Best SUV Tent: 7 Top Models Reviewed

When searching for this year’s best SUV tent, we wanted a model that was waterproof, easy to set up, durable, roomy, and full of value-adding features. This, folks, is the KingCamp Melfi Plus in a nutshell.

The Melfi Plus measures 15 x 9 feet (including the screen room) and stands over 7.5 feet tall. This means it can accommodate 5 adult sleepers in the main sleeping space and squeeze in another four if the screen room is used as an “overflow” sleeping area. If not needed for more sleepers, then that extra space is great for evening drinks and games of cards!

Despite its size, the Melfi Plus weighs just 36 pounds, so it’s lightweight compared to similar tents like the Napier Outdoors.

Size aside, the Melfi Plus has a lot to offer. Its heavy-duty, 190T, 3,000mm hydrostatic head polyester fabric is both durable and highly waterproof, so it’s suitable for 3-season use and is truly built to last. The double doors can also be extended to create two large awnings under which you can store extra gear or kick back in the shade on sunny days.

In recent years, Napier has become one of the leading manufacturers of SUV tents. After trying out their hugely popular Backroadz SUV tent, it’s easy to see why.

The Backroadz offers a generous 100 square feet of floor space and has a peak height of just over 7 feet. This makes it roomy enough for 6 adults plus gear and has enough headroom for even the tallest of campers. While there’s no vestibule, there’s plenty of extra room for gear if occupied by only 5 or 6 sleepers. And, of course, there’s always the cargo space of your vehicle.

While the Backroadz isn’t as waterproof as the Melfi Plus, it’s equally robust and durable and uses a full-coverage rainfly with an opening at the front. This design boosts airflow and prevents condensation in wet conditions whilst allowing you to shed the fly for added ventilation in warmer weather.

The Napier Sportz Family SUV tent is a great all-around, three-season tent that gives ample space for up to nine people. It measures 15 x 9′ (including the screen room) and is over seven feet tall, so you can easily stand and walk around inside.

This tent weighs 53 pounds, so it’s cumbersome and requires two people to set it up, but for some, all that extra space will be worth the additional weight.

We would recommend this one for almost any type of weather, except for heavy rain. Although it does have taped seams and a 1200mm waterproof rating, its use of a partial-coverage rainfly means you’re sure to spring a leak in anything other than light showers.

This three-season tent measures 8 x 8 feet and has a center height of just over 7 feet. While the manufacturers suggest that it can accommodate up to four people with two more in your cargo area, this wouldn’t leave much room for gear. As there’s no vestibule or screened room, we’d recommend a max occupancy of 3 under the “canvas” and 2 in the cargo.

Although the listed capacity is ambitious, this is still a high-quality tent. The tent walls and rainfly are made of 68D polyester with a 2,000mm PU waterproof rating. While the rainfly offers only partial coverage, a slight awning ensures the body will remain dry unless the wind is blowing the rain sideways. The bucket floor also has a 2,000mm waterproof rating.

Want an affordable SUV tent that outperforms several of its pricier competitors? If so, the NEH Universal is well worth considering.

This NEH Univeral’s 8’ x 8’ dimensions and 7.2’ center height make it plenty roomy for four adult campers. Add on space for two more in your cargo area, and you’ll have room for six sleepers.

Like the Rightline Gear model, the NEH Universal’s rainfly offers only partial coverage, but its decent waterproof rating (1,200mm) and large awnings mean it will keep you dry in light to moderate rain showers.

What we love about the Universal is that it works just as well as a standard tent. This versatility could save you a small fortune on a second tent and gives you the option of camping at dispersed backcountry sites if you feel like venturing farther from the roadside.

If you’re a solo camper or a camping couple looking for a basic backcountry shelter to attach to your vehicle, the DAC Explorer might be just what you need.

Unlike other tents on our list, the Explorer relies on the roof of your vehicle to provide most of the sheltered sleeping space. It fits over the trunk door of your vehicle to form a water-tight seal, whilst also extending coverage by an extra few feet.

The pole-free design of the Explorer makes it an absolute breeze to set up. All you do is pull it over the trunk door, attach a duo of bungee cords to the vehicle’s underframe, then hop in!

The Explorer’s door panels can also be closed for privacy, or tied back to maximize ventilation. When tied back, a no-see-um insect screen keeps your skin safe from airborne biters.

The Sportz Dome-To-Go is the ideal choice for smaller families or camping couples who like a little extra space.

This tent’s dome-style design means it performs well in wet and blustery weather. The steep, curved walls shed water quickly and their curvature provides added stability when things get blowy.

The Dome-to-Go fits nearly all hatchbacks and small CUVs and can be attached to your vehicle in around 10-15 minutes. Inside, you’ll have 72.25 square feet of living or sleeping space, meaning you could accommodate up to 6 campers if two sleep in the vehicle’s cargo area.

The Dome-to-Go also has a full-coverage rainfly, so is suitable for 3-season use. In the summer months, its two large doors and 3 large no-see-um mesh windows help to keep things cool.

For further brownie points, the Dome-to-Go SUV tent features a duo of large gear pockets. You get an oversized gear loft and a huge extendable awning that creates an exterior space shelter for lounging or gear storage.