Product image from current catalog dataProduct overview
Thule Motion 3 XL: What to Know
The Motion 3 XL holds 18 cubic feet (490 liters) of capacity, technically a touch less usable volume than the Force 3 XL's 500 liters despite a similar external footprint, in a box that weighs 51 lbs, the heaviest of the two Thule boxes in this guide. Load capacity is the same 165 lbs as the Force 3 XL, and it also opens from either side.
Crossbar compatibility mirrors the Force 3 XL exactly: Thule WingBar Evo, AeroBlade, SquareBar Evo, ProBar Evo, Xscape, Xsporter Pro, and truck/van racks like TracRac and Caprock (adapters required for some). The same caveat applies for non-Thule bars, confirm width and shape against Thule's fit guide rather than assuming compatibility.
Thule describes the Motion 3's design as a 'wing-shaped profile with a dynamic, forward-leaning nose for reduced drag and fuel efficiency,' a more overtly styled shape than the boxier Force 3. It uses the same SlideLock auto-locking hardware as the Force 3 XL. That similarity is worth noting directly: the two current Thule boxes in this guide share nearly identical capacity, the same load rating, and the same locking system, so the roughly $220 price gap between them ($1,149.95 vs. $929.95 at Thule.com at the time of this research) is primarily a styling and finish premium rather than a functional upgrade.
Like the Force 3 XL, the Motion 3 XL showed as temporarily out of stock for direct order from Thule.com during this research, while remaining listed and purchasable through Amazon and authorized dealers, so treat listed prices as a snapshot rather than fixed.
Key Listed Features
18 cu ft (490L) capacity with a 165 lb rated dynamic load capacity
Box weighs 51 lbs empty, the heaviest Thule box in this guide
DualSide opening for loading from either side of the vehicle
SlideLock automatic locking with lock-confirmation, mounted via Thule's PowerClick hardware
