack Vista XL 110
- Opening side: Thule Motion 3 XL dual-side vs SportRack Vista XL rear
- Mounting system: Thule Motion 3 XL PowerClick vs SportRack Vista XL u-bolt

## What reviewers say

**Thule Motion 3 XL** — One whitelisted hands-on source (GearJunkie, Nov 2025) tested the 18-cu-ft Thule Motion 3 XL, rating it 8.3/10 and naming it Best High-Capacity box: it reads as lightweight for its size, is aerodynamic with a clean, sporty look, installs by one person despite the bulk, and has a solid build; the main knock is price (Value scored 7/10, the lowest of its four category scores). No per-box efficiency (mpg) or noise (dB) figure was printed for the XL, so measured is empty. (1 sourced review.)

## Sources

- Thule Motion 3 XL: https://www.thule.com/en-us/cargo-carrier/car-top-carrier/thule-motion-3-xl-_-639850 (thule.com, verified 2026-07-13)
- SportRack Vista XL: https://www.sportrack.com/product/vista-xl-cargo-box/ (sportrack.com, verified 2026-07-13)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/rooftop-cargo-boxes/thule-motion-3-xl-vs-sportrack-vista-xl/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Thule Motion 3 XL ($1149.95) vs SportRack Vista XL ($449.95) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/rooftop-cargo-boxes/thule-motion-3-xl-vs-sportrack-vista-xl/
License: CC BY 4.0.