Roof boxes in the ADAC test: Two models literally failed

Even the largest SUV and the longest station wagon are not big enough for some vacations. When it comes to storing ski equipment in addition to suitcases and bags, there is often no longer enough luggage space. Roof boxes that can be strapped onto the car provide a solution. Just in time for the season, he tested which models could be relied on – and which manufacturers urgently needed to make improvements.

In the comparison test, 13 compact roof boxes had to compete against each other; a VW Golf was used as the test car. Boxes priced between 300 and 900 euros were tested. Spoiler: more expensive is not automatically better.

In the test, the ADAC said it paid particular attention to safety-relevant aspects, i.e. “accident behavior and stability during evasive maneuvers”. Handling, construction and processing also played a role. However, if a roof box failed in terms of crash safety, the final grade could only be half a grade better than the crash verdict, regardless of the other test results.

This actually happened several times in the current comparison, as two models failed the accident test. Both the Evospace TEF XL roof box from Northline for 550 euros and the Xtreme 400 box from VDP for 390 euros failed. They detached from the base support under stress, which, according to the ADAC, could mean in extreme cases that “in a real accident, the roof boxes could fall from the vehicle and passers-by could be injured.”

VDP, which came last, also stood out because the material broke at minus 20 degrees when a 2.5 kilo test weight was dropped onto it from one meter.

Roof boxes from some car manufacturers are at the forefront of the test field. With a grade of 1.9, Audi was able to secure first place with the ski and luggage box, closely followed by the Thule Motion 3 XL Low. The M roof box from Mercedes-Benz came in third place for 829 euros. What places 2 and 3 share are smaller water ingresses during the rain test. Not a broken leg, but that’s something to keep in mind.

Given the enormous prices charged by well-known manufacturers, it’s worth taking a look at the price-performance winner. Because the ADAC says: “A sensible roof box doesn’t have to cost much.” If you can do without some comfort, you should consider it. She received a grade of “good” (2.5). However, depending on the application, you should take a closer look at the weaknesses. The testers note that, for example, skis longer than 170 centimeters cannot fit in and that opening is only possible on one side.

The ADAC warns against a roof box because of an unusual problem: Even if the BMW roof box 420 for 902 euros received a grade of “good” (2.3), it has a decisive disadvantage. The model can only be used with original BMW roof racks, so it is useless for third-party brands. If you buy this box, you should stay loyal to the brand if you want the roof box to serve you well for a long time.

In addition to a handful of tips for manufacturers and drivers, the ADAC finally points out the roof load. The club writes: “How much payload is allowed in a roof box depends on the permissible roof load, which is specified in the car’s operating instructions. This means that the dead weight of the box and the roof rack must be deducted from the roof load to calculate the payload to investigate.”

Models with a high dead weight, for example the Mercedes roof box M with 23.9 kilos, severely limit the payload due to their design alone. You should also consider this before purchasing.