# Thule Motion 3 XL vs Yakima SkyBox NX 18: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Thule Motion 3 XL (Thule) and Yakima SkyBox NX 18 (Yakima) among rooftop cargo boxes. Yakima SkyBox NX 18 is the cheaper of the two at $848.95.

## Side by side

| Spec | Thule Motion 3 XL | Yakima SkyBox NX 18 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $1149.95 | $848.95 |
| Brand | Thule | Yakima |
| Capacity cubic (ft) | 18 | 18 |
| Length (in) | 84.7 | 84 |
| Width (in) | 35 | 36 |
| Height (in) | 17 | 16.5 |
| Weight (lb) | 51 | 53 |
| Max load (lb) | 165 | — |
| Opening side | dual-side | dual-side |
| Mounting system | PowerClick | — |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Locking type | key-lock | key-lock |
| Ski length max (cm) | 200 | 195 |

## Key differences

- Length (in): Thule Motion 3 XL 84.7 vs Yakima SkyBox NX 18 84
- Width (in): Thule Motion 3 XL 35 vs Yakima SkyBox NX 18 36
- Height (in): Thule Motion 3 XL 17 vs Yakima SkyBox NX 18 16.5
- Weight (lb): Thule Motion 3 XL 51 vs Yakima SkyBox NX 18 53
- Ski length max (cm): Thule Motion 3 XL 200 vs Yakima SkyBox NX 18 195

## 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)
- Yakima SkyBox NX 18: https://yakima.com/products/skybox-nx-xl (yakima.com, verified 2026-07-13)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/rooftop-cargo-boxes/thule-motion-3-xl-vs-yakima-skybox-nx-18/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Thule Motion 3 XL ($1149.95) vs Yakima SkyBox NX 18 ($848.95) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/rooftop-cargo-boxes/thule-motion-3-xl-vs-yakima-skybox-nx-18/
License: CC BY 4.0.