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Cargo Boxes

Thule Motion 3 vs Yakima SkyBox NX

Both are excellent. They are shaped differently on purpose, and the shape is what should decide it — not the badge.

By Janet H.Last reviewed September 25, 2026
Two hard-shell rooftop cargo boxes of different shapes

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These are the two boxes most people end up choosing between, and the comparison is more interesting than the usual brand argument, because the two products are genuinely shaped for different roofs.

The Motion 3 is the broader, more refined box with a low-profile variant. The SkyBox NX is longer and narrower on purpose, which is what lets you run something else beside it. Those two shapes suit different cars and different weekends, and neither is better in the abstract.

Quick picks

Tap any row to jump to the full write-up below. Scores are our editorial judgment on published specifications — not a star rating, and not a product we claim to have tested.

#ProductBest forScorePrice
1
Representative photo of a glossy hard-shell rooftop cargo box on a vehicle
Thule Motion 3Buy it for the low-profile XL and the mounting hardware, which is the nicest in the category.
Best finish and garage clearance8.6
2
Representative photo of a long, narrow rooftop cargo box on a crossover
Yakima SkyBox NXThe narrow footprint is the whole argument: a box on one side, bikes or a boat on the other.
Running a box and a second carrier8.4

Prices checked September 25, 2026. Product photographs are representative stock images, not the exact unit. Affiliate disclosure.

#1 · Best finish and garage clearance

Thule Motion 3

Representative photo of a glossy hard-shell rooftop cargo box on a vehicle
Representative photo — not the exact unit.

Buy it for the low-profile XL and the mounting hardware, which is the nicest in the category.

Shape
Broader footprint
Opening
Both sides
Notable variant
Low-profile XL
Mounting
Quick-mount with a positive click

What works

  • The low variant clears garages other boxes do not
  • Mounting hardware tensions to a click rather than a guess
  • Best fit and finish of the two

What doesn’t

  • More expensive
  • Broader footprint leaves less room alongside

Our scoring

Usable space9.0
Mounting9.5
Weather sealing9.0
Low profile8.5
Value6.0

8.6overall

#2 · Running a box and a second carrier

Yakima SkyBox NX

Representative photo of a long, narrow rooftop cargo box on a crossover
Representative photo — not the exact unit.

The narrow footprint is the whole argument: a box on one side, bikes or a boat on the other.

Shape
Long and narrow
Opening
Both sides
Notable trait
Leaves bar space alongside
Mounting
Tool-free clamp

What works

  • Room on the bars for a bike or kayak carrier beside it
  • Excellent at swallowing large duffels lengthways
  • Usually cheaper than the Motion 3

What doesn’t

  • Narrow means taller — a genuine garage-height consideration
  • Length can overhang a short roof

Our scoring

Usable space9.0
Mounting8.5
Weather sealing8.5
Low profile7.0
Value8.5

8.4overall

Shape is the real decision

The SkyBox NX is narrow so that a bike tray or a kayak cradle fits beside it on the same crossbars. If you need a box and something else, that is not a nice-to-have — it is the entire reason the box exists in that shape.

The Motion 3 is broader, and in exchange it offers a low-profile XL that gets meaningful volume without meaningful height. If your constraint is a garage door or a height-barred car park, that variant is the one that solves your actual problem.

So: measure your garage, and decide whether you need bar space alongside. Those two answers pick the box for you.

Mounting and everyday use

Both open from either side, which is the feature that matters most in daily use and which both brands now offer at this tier.

On mounting, the Motion 3’s system gives you a positive indication that the clamp is tight, rather than leaving it to feel. That is a small thing that becomes a large thing when you are fitting a box in a dark driveway before a 5am start, and it is a fair part of the price difference.

Whichever you choose, check your bar spread against the box’s stated mounting range before ordering. Both have a minimum spread, and short roofs — truck cabs, small crossovers — can fall below it.

The verdict

Motion 3 if garage height is your constraint, if you want the best hardware, or if the box is the only thing going on the roof.

SkyBox NX if you need room beside it for bikes or a boat, or if the price difference matters more to you than the finish.

Neither if what you are carrying is heavy rather than bulky. That is a hitch carrier problem, and this guide explains why.

Common questions

Which is bigger, the Thule Motion 3 or the Yakima SkyBox NX?
They overlap heavily across their size ranges, and raw volume is rarely the deciding factor. The shape matters more: the Motion 3 is broader, the SkyBox NX is longer and narrower so a second carrier fits beside it.
Can I fit a bike rack next to a cargo box?
With a narrow box like the SkyBox NX, often yes — that is what the shape is for. With a broad box, usually not. Measure your bar length and the box's width before assuming either way.
Do both boxes open from both sides?
Yes. Dual-side opening is standard at this tier from both brands, and it is the single feature most worth having on a family trip.

Sources

Not sure it fits your car?

Our vehicle pages carry the published roof load limit, the roof type by model year, and what actually mounts to it — cited, and honest about what the manufacturer does not publish.

See what fits your vehicleAll cargo boxes

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