Dometic CFX2 45 Review: The Right Size for Most

60 cans, three-stage battery protection and a size that actually fits, which is usually the better buy.

Specifications

Specifications above come from Dometic's published feature list. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

• 45 litres is the size most vehicles can actually accommodate with the lid opening properly, which is what makes it usable rather than theoretical.
• One large undivided space fits awkward items that a dual zone fridge cannot take at all.
• Three-stage battery protection is a genuine safeguard against being stranded, and it can be tuned to the vehicle.
• Lower power draw than a 75 litre unit, simply because there is less volume to hold cold.
• It runs on AC at home so you can pre-cool it before leaving, which saves the largest single energy demand of the trip.

Where it falls short

• Single zone means one temperature. If you want ice cream and salad on the same trip, this is not the fridge.
• Dometic note there is no internal battery, so it is only cold while something is powering it. That is normal and it catches people out on ferries and in storage.
• 60 cans sounds like a lot and is not, once you load real food with packaging.
• Like every compressor fridge it is a continuous load and it will flatten a starter battery without protection or a second battery.
• The app is convenient and adds nothing to how cold the fridge gets, so do not pay a premium for it.

What owners report

The most consistent finding across 12V fridge owner reports is that people who buy the fridge that fits their vehicle are happier than people who buy the largest fridge they can afford. A 45 litre unit sits in the sweet spot for most SUVs and utes, and its lower draw makes the electrical system easier to size. Work out what it will actually cost you per day with the power consumption calculator.

The second theme is the zone question. Our single zone versus dual zone comparison is honest that trip length decides it, and for weekends single zone is not a compromise, it is more usable space.

Third, whether you need a compressor fridge at all. For a two-night trip a good cooler and block ice is cheaper, lighter, silent and does not care about your battery. Our 12V fridge versus cooler comparison sets out where the crossover is, and it is further out than most gear pages admit.

Who it suits

• Families of four or five on weekend trips.
• Vehicles where a 75 litre fridge simply will not fit or open.
• Anyone who wants lower power draw and a simpler electrical system.

Who should skip it

• Long-trip travellers who want a real freezer alongside a fridge.
• Weekend campers on tight budgets, for whom a cooler is genuinely enough.
• Groups of six or more, who will run out of space quickly.

Alternatives worth considering

Keep reading

• 12V fridge vs cooler compared
• Single zone vs dual zone fridge compared
• Power consumption calculator
• Dometic CFX5 75 DZ review
• ICECO VL60 review
• ARB Zero 47QT review

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.