A 12V fridge is one of the best upgrades for a 4WD trip: no ice to buy, no soggy food, and cold drinks after a long, hot day of driving. A compressor fridge running off a second battery keeps food at the temperature you set for weeks. The questions are how big, what shape fits your car, and how much power it draws.
We’ve reviewed four camping fridges, from a 40 L chest fridge that came with us through the NSW outback to a 15 L console fridge that fits between the front seats. Here’s how they compare and which one suits your trips.
Quick picks: the best camping fridges comparedQuick picks
| Product | Score | Price | Capacity | Power draw | Type | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best overallKings 40L Fridge (Escape 40) | 9.2 | Mid | 36 L | 1–1.3 A | Chest | Check price at Amazon |
Best drawer fridgeKings 30L Drawer Fridge | 8.7 | Mid | 30 L | ~1 A | Drawer | Check price at Amazon |
Best console fridgeKings Center Console Fridge (15L) | 8.3 | Low | 15 L | 4.1 A rated | Console | Check price at Amazon |
Cools and warmsXTM 12L Cooler Warmer | 7.8 | Mid | 12 L | 3.8 A | Thermo console | Check price at BCF |
Price bands are based on what we paid.
Best overall: Kings 40L Fridge (Escape 40)Best overall: Kings 40L
The Kings 40L Fridge (Escape 40) has been running in the back of our Prado for over a year. On a three-week trip over Christmas through the NSW outback it was over 40 °C, the fridge was packed to the brim, and it had zero issues. It runs from +20 to −20 °C, averages 1 to 1.3 amps, and has 3-stage battery protection, an LED light, a drainage plug and a USB socket.
The top lid needs clearance above it, so we use it on a fridge slide, it’s a single zone, so fridge or freezer but not both, and the warranty is 2 years. About $300 with Kings’ cover and cable.
Kings 40L Fridge (Escape 40)
Scored 9.2 out of 10Our take: A 40 L class 12V fridge that kept going in over 40 °C outback heat with zero issues, after a year of trips. About $300 with a cover and cable; the lid needs clearance and it's a single zone. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- No issues in 40 °C outback heat
- Down to 3 °C in a few hours
- +20 to −20 °C, fridge or freezer
- Cover and cable in the bundle
- 3-stage battery protection
- USB port for charging
What we don’t
- Lid needs clearance above it
- One zone: fridge or freezer
- 2-year warranty
Best drawer fridge: Kings 30L Drawer FridgeDrawer fridge: Kings 30L
The Kings 30L Drawer Fridge slides out of its steel cabinet on ball-bearing runners, so you reach in from the top without moving anything above it. That makes it the one for a drawer system with a shelf on top. It runs from +10 to −10 °C, uses about 1 amp on average according to Kings, and has a 5-year warranty.
It’s smaller, it’s not a real deep freezer in hot weather, and the thinner insulation makes the compressor work harder. About $275.
Kings 30L Drawer Fridge
Scored 8.7 out of 10Our take: An affordable, low-profile 30 L slide-out drawer fridge for 12V or 24V, with smooth slides, dividers and a 5-year warranty. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Slides out: no lifting a lid
- Smooth, near full-extension slides
- Dividers keep cans in place
- Low profile: 26 cm high
- Fridge or freezer, 12V or 24V
- 5-year warranty
What we don’t
- A bit on the smaller side
- Not a true deep freezer
- No internal light
Best console fridge: Kings Center Console Fridge (15L)Console fridge: Kings 15L
The Kings Center Console Fridge is a slim 15 L fridge that fits between the front seats or behind them, with drinks and snacks within reach. It cools down to −18 °C and runs on 12V or 24V.
15 L fills up quickly, so it’s for day trips, weekends or as a second fridge, and the screen doesn’t dim at night. At $99 it’s the cheapest compressor fridge here.
Kings Center Console Fridge (15L)
Scored 8.3 out of 10Our take: A 15 L compressor fridge-freezer that fits between or behind the front seats, cools to −18 °C on 12V or 24V and cost $99. It fills up fast and the display doesn't dim at night. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Fits between or behind the seats
- Cools down to −18 °C
- 12V and 24V
- Two compartments
- Battery cut-off
- Only $99
What we don’t
- 15 L fills up fast
- Display doesn't dim at night
- No voltage readout
Cools and warms: XTM 12L Cooler WarmerCools and warms: XTM 12L
The XTM 12L Cooler Warmer is a thermoelectric cooler rather than a compressor fridge. It weighs 3.5 kg, comes with 12V and 240V cables, and also warms food up to 55 °C.
It only cools to about 20 °C below the outside temperature and has no temperature setting, and the plastic feels a bit flimsy. For keeping lunch cool on a day drive, it’s handy; for a camping trip, get a compressor fridge. $120.
XTM 12L Cooler Warmer
Scored 7.8 out of 10Our take: 5 kg thermoelectric cooler and warmer with 12V and 240V leads, for day drives. It only cools to 20 °C below the outside air and draws power the whole time. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Cools and warms to 55 °C
- 12V and 240V leads included
- Light at 3.5 kg
- Fits a centre console
- Two cup holders on the lid
What we don’t
- Cools only 20 °C below the air
- Draws power all the time
- Thin plastic, no thermostat
How to choose a camping fridgeHow to choose
Start with the shape that fits your car and how long your trips are. A chest fridge holds the most for the money but needs room above the lid; a drawer fridge fits under a shelf; a console fridge sits between the seats. For anything longer than a weekend, get a compressor fridge, not a thermoelectric cooler.
- Chest fridge
35–60 L
The most space for the money, and a real freezer. The lid opens on top, so it needs clearance or a fridge slide.
PowerAbout 1 A averageBest forTrips of a week or moreLike - Drawer fridge
30 L or so
Slides out of a cabinet, so it fits under a shelf in a drawer system. Bolt it down.
PowerAbout 1 A averageBest forFitted 4WD setupsLike - Console fridge
12–15 L
Sits between or behind the front seats, with drinks within reach. Fills up fast.
PowerCompressor or thermoelectricBest forDay trips, a second fridge
Also check
- Battery protectionA low, medium and high cut-off switches the fridge off before your battery goes flat. Run it from a second battery, not the starter.
- Fridge or freezerA single-zone fridge is one or the other. To freeze and chill at once you need a dual-zone fridge, which costs a lot more.
- Room above the lidMeasure the space above the fridge in your car. If the lid can't open fully, a fridge slide or a drawer fridge solves it.
- A coverAn insulated cover helps the fridge in the heat and protects it in the car. Ours came in a bundle with the Kings 40L.
Just need a cooler?
For a day out or a short weekend, a good cooler with ice packs is cheaper, lighter and needs no power. These are the three we’ve tested; a separate coolers guide will follow.
- Coleman 30 Can Soft Cooler: a light soft cooler with a shoulder strap that keeps 30 cans cold for about 12 hours. $40.
- Dune 4WD 48 Can Zipperless Cooler: a 32 L soft cooler with a magnetic flip lid and a hard liner, cold for up to 3 days. $90.
- Coleman 15L Hard Cooler: a small, tough hard cooler for 22 cans that keeps things cold for up to a day. $65.
How we test
We buy the gear ourselves and take it on camping trips around Australia to put it to the test in real outdoor conditions, in the 4WD and at camp, and to see how it holds up over a few trips. We weigh everything on our own scale and photograph it ourselves. If we haven’t used something, we say so, and if anything fails later on, we update the review.
Scored out of 10 on
- Ease of use
- Performance
- Portability
- Durability
- Value
