Thule Sidekick review
The combination of roof cargo boxes and small cars is a no-brainer. You can double your loading space in minutes using the right solution. We’ve chosen the Thule SideKick as the best cargo box for small cars..
The Thule SideKick is a small cargo box from Swedish manufacturer Thule. With a load capacity of 8 cu. ft. and 75lb. it’s not the biggest cargo solution, but it’s perfect if you don’t have a lot of space to start with.
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What we like
- Compact and light
- Weatherproof
- Fits all bar types
- Build quality
What we don't like
- Stuff can snag on mounting knobs
- No 'quick install' hardware
- Not compatible with Thule’s ‘One Key’ system
Why get a small cargo box?
Small cars are fuel efficient, easy to drive and overall cheaper to maintain, but they do come with some drawbacks though. When it comes to loading all your favorite adventure gear and heading out, space limitations becomes a problem.
The Thule sidekick is about the same size as your average soft sided cargo bag. Unlike with a cargo bag though you don’t have to worry about your stuff getting wet since it’s completely weatherproof. It’s also a whole lot more secure with its hard shell and two locking cores.
Putting a bigger box on the roof of a smaller vehicle also come with some challenges. The shorter roofline may not cater for a larger box and despite a tapered tail design, the rear overhang of a bigger roof boxes might impede the hatch from opening fully.
What’s included and what's not
The Thule Sidekick is a basic cargo box that needs some assembly before installation. It comes with U-bracket type mounting hardware, two hinges, weatherproofing foam strip two lock cores and some vinyl stickers to cover unused mounting holes.
It does require some assembly before installation, but if you follow the well written instructions it’s quite straight forward.
Overview of features
As mentioned before, this is a small box for small cars. But it’s big enough for those things that would just be awkward to try and load into a small car like a golf bag. The Sidekick will easily accommodate two medium sized golf bags and keep them secured and dry.
Side opening
The lid opens from the passenger side only but has spring loaded hinges that assists opening and keep it open while loading.
Lockable
The Sidekick roof box comes with two lock cores to lock the lid and secure its contents. Unfortunately, it’s not compatible with Thule’s ‘One Key’ system like some of the higher end models which means you’re going to have yet another key on your keychain.
Tip: Lubricate the locks once a season with graphite or similar dry lubricant
Weatherproof
The contoured lid and foam gasket helps provides a weatherproof seal that is designed to keep the box’s contents dry. Even though it’s not the case on all Sidekick boxes, there have been some reports of the cargo box leaking when driving during heavy rain at highway speeds. This might be due to the lack of a latch on the front securing the nose adequately or not attaching the front hinge in a way that the box maintains its weatherproofing.
Because of Thule’s reputation for building solid, well designed products these small issues can be annoying. It is important to remember though that the Sidekick is Thule’s entry level rooftop cargo box. With this in mind we realize we cannot expect the same features as on some of the more premium roof boxes.
Basic installation
Installation is straight forward though a bit time consuming. Once you’ve positioned the cargo box on your roof rack, insert the U-brackets from underneath your cross bars, one at a time, through the mounting holes in the bottom of the Sidekick. On the inside, place the metal plate over the top of the U bolt and secure it with plastic knobs.
The Sidekick has multiple mounting holes to position the box and comes with vinyl stickers to cover unused holes. When the Sidekick is locked, you can’t get to the mounting knobs inside which means it’s secured to the roof rack.
Alternative cargo boxes
If you are looking for something a little bigger and with more features, check out the Thule Pulse. It's a stylish cargo box in a compact package. Slightly bigger that the Sidekick with 14 cu. ft. of cargo space, but still small enough to fit most small cars.
Conclusion.
The Thule Sidekick is a well made rooftop cargo box that’s perfect for small cars. It does not have all the features of the more premium cargo boxes, but ‘it does everything it says on the box’. That’s enough to make it our Best Cargo box for small cars.
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