Roof-mounted cargo boxes are a great way to travel while being able to carry plenty of gear. If you have a small car or just lots of gear to carry around, getting a cargo box can greatly increase the amount of gear that you carry, which increases your comfort while on the road.
The Thule cargo box line is one of the most popular among adventurists. They are highly durable but offer great value for the price. They are all made to be aerodynamic, thus saving you on fuel costs.
The Force and Sonic cargo boxes are two of Thule’s best products. They are higher-end than the rest of the Thule line. This is why people tend to compare them. In this review, we have created a Thule Sonic vs Force comparison. It is our aim to help you decide which of these cargo boxes will best apply to your purpose.
You might like: Thule Force vs Pulse: A Comparison of Cargo Boxes
Thule Sonic vs Force
Why Buy A Cargo Box?
For an overnight stay, while camping, the trunk of your car may be enough. But if you’re going to be going away for several days, or even an entire month, adding more cargo capacity to your vehicle is a must. When you are packing all of your gear, before you know it, you may find that you have run out of space.
The more cargo space you create with your vehicle, the higher your comfort while you are out traveling. Thule cargo boxes have openings on one or two sides of the vehicle. This means that you do not have to take down the cargo box in order to fetch some gear.
If you’ve never used a cargo box, you may not realize just how much space you will be saving. Many people tend to stuff the back seats of the car with the gear that they cannot fit into their trunk. This makes for the very stuffy trip.
You can rack-mount a cargo box onto the roof of practically any vehicle. And since these cargo boxes are aerodynamic, you do not need to worry about the car being slowed down by the wind.
Thule Sonic vs Force: The Differences
If you have used Thule cargo boxes before, you likely have a good understanding of the quality you’re getting. You may like these cargo boxes so much that you wish to upgrade to the higher end cargo boxes. The Sonic or the Force boxes are a great way to up your game.
Below, we have listed and compared the features of the sonic and the force. These differentiating features will help you discern between two very similar cargo boxes.
Thule Sonic Features
The Sonic cargo box is the most interesting of the Thule line. As you can see from the image above, it has a very sleek look. But it is not just that it is sleek, it is also the most aerodynamic of all of the Thule cargo boxes. And to add to the appeal of the Sonic, it has an attractive, glossy finish.
-
Super-sleek:
If you’re looking for a very modern look, look no further than the Sonic. The design of the Sonic has been made to appeal to those who really care about the way they look while they are abroad. But the sleekness of this cargo box is not just for looks. You will definitely not be pushing against the wind while you’re riding with the Sonic. This will save you on fuel cost over time. It has an aero nose and angle cut back that shows just how design-conscious Thule really is.
-
Dimensions:
The dimensions of this cargo box are almost identical to that of the Thule Force. The Sonic comes in various sizes, each corresponding to its own cargo capacity. It also comes in Alpine-11, L-13, XL-17, and XXL-22 cubic feet. As you can see, the only difference in size between the Sonic and the Force is the Alpine model. The Alpine model of the Sonic is 1 cubic feet smaller than the Force.
-
Colors:
As mentioned previously, the color of the Sonic is the most appealing or interesting of the Thule line. With the sonic, you get a glossy black or silver color finish. This adds to the modern look of the shape of this cargo box.
-
Accessibility:
Like the Thule Force, the Sonic can be accessed from the passenger side or the driver’s side. Some of the other Thule cargo boxes can only be accessed from the passenger side.
-
SecureLock:
The Thule SecureLock system will keep the contents of your cargo box safe. This is important, as the cargo box rests on the exterior of your vehicle.
-
Lifetime warranty:
In case you run into any issues with the Sonic throughout the lifetime of the product, Thule offers a lifetime warranty. This just goes to show how well this stand behind their products.
Thule Force Features
The Force cargo box has many of the same wonderful design features as the Sonic. The biggest difference between the Sonic and the Force is the aesthetic design.
The Sonic looks slightly more modern than the Force. Like the Sonic, the Force is also aerodynamic. It also has a special outer layer that is made to look more attractive than some of the other Thule cargo boxes. See below for more of its features.
-
Sleek and aerodynamic dynamic:
The Force is similar to the Sonic and the fact that it is made to look very sleek, and is aerodynamic. As these cargo boxes are two of Thule’s best, the aesthetic design of these products are also indicative of their quality.
-
Dimensions:
The dimensions of the Force do not differ much from the Sonic. In fact, they are almost identical. The Force comes in Alpine-12, L-13, XL-17, and XXL-22 cubic feet. This means that the only difference between the sizes is when it comes to the Alpine.
-
Outer layer color:
The Force comes in a black diamond-textured finish.
-
Dual-sided accessibility:
While some of the Thule cargo boxes only come with passenger-side access, you can access the force from both sides of the vehicle. This makes it more convenient in case you’re going to be blocked by bushes or a ditch on one side of the vehicle.
-
SecureLock:
Like any of the Thule cargo boxes, the contents of your cargo box will remain secure.
-
Lifetime warranty:
It is great that all of the Thule cargo boxes have a lifetime warranty. Lifetime warranties are hard to come by these days, but Thule is confident that they are producing high-quality and durable products.
Price Comparison
Prices for products nowadays tend to change and vary depending on where it is bought. Amazon usually has some of the most competitive prices. If you would like to compare the Sonic and the force on Amazon, please see below:
Thule Sonic vs Force: The Verdict
We believe that the biggest difference between the Force and the Sonic simply the aesthetics. Considering which of these cargo boxes to purchase is a matter of deciding which look you like the best. If you like the ultramodern and sleek metallic look, then perhaps the Sonic is for you. But if you are a little more traditional, and would still like a sleek-looking cargo box, then the force is a great option. There are other Thule cargo boxes in their line.
Some of these other cargo boxes do not have dual-sided accessibility. While we do like the dual-sidedness of these cargo boxes, you may wish to have a better understanding of the other options. Check out some related products that we’ve reviewed and feel you might be interested in.
