Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer [Detailed Review]

COSTWAY Car Freezer, 55-Quart Compressor Travel RV Refrigerator -4°F to 50°F, Portable and Compact Electric Vehicle 12V/24V Car Cooler Fridge, For Car, Home, Camping, Truck Party, Black and Grey

The Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer is one of the products manufactured by Costway.

The aim of this article is to review the features of this mini refrigerator but we would begin with a brief history of this brand and what it represents today.

Established in 2008, Costway has been in existence for just a little over 10 years and we are amazed at how far it has come in such a short period of time.

Even though it may not be as popular as other renowned brands, Costway has grown to be one of the top retailers in North America and Europe in about a third of the time the other companies have been in business.

This fast growth is likely because they offer quality products and because its products are usually less expensive than products from other brands that are of similar design and features.

Costway also offers good customer service and with nine warehouses around the USA and Europe, it is able to deliver products quickly.

The brand says you can shop from its extensive range of products where you can get good value at affordable prices.

We love great quality at lower prices and we are sure you do too. So, let’s find out if this product actually lives up to its hype.

 

Who Needs The Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer?

Perhaps a better question would have been “who doesn’t need this Costway portable cooler?” This is because we are quite sure most people would need a cooler like this one unless of course, you don’t travel by road at all. Or perhaps you have to constantly move your cooler around and so a smaller, lightweight cooler would be more suited to your needs.

That aside, this cooler is ideal for anyone who is constantly on the go especially for long periods at a time. It will also be useful for someone who would like to have easy access to food and cool drinks while on the road.

This cooler’s large capacity makes it suitable for large events. say your large family is planning a road trip soon and you call the shots on making food and drinks available, this cooler will be very useful because it can accommodate a considerable amount of food and drinks that will last for days.

Moreover, its compressor technology allows it to cool efficiently to very low temperatures regardless of how hot it is outside. And because it has an LCD temperature display, not only are you able to regulate the temperature, you can also monitor the temperature. So, you are never caught off-guard by temperature changes.

Additionally, its optional AC cable allows you to use it in your home, office, or hotel room. What this means is even if you don’t travel frequently, you can still run this cooler like a mini-fridge in your home.

COSTWAY Car Freezer, 55-Quart Compressor Travel RV Refrigerator -4°F to 50°F, Portable and Compact Electric Vehicle 12V/24V Car Cooler Fridge, For Car, Home, Camping, Truck Party, Black and Grey

 

 

 

 

Features of the Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer

Cooling Efficiency

One of the features of this cooler is its fast and efficient cooling.

It is able to cool from 90  to 32 degrees Fahrenheit in a short period of 30 minutes just like your regular refrigerator. It also offers the ECO mode for energy saving and the MAX mode for very fast cooling.

See also  Koldfront 32-Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler [Detailed Review]

Being a compressor model, it cools in cycles; which implies that it does not run all the time. This further means that you don’t have to worry about battery drain in a short period.

Another interesting feature of this cooler is its compressor technology. This technology makes the cooling independent of the ambient temperature.

So, even if your vacation destination is in a desert, you can rest assured that this cooler will still be able to keep your food and drinks cold.

Storage Capacity

This Costway 12V Cooler has a large capacity.

Its 54-quart capacity provides ample storage that is sufficient enough to accommodate over 50 cans of drinks, 1-liter bottles, and even wine bottles.

It has an interior shelf tray that is more like a basket and helps to keep everything in the cooler organized and grouped. This tray can also be removed to create more room in the cooler and to make cleaning the cooler easier.

All that being said, this cooler can take as much food and drink that could last you and your family for days.

Smart Features

This cooler has a number of smart features — one of which is the 3-level battery protection.

The different battery stages are Low, Medium, and High. They can be changed to suit your needs and protect the battery of your vehicle.

This cooler also has an LCD temperature display and digital temperature control. As a result, you can conveniently view and adjust the temperature of your cooler as you wish.

You can also set it to the ECO mode for energy saving and the MAX mode for fast cooling.

An additional feature is the interior LED light which is very helpful. The interior LED light will come in handy at night or when the cooler is in a dimly-lit place.

Design

We love the practical design of this cooler as it makes it better suited for your travel needs.

Its shockproof design allows it to withstand harsh environments and conditions. It also helps preserve the contents of the cooler. So, the tilting and bouncing that may occur whenever you drive on rough terrain will not affect the food and drink inside the cooler or the efficiency of the cooler.

In addition to its 12V/24V DC cable, this Costway cooler comes with a 110-240 AC home adapter. This means that you can use this cooler not only on the road but also in your home, office, hotel/ motel room, etc.

Thankfully, the AC adapter comes with the cooler. So, you won’t need to buy one separately.

Noise Level

For a cooler that uses compressor cooling technology, this cooler is surprisingly quiet and you can barely hear it when it is functioning. This is a huge plus as you wouldn’t want to have to deal with a noisy unit.

Its quiet cooling becomes even more useful when you use it in your home or office and there is no car engine in those places to drown out the noise.

 

COSTWAY Car Freezer, 55-Quart Compressor Travel RV Refrigerator -4°F to 50°F, Portable and Compact Electric Vehicle 12V/24V Car Cooler Fridge, For Car, Home, Camping, Truck Party, Black and Grey

 

 

 

Pros of the Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer

i. Fast and efficient cooling

ii. Heavy-duty build

iii. Practical design

iv. Quiet cooling

v. Large storage space

vi. LCD temperature display and regulation

vii. Battery protection modes

 

 

COSTWAY Car Freezer, 55-Quart Compressor Travel RV Refrigerator -4°F to 50°F, Portable and Compact Electric Vehicle 12V/24V Car Cooler Fridge, For Car, Home, Camping, Truck Party, Black and Grey

 

 

 

Cons of the Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer

i. It is quite heavy.

ii. The set temperature resets to 32 degrees Fahrenheit every time the cooler goes off.

 

Check out these other in-depth articles/reviews…

12V Refrigerators: A Buyer’s Guide

Costway 3.2-Cubic Foot Compact Refrigerator (Double Door) — Extensive Review

Dometic 70-liter 12V Cooler with Freezer [In-depth Review]

Besworlds 4-Liter Mini Fridge — Extensive Review

Arctic King 5.0-Cubic Foot Chest Freezer — Detailed Review

Magic Chef 3.2-Cubic Foot Compact Refrigerator [In-depth Review]

 

 

Alternatives to The Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer

More Affordable Option

Wagan 46-Quart 12V Cooler/ Warmer with Wheels

Some users complained about the size of the featured cooler and that it was quite heavy. So, we suggest a lighter, slightly smaller, and more affordable cooler.

At 46 Quarts, this cooler’s capacity is still quite large and would have plenty of room to contain all the food and drink you would like to take with you on your trip.

See also  Dometic 70-liter 12V Cooler with Freezer [In-depth Review]

Additionally, it has a folding handle and wheels which enable you to easily carry it around even when it is very full.

This cooler has both cooling and warming functions and can be used to keep drinks and food cool. So, alternatively, it can be used to keep cooked food hot while you are on the road and even warm leftovers.

Wagan EL6244 Blue 46 Quart 12V Thermoelectric Cooler/Warmer Car Fridge

 

 

 

Smaller Capacity

Alpicool 40-Liter 12V Portable Refrigerator/ Freezer with Wheels

This really cool portable fridge/ freezer from Alpicool doubles as a trolley due to the presence of wheels and a telescoping handle; which makes it easy to be carried around even by one person.

Its 40-liter capacity allows it to fit as many as 40 cola cans and it is padded with high-density foam which gives it a lot of insulation and keeps your food cold even when the cooler is off.

It cools and freezes food and drinks efficiently and can be used at home or on the road or even with a solar system because of its DC and AD adapter cables.

Alpicool CX40 Portable Refrigerator 42 Quart(40 Liter) with Trolley Vehicle, Car, Truck, RV, Boat, Mini Fridge Freezer for Driving, Travel, Fishing, Outdoor -12/24V DC

 

 

 

 

More High-end Option

ARB  63-Quart Portable Weatherproof Fridge/ Freezer with Electronic Lock

We felt it would be good if we showed you one of the high-end alternatives to the Costway cooler. We picked the ARB 63-Quart Portable Refrigerator; which is over 3 times more expensive than the one we mentioned earlier

The ARB portable cooler is a unique, strong, and durable cooler that can withstand harsh weather conditions thanks to its heavy-duty design.

In addition, it boasts a weatherproof control panel that protects your settings and the units display from the effects of rain and sunlight.

Its body is made from 304-grade stainless steel and it has tamper-proof bolts that give it added security.

What’s more? This unit has a 4 digit pin code electronic locking system that protects the contents of your cooler from intruders.

Finally, it has a smart control panel with a remote monitor transmitter.

Think this may be a more suitable option for you? Then take advantage of our extensive review of the product here to learn more about it.

 ARB 10810602 Portable Fridge/Freezer Weatherproof Portable Fridge/Freezer

 

 

 

 

 

Quick Comparison

  Featured Product More affordable Smaller Capacity More High-End
Product

Costway 55-Quart Portable 12V Refrigerator with Freezer

COSTWAY Car Freezer, 55-Quart Compressor Travel RV Refrigerator -4°F to 50°F, Portable and Compact Electric Vehicle 12V/24V Car Cooler Fridge, For Car, Home, Camping, Truck Party, Black and Grey

Click here to get it on Amazon!

 

Wagan 46-Quart 12V Cooler/ Warmer with Wheels

Wagan EL6244 Blue 46 Quart 12V Thermoelectric Cooler/Warmer Car Fridge

Click here to get it on Amazon!

Alpicool 42-Quart 12V Portable Refrigerator/ Freezer with Wheels

Alpicool CX40 Portable Refrigerator 42 Quart(40 Liter) with Trolley Vehicle, Car, Truck, RV, Boat, Mini Fridge Freezer for Driving, Travel, Fishing, Outdoor -12/24V DC

Click here to get it on Amazon!

 

ARB Portable 63-Quart Weatherproof Fridge/ Freezer with Electronic Lock

ARB 10810602 Portable Fridge/Freezer Weatherproof Portable Fridge/Freezer

Click here to get it on Amazon!

Capacity 52-Liter 44-Liter 40-Liter 60-Liter
Cooling System Compressor  Thermoelectric Compressor Compressor
Dimensions 27 inches  x 13.5 inches x 21 inches 17.2 inches  x 9.2 inches  x 13.5 inches 23.1 inches x 14.9 inches  x 21.5 inches 17.1 inches high x 19.3 inches wide x 32.3 inches deep
 Smart Features LCD digital temperature display and regulator None None Electronic lock and control panel
Function Fridge/Freezer Fridge/Warmer Fridge/ Freezer Fridge/ Freezer
Available Sizes 52-Liter 44-Liter 40-Liter 40-Liter
  Grey and Black Blue Grey Black

 

What Users Are Saying About The Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer

There are lots of comments from customers who purchased this Costway portable cooler and the general consensus is that they love this cooler. We are not surprised at that because this cooler gives great value at about half the price of other coolers like itself.

Users noted that it is also very quiet and roomy; which is a huge plus for a good number of the users. It has a thermostat and LCD display which enables the user to view and adjust the temperature easily.

However, there were some complaints about the display accuracy. Some users noted that the displayed temperature was sometimes 4-5 degrees higher or lower than the actual temperature in the cooler.

Still on the drawbacks of the temperature regulator, once the cooler goes off, its temperature resets to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Most users think it is quite stressful to have to remember to keep changing the temperature.

Check out these other articles…

Hotpoint Fridge Freezing Everything [How to Fix]

Haier Refrigerator Freezing Everything [How to Fix]

Beko Fridge Freezing Everything [How to Fix]

Galanz Refrigerator Freezing Everything [How to Fix]

Amana Fridge Freezing Everything [How to Fix]

Issues with a Samsung Ice Maker [How to Fix]

Samsung Ice Maker Keeps Freezing Up [How to Fix]

 

Our Verdict

There are more reasons to love the Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator than otherwise.

See also  Deco Chef 26-Pound Ice Maker [In-Depth Review]

From its large capacity and its cool smart features to its durable build that is designed to withstand harsh conditions, we think this cooler is worth every buyer’s cent.

This refrigerator is able to cool food and drink flawlessly in any kind of weather conditions. Unfortunately, each time this cooler is turned off it resets to 32 degrees Fahrenheit and could freeze the contents of your cooler.

Having to constantly change the temperature each time you stop the car or want to use the cooler is quite stressful but if you don’t mind having to do that and you are sold on the other features, then this cooler just may be perfect for you.

We have to admit we were a little skeptical because after comparing the price of this cooler to that of other high-end products with similar size and capabilities.

We realized, however, that it was about half the price of the others and in some cases almost a third less than the others. This, however, didn’t affect its performance and our fears were eventually calmed.

This is one case where it seemed too good to be true but it turned out to be indeed as good as it sounded. We are pleased with this cooler and encourage you to get it if you are too.

COSTWAY Car Freezer, 55-Quart Compressor Travel RV Refrigerator -4°F to 50°F, Portable and Compact Electric Vehicle 12V/24V Car Cooler Fridge, For Car, Home, Camping, Truck Party, Black and Grey

Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer [Detailed Review] – Related FAQs

Does The Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator With Freezer Have A Warranty?

The Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer comes with a one year warranty. Not only that, but you can also purchase a three-year warranty.

After you purchase the unit, the company offers you spare parts in case you need to change some properties on the inside or outside. This begins right from the day you purchase the unit.

If the spare parts do not work, then they provide a replacement unit. However, bear in mind that all these cannot take place outside of the warranty period.

Are There Specific Straps To Secure The Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer Within A Vehicle?

There are no specific straps to secure the Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer within a vehicle.

You just have to keep the unit standing upright and also ensure clearance for the ventilation openings. However, if you don’t want the unit bumping around in the vehicle, you can secure it with bungees.

Not only that, say you don’t want the contents in the unit to spill out as a result of an accident or something, strapping it securely with bungees is still a good precaution.

Does The Rain Affect The Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer?

Sure, rain affects the Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer.

Likewise, getting water in the vent area of this unit is not a good idea.

The Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer has a computer-controlled interface so leaving it in the rain or allowing it to get wet can make it rust, get damaged, and finally stop working.

Most times, when this unit gets wet, users tend to think that placing it under sunlight to get dried is the answer. However, it’s not. The fact that it’s been wet at some point is already a bad sign.

Does The Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer Have Two Compartments?

The Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer does not have two compartments, only two areas.

The first area is 17 1/4 inches deep by 10 1/4 inches wide by 12 1/2 inches long. This area is usually the coldest area.
After this area is a smaller area for fruits and vegetables. It is 10 1/2 inches deep by 10 1/4 inches wide by 6 1/2 inches long.

This area has a height of about 8 1/2 inches. This is so to prevent the items in this area from falling into the first area.

Does The Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer Have Insulation?

The answer as to the Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer having insulation is not certain because it can be quite difficult to tell what’s inside the walls of the unit.

More insulation would make the unit bigger and heavier, thereby compromising size. It’s very rare to find a well-insulated refrigerator with the size of the Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer. Even if you do, it’ll have less usable storage inside.

However, the Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer has good storage capacity and that’s why it’s not certain if it has insulation.

Does The Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer Have Individual Temperature Control Sides?

The Costway 55-Quart 12V Refrigerator with Freezer does not have individually temperature controlled sides.

It has a front control pad that sets the temperature of the primary front deep section of the unit. Therefore, the rear shallow section of the unit is not directly cooled so it’s not always as cold as the front section.

However, if you want the items in the unit to freeze or get really cold, place them in the front deep-section of the unit. Otherwise, use the rear shallow section of the unit.

 

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