Best SUV Covers, Tested By Experts (2023 Guide)

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Ben Kasierski is a North Carolina native who covers the latest automotive and motorcycle products. He has tested hundreds of car detailing products – including tire shines, car wash soaps, and full detailing kits – as well as gadgets to make life easier for the everyday driver like key finders and GPS trackers. Processing according to drawings

Best SUV Covers, Tested By Experts (2023 Guide)

Will has written for several major auto sites including Motor1 since 2020, logging hundreds of hours researching and testing products ranging from child car seats to torque wrenches. Will is also Certified by Safe Kids Worldwide as a Child Passenger Safety Technician (#T836339).

A high-tech SUV cover with multiple layers of protection and a lifetime warranty.

A mid-priced car cover that is weather-resistant, easy to put on, and very easy to store.

A soft, well-fitting SUV cover to protect your garaged vehicle from accidental dings and scratches.

An indoor/outdoor SUV cover that offers protection against UV rays, dust, and more.

Many SUV owners want to properly care for their vehicle by maintaining its paint and protecting it against harsh weather conditions like rain and sun. A smart option for added protection is a full exterior cover, but out of all the products on the market, which are the best SUV covers?

To help drivers find the perfect SUV cover, our team dedicated hours to researching and testing a variety of options. In this review, we recommend some of our favorites based on fit and the quality of the materials. We also considered how easy each cover is to use and put away.

After our testing experience, we think four of the best SUV covers are the CarCovers.com Platinum Shield, Eevelle Tour, CarCovers.com Black Satin Cover, and Seal Skin Supreme SUV Cover. The table below outlines how our favorite SUV covers scored in each review category:

To select the SUV covers featured in this review, we consulted our network of experts for their thoughts on vehicle covers. These experts have over 100 years of combined experience in aftermarket auto fields ranging from detailing to accessories to tires, and everything in between. They helped us identify the qualities that would be most important to someone looking for a car cover. One important feature we looked for in particular was car covers that would not retain moisture.

We next ordered SUV covers for testing to try out covers at a variety of price points. When ordering these covers, we looked closely at material quality, customer ratings, and prices. Even after our initial testing, we continue to keep an eye out for new quality SUV covers and may update this page if we come across more worthy recommendations.

For our in-person testing, a team member tried each car cover on an SUV, taking notes on how well the car covers fit, material quality, and ease of use. Each car cover was given a rating out of 5.0 stars based on these criteria. These car covers were tested using a 2020 BMW X5.

For this testing category, we first took note of each SUV cover’s materials. Strong and breathable materials that prevent water accumulation and mold scored better in this category. During testing, we observed how the material stretched across our test vehicle and gauged its durability, noting any rips or tears. We also like to inspect the seams and stitching, looking for quality stitching that doesn’t easily fray.

We gave the highest scores in this category to tight-fitting SUV covers that managed to envelop the entire vehicle. Loose-fitting SUV covers that can be well-secured with tie-down straps could still receive a high score in this category. SUV covers that are especially baggy or could blow off in a strong wind scored poorly in this category.

Our ease of use rating is an evaluation of how quickly an SUV cover can be installed and removed, as well as how easy it is to fold and store. To score well in this category, an SUV cover should be easily attached and secured by one person in a few minutes. SUV covers that fold away well, or fit easily into a carrying case also received high ratings in this category.

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Backed by a lifetime warranty, the CarCovers.com Platinum Shield SUV Cover is a smart choice for outdoor and indoor protection. The cover includes a reflective outer layer, a polyurethane coating for water repelling, and an inner fleece liner to protect your car’s paint job from scratching. We also liked its double-stitched seams that ensure minimal water incursion.

This cover features an elastic hem and built-in grommets for wind protection. Rather than adjusting buckles, a rope, bungee cord, or locking system can be fed through the grommets to secure the cover against theft and wind. The CarCovers.com product comes in a semi-custom fit, meaning it can be adjusted as needed.

While this cover boasts many waterproofing and water-repelling materials, it also features a micro-porous coating which allows trapped moisture to evaporate. This means this cover is not 100 percent waterproof, which is a good thing as such a cover could damage your vehicle.

The Platinum Shield SUV cover is a durably-constructed all-weather car cover. It features some of the toughest material that is both water-resistant and breathable to prevent mold buildup. It fit excellently on our test vehicle, the tiedown straps only being necessary for high winds.

The Platinum Shield cover has a tough exterior and soft inside to prevent scratching. It is one of the most rugged car covers we have tested. We are not surprised that it is backed by a lifetime warranty.

This SUV cover fit our test vehicle perfectly. It is tight enough to stay in place but loose enough to allow for optimal airflow.

Both ends of this SUV cover are clearly labeled, making installation a straightforward process. Though it is rugged, this cover isn’t especially heavy. It is not difficult to attach it by yourself. CarCovers.com includes microfiber towels for wiping down your car first as well as a convenient carrying bag.

The Eevelle Tour SUV cover is a 3-layer polypropylene car cover that costs a little bit less than similar covers. This material is water-resistant while allowing for breathability and offers semi-custom sizing.

We like the Eevelle Tour cover as a mid-priced option for those who live in areas with moderate or mild weather. This car cover is durable and will provide protection from the elements. While it is not as rugged as the Platinum Shield, it does fit well and is very easy to use.

The Eevelle Tour is a high-quality car cover that fit our test vehicle well. This SUV cover differentiates itself most when it comes to cost and ease of use. It is a little less expensive than similar covers and includes the best carrying bag of any cover we’ve tested.

The Eevelle is made from water-resistant materials that allow for good airflow, though it is not especially thick. You may not need an extremely thick car cover, but we don’t feel this cover is as robust as the 5-layer covers that we’ve tested.

Despite only advertising a “semi-custom” fit, this car cover fit our test SUV very well. There are straps to prevent the cover from blowing off, but these are only necessary in windy situations.

We had no issues getting this SUV cover on our vehicle. The elastic hem and appropriate sizing make installing the cover straightforward.

One thing we like most about the Eevelle is that it comes with a well-sized carrying bag. Most car covers include a carrying bag, but these can be difficult to use, requiring users to make a focused effort to roll the car cover up as tightly as possible for it to fit. Folding a car cover is similar to folding a fitted bed sheet, so is among the more difficult items to neatly store away.

The Eevelle carry bag is plenty big, allowing for wiggle room if you have trouble folding your car cover or are in a hurry.

This indoor car cover doesn’t offer much protection from the elements but it is exceptionally lightweight, soft, and stretchy. The Black Satin SUV cover is an ideal indoor car cover that is both soft and breathable.

Choose this SUV cover if you have a garaged vehicle that you want to protect from minor dings and scratches while it is in your garage. A good indoor SUV cover should be soft to protect your vehicle’s paint, while also allowing for air circulation to prevent the accumulation of mildew. The Black Satin cover provides both.

While this indoor car cover is light and thin, it is also durable. The stretchy material is flexible enough that it’s unlikely to tear under your car’s bumper. The seams are double-stitched. Overall, the only downside of this Car Cover is that it wouldn’t be very useful in the outdoors.

The soft and stretchy Black Satin material makes for a car cover that is easy to throw on and easy to fold up for storage. It is not water-resistant, but this is not an important quality for an indoor SUV cover.

Fit is one of the areas that the Black Satin SUV cover shines. This is because it is so stretchy. It clung nicely to our vehicle, but not so tightly that there was a likelihood of tearing.

The CarCovers.com Black Satin SUV cover is one of the easiest-to-use car covers. This is due to the light weight and thin material. Car Covers also includes a nice carrying bag to store the Black Satin when not in use.

The Seal Skin Supreme SUV Cover is extremely breathable. This cover utilizes a specialized material that promotes air circulation while simultaneously preventing mold, mildew, and damage to your vehicle. This SUV cover is both hail- and UV-resistant.

The Seal Skin Supreme cover comes with a lifetime warranty that covers rips and tears as well as breathability issues. This means you won’t have to worry about buying another SUV cover because this one didn’t last. Ultrasonically welded seams and a built-in elastic hem allow for a snug fit over your SUV.

We had the opportunity to test the Seal Skin Supreme cover in person to gauge material quality, fit, and ease of use ourselves. We found that the cover perfectly fit our test vehicle and was easy to install. The most difficult part of the installation is getting on the ground to attach the strap underneath. This strap ensures that the cover will stay on even during high winds.

As expected, the cover material is strong, but we were also impressed with the stitching quality and the taped seams. These features reduce water incursion.

The mixed polypropylene and cotton fabric material allows for a soft interior and water-repellent exterior. We think this is one of the best car covers for protecting your vehicle from the elements due to these properties.

The Seal Skin cover fit our test vehicle perfectly, without leaving too much room. Tiedown straps are included but only necessary on windy days.

This SUV cover isn’t particularly difficult to install, but it is heavy compared to other options. This makes it a little harder to lift over your head and onto the roof of your car. You may need to get on your hands and knees to attach the tiedown straps, but this will be the case with any SUV cover.

There are a few important factors to consider when purchasing an SUV cover, including the cover’s fit, materials, and added features. To ensure you’re purchasing the best SUV cover for your vehicle, take note of the following:

A well-fitting cover effectively protects your vehicle from water, dirt, and other contaminants. Often, manufacturers provide an elastic or adjustable hem to create a snug fit around the vehicle. Grommets and buckles can also help tighten the fabric around the SUV in case of wind.

If a vehicle cover is too loose, it may blow away or create pools of water in unwanted places. If a vehicle cover is too tight or small, it may not protect the vehicle’s paint adequately.

SUV covers often come with multiple layers, though those intended for indoor use may only come with one. Below, we’ve explained common materials used in SUV covers.

Many car covers are made with water-resistant or water-repelling materials. While you don’t want a car cover that is going to soak up a lot of water, it’s also not the best idea to have a fully waterproofed cover. While it’s a good thing to repel rain, some amount of moisture will inevitably get underneath your car cover, and you don’t want a cover that will trap that moisture.

When we spoke with Kyle Marker, a parts manager at Leith Lincoln, he told us that a car cover is a useful accessory for car care and maintenance, especially because it provides heat protection for cars parked outdoors. Marker also noted:

“An outdoor car cover, people don’t realize, is not supposed to be waterproof. The waterproof, that turns into mold. I know because I’ve had it. And I’ve had to clean and de-mold a car, it’s never fun.”

This is why we’ve tried to recommend car covers that are water-repellent, but also breathable to reduce the risk of mold.

Additional bells and whistles are what make the best SUV covers stand out against competitors. Here are a few features to look for when buying a quality vehicle cover:

SUV covers come in all shapes and sizes, so the best option is the one that snugly fits your SUV and keeps it protected against the elements. We recommend paying attention to price, and what kind of warranty is included. Our review is meant to show some of the best options available for any SUV owner.

Unless you drive your car daily, or the car cover fit is improper, there really isn’t a reason not to use one. Car covers offer everything from weather protection to protection from bird droppings and tree sap for your car’s paint.

The best car covers will tell you which portion of the cover goes over the front of the vehicle. Make sure you purchase a cover that fits SUVs and follow the installation instructions from the manufacturer.

Our review team’s top pick for the best SUV car cover is the CarCovers.com Platinum Shield SUV Cover, which is backed by a lifetime warranty. The cover has a reflective outer layer, a polyurethane coating for waterproofing, an inner fleece liner, and double-stitched seams.

Other than storing your car indoors, a car cover can help protect your car from the elements, along with preserving your car’s finish.

A poorly maintained car cover or a low-quality one can scratch your paint. This is caused by a buildup of debris, anything from twigs to dirt, that gets smeared into the automotive paint job. Cleaning your car cover often is the best way to avoid any risk of paint damage.

Covering a car can help avoid damage from snow and ice. Windshield wipers freezing can destroy their splines, rendering them useless. Wet and cold conditions can also contribute to rust buildup, which a car cover can help mitigate.

*Data accurate at time of publication. Products subject to availability.