Thule has discontinued the Hyper XL.
REASONS TO BUY
Sleek
Stylish
Easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Pricey
Only available in a single color
Thule Hyper XL Review
The best looking box you can buy, if you can afford it
Credit: Thule
RELATED: Best Cargo Boxes
Our Verdict
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Hyper XL is the clear winner when it comes to style, looking substantially sleeker. However, it retails for considerably more than other products that perform the same basic functions almost identically. The Hyper XL is a great cargo carrier but shouldn't be your first choice if you are shopping on a budget. It's mainly for people who are willing to pay a premium for appearance.
Performance Comparison
The Hyper is aesthetically appealing on most cars and incredibly easy to use.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Ease of Use
By far the most important set of tests of our entire evaluation, this metric is responsible for a whopping 40% of the total score for each box. We compared how much time and effort it took to complete the initial assembly of each box and its installation, as well as how convenient and easy to open each one is. The Thule Hyper XL demonstrated exceptional ease of use in each of these tests.
The Hyper XL arrived ready to mount right from the package, with the AcuTight mounting brackets already installed. The only minor assembly that is necessary is threading the pair of straps through the inner part of these brackets, giving you a quick and easy way to secure your gear from bouncing around if you don't have the box full. However, this can also be done after the Hyper XL is mounted, so no need to fret if you want to dive right into mounting it to your car!
The included cargo straps make it easy to secure your gear when the box is only partially full.
Credit: David Wise
Moving on to mounting it, the Hyper XL again continued to impress, totally dominating this test as one of the easiest boxes to install that we have seen.
The mounting brackets on the Hyper XL securely grab most types of commonly available crossbars.
Credit: David Wise
The mounting brackets slide back and forth, allowing you to easily match them to most common crossbar arrangements and, according to customer service, should fit bars up to 2" in diameter, as well as the most commonly found square or elliptical bars from major manufacturers. Turning the knob on the top of each bracket will tighten the clamps around the bar, locking them in place when you hear the click.
The PowerClick mounting system on the Force is one of the easiest to use that we have seen to date.
Credit: David Wise
The installation took us much less than 5 minutes — in fact, we probably spent longer unwrapping the Hyper and finding the pair of keys taped inside of the rim of the lid than it took to install it on a car, once it was in place. The only major hassle we found with this box is it is quite large, meaning a second set of hands to help you lift it into position is invaluable, especially if you are on the shorter side or have a taller car. Then again, most cargo box installations go best with two people working on it. There is a pull handle as well that makes it much easier to close if you do mount the box on a taller car.
The pull strap makes it easy to close the box when it is mounted on a taller car.
Credit: David Wise
Our taller testers could get away loading it single-handedly on a shorter car or truck bed racks, but the experience was always a bit harrowing and the box always ended up getting dragged across the bars or some other part of the car, causing us to fear that damage to the finish of either was imminent.
The Hyper can fit a surprising amount of gear in it, with more than enough length for multiple pairs of 175-180 cm skis.
Credit: David Wise
Durability
Accounting for 25% of the overall score, the set of tests in our Durability metric are the next most important to the overall score. We ranked and scored how sturdy the hinges on each box felt, how floppy the lid is, how sturdy the mounting brackets felt, and how well the box held up to our testing process. The Hyper XL did very well in this metric, earning one of the top scores of the entire group.
The lid on the Hyper XL is exceptionally sturdy, and it doesn't flop around when open. The hinges don't wobble when opening and seem to be reinforced enough to stand up to years of use.
The hinges on this box felt quite sturdy and the built-in light is a handy feature.
Credit: David Wise
The mounting brackets inspire similar confidence, though they will bend if you happen to collide hard enough into a fixed object, like forgetting the box is on the car and going under a low overhang or garage. However, it isn't expensive to replace, and it is much better to replace a bracket than having the nose of the actual box crack.
The high gloss finish on this box does tend to show scrapes and scuffs a bit more than some of the boxes, though the clear coating will protect against most minor bumps from regular use.
The Hyper XL securely holds your gear and won't allow you to remove the key if the box is not locked properly.
Credit: David Wise
Security
Responsible for 20% of the total score, we moved on to judging the quality of the locking mechanism on each cargo box. The Hyper XL is quite secure.
The Hyper XL has the identical locking mechanism to the Thule Force. The lock comes installed from the factory, preventing any mishaps from installing it wrong. The lock securely latches and prevents you from removing the key if the lock isn't fully engaged. Our only gripe with this lock is there isn't a visual indicator that shows if the box is unlocked or locked, like the Yakima SkyBox or the Thule Motion XT.
This box is one of the sleekest and most stylish out of the entire group.
Credit: David Wise
Appearance
For our final metric, we evaluated and scored the aesthetics of each box, for the remaining 15% of the total score for each box. The Hyper XL again did exceptionally well here, earning a top score for its superior style.
This box has undeniably sleeker and more stylish lines than the vast majority of rooftop cargo boxes out there, having a slightly lower profile than the Motion without sacrificing much storage.
Earning one of the top scores out of the entire group, the Hyper XL is one of the best... if you can afford its premium price tag.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The Hyper's finish is glossy and is only available in black with grey accents. Our only issue is the glossy coating does highlight any dings or scratches on the box a bit more than a matte finish, but this shouldn't be too much of an issue if proper care is taken when mounting and unmounting the box.
This rooftop box is easy to use and install.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Value
While the Hyper XL is an excellent cargo box, it isn't the best bet when shopping on a budget, as you are paying a premium for style. High style doesn't equate to high value here.
Conclusion
All in all, this top-of-the-line cargo box is worth considering — if you don't immediately balk at its hefty price tag. This box is super easy to use, secure and sturdily built, and looks great. It has more than enough room for all sorts of gear and can be installed or taken off most cars in less than 5 minutes. Unfortunately, it only is available in one color and size, so if the glossy black and grey color scheme isn't for you, then you have to consider another model. However, the Hyper XL won't disappoint if you are on board with its look and can finance the premium price.
—
David Wise
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