The car cover from COSI CAR made a very good impression overall in our test. The cover protects the parked vehicle from dirt, rain and sunlight and can be attached to the vehicle in such a way that it does not come loose even in strong winds. An anti-theft device is included as a special extra. The cover is available in sizes M and L. In our case, we tested size M on a standard compact car. Unfortunately, the cover is a little too small for our test vehicle. On the other hand, it scores points for its very good quality, extensive accessories and secure hold on the vehicle. The water-repellent coating is also convincing in the test, so that the vehicle is well protected under the cover.
Advantages
✅ Protection against dirt and sunlight
✅ Water-repellent layer against moisture
✅ Secure hold even in strong winds
✅ Anti-theft protection
✅ Pockets for wing mirrors with reflector
✅ Very good material quality
✅ Storage bag included
✅ Zipper on driver’s door
Disadvantages
❌ Hardly any contact information provided
❌ Size M too small for modern compact cars
The first impression
Packaging and labeling
ℹ️ Here we take a closer look at packaging. Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor. In addition, adequate protection of the product must of course also be ensured.
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Product protection | Very good product protection thanks to sturdy shipping carton and tear-resistant plastic film | 100 points |
| Sustainability Packaging | The shipping carton could have been more compact and the plastic film could have been dispensed with | 80 points |
| Packaging convenience | Scissors or a knife are required to open the plastic film | 90 points |
| Total | 90 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The car cover from COSI CAR was delivered in a sturdy shipping box. The shipping box was undamaged and could be easily opened without tools. As the shipping box was slightly oversized, the empty space was filled with recycled paper . Inside the box was the car cover in its product packaging. In this way, the car cover was very well protected during transportation.
The product packaging consists of a transparent plastic film in which the car cover was shrink-wrapped. The film is thick and therefore very tear-resistant. Scissors are required to open it. Inside the film was the car cover in its storage bag. Together with the shipping carton, the tear-resistant film provides excellent product protection. From our point of view, the storage bag, in which the car cover was already located, would have been sufficient as product protection, as the car cover is robust and cannot be damaged by falling or scratches. The plastic film could therefore have been dispensed with. The wire rope and the padlock were wrapped in the car cover. Both were each in a resealable zip bag. At least for the padlock, this serves a purpose: it holds a small piece of paper with the lock’s operating instructions and the lock together. The small piece of paper could otherwise quickly get lost in the large tarpaulin and fall out unnoticed.
After unpacking
Package contents and instructions
ℹ️ Most people’s first impression after unpacking is immediately memorable. Are the contents of the package complete and does the manufacturer make it as easy as possible for me to use the product straight away?
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Package contents & scope | Car cover set with storage bag, wire rope and small padlock | 100 points |
| Instructions for use | Will be sent to buyer by e-mail. In German and with pictures. Instructions for lock in English. | 95 points |
| Contact information | Can be found on the product packaging. Unfortunately without company name, telephone number and e-mail address | 50 points |
| Total | 82 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
In addition to the car cover itself, the set includes a storage bag for the car cover and a wire rope with a small padlock with a three-digit code to secure the car cover. The buckles for attaching the car cover to the vehicle are sewn onto the car cover.
Instructions for using the car cover are sent by email. It is written in German and easy to understand and includes instructions for use, care and storage. It also explains how to attach the anti-theft device with the padlock. Instructions are included for the padlock itself. This contains the preset code and a description of how this can be changed. The description is short and easy to understand, but unfortunately only in English. The explanation is supplemented by a labeled drawing. However, the lettering is very small.
The contact details can be found on a sticker on the product packaging. These only include the company address and the name of the managing director. We would also have liked to see the company name, a telephone number and an e-mail address so that we could contact them easily if we had any queries.
The first time in your hand
Product processing and appearance
ℹ️ Before we start the practical test, we take a close look at the product processing. How high quality are the materials used? Is the look and feel satisfactory?
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Visual appearance | Simple black design with imprint of the manufacturer’s logo | 100 points |
| Processing | Very good workmanship with high-quality synthetic fabric and double seams | 100 points |
| Stability | Tear-resistant, non-stretchable material. Wire rope and lock sufficiently strong to deter opportunist thieves | 100 points |
| Sustainability of the product | Good quality indicates a long service life and can also increase the service life of the vehicle | 100 points |
| Total | 100 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The car cover is made of a strong, non-stretchable fabric made of synthetic fibers. The outside is black, resulting in a sleek design. The inside is silver. According to the manufacturer, the silver color protects the vehicle interior from extreme temperatures by reflecting the heat radiation. This is intended to achieve a cooling effect in summer. The seams of the cover are double-stitched and therefore particularly sturdy. The tarpaulin also makes a very robust impression overall. It is relatively thick and tear-resistant.
The lower edge of the tarpaulin has sewn-in elastic bands . These ensure that the tarpaulin adapts to the individual shape of the vehicle and fits snugly. In the area behind the front axle and in front of the rear axle, there are additional buckles with which the cover can be attached to the vehicle. On one side, the buckles are attached to an approximately two-meter-long adjustable strap so that they can be pulled under the car. The car cover also has two plastic eyelets that are firmly sewn into the film on the underside in the middle between the two axles. These are ideal for securing the tarpaulin against theft or for attaching it to the vehicle.
As a special feature, the car cover has two small pockets on both sides into which the wing mirrors can be inserted. These are also fitted with silver reflector strips , which are edged in eye-catching yellow, so that vehicles parked on the roadside remain clearly visible at night despite the cover. As a second extra, there is a zipper in the cover at the height of the driver’s door. This makes it possible to get into the covered vehicle to remove items, for example.
A thin wire rope and a small padlock with code are supplied to secure the car cover against theft . The wire rope is just over two meters long and has eyelets at both ends. The metal core of the wire rope has a diameter of around one millimeter. To prevent the wire rope from scratching the vehicle, it also has a transparent rubber coating. This results in a total diameter of around two millimeters. The code lock is silver-colored and has a three-digit code that is entered using the dials. In addition to the shackle for locking and the wheels, the lock has a large button for opening the lock and a small button on the underside for setting the code. Even though the wire rope and lock are quite delicate and can probably be broken with tools, they still fulfill their purpose: to prevent opportunist thieves from stealing the cover. This is because the wire rope and lock are so sturdy that they will not give way even if you push and pull them hard with your hands.
The storage bag is made of the same material as the car cover and is therefore just as high quality. A cord is also incorporated into the bag, which can be used to close and lock the bag opening.
This is what our practical test showed
Does the manufacturer keep its advertising promises?
ℹ️ Our practical test is the most relevant and therefore the most important. Here, the product has to undergo a wide range of criteria and tests. We check the functions and product promises of the test article.
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting the car cover | With a little practice, this can also be done on your own. Attaching the buckles is awkward due to the principle. | 90 points |
| Size and variability | Unfortunately too small for our vehicle, although recommended for a similar car. Still fits well thanks to the elastic band. | 75 points |
| Holding the car cover | Secure hold in wind and weather thanks to two fastening buckles between the axles. | 100 points |
| Theft protection | Keeps opportunist thieves away. Simplified attachment when the loop is pulled around a rim spoke. | 100 points |
| Protection from rainwater | Water virtually bounces off the foil, the inside remains dry. | 100 points |
| Pull off and stow away | Quick removal of the film, storage bag offers sufficient space. | 100 points |
| Total | 94 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The manufacturer offers the vehicle cover in two sizes: M and L. As a test vehicle, we use an Alfa Romeo Giulietta, a typical compact car from the early 2010s. As the vehicle is a direct competitor of the VW Golf and is also similar in size, we order the M size. The manufacturer recommends size M for the Golf.
We start the practical test by putting on the car cover. It is quickly unfolded. The inside and outside are easy to tell apart thanks to the different colors. The driving side is also quickly identified with the zipper. The two pockets for the wing mirrors with the reflector sewn onto them provide further orientation. This means that the cover is quickly aligned and only needs to be pulled into place. Although a second person is very helpful for this, it is not absolutely necessary. With a little practice, the cover can be pulled on quickly on your own.
Unfortunately, it turns out that the cover is a little too small for our test vehicle. It does not reach all the way down the front and rear aprons. The pockets for the exterior mirrors are also too far forward in our case. We therefore folded the mirrors in and left the pockets unfilled. Removing the aerial would create a little more space, but we don’t think that’s the point. Thanks to the sewn-in elastic bands on the underside, the cover still fits snugly. In our opinion, the cover would be a good fit for smaller vehicles such as small cars and older compact cars.
The next step is to attach the buckles to the underside of the vehicle. For our vehicle, we have to move the adjustable buckle to the highest position. Unfortunately, the principle of attaching the buckles is quite awkward, as the long strap has to be passed behind the respective wheels. Attaching the buckles in front of and behind the axles instead of between the axles would have made this easier. However, this would have required a longer strap. On the other hand, attaching the cover between the axles prevents it from coming off the vehicle in windy conditions, even if the wind gets under the cover. However, in parking spaces protected from the wind, such as in a garage, it is not necessary to insert the buckles. Otherwise, the buckle fastening holds the cover securely to the car. The manufacturer’s promise that the cover will stay on the car even in a storm seems absolutely credible to us.
The instructions explain how the anti-theft device should be attached to the cover. The wire rope is long enough to pass under the car. On one side, it can be attached to the eyelet on the cover using the lock. However, there is no second lock for the other side. Therefore, the beginning of the wire rope must first be pulled through the eyelet of the cover, and then the other end of the rope must be pulled through the eyelet at the beginning of the rope. This creates a loop in the rope that surrounds the eyelet of the cover. The remaining end of the rope can now be pulled under the vehicle and fastened to the opposite eyelet with the lock. Alternatively, the eyelet can also be placed around the spoke of a rim. This means that the wire rope does not have to be pulled under the car.
To check whether the car cover is waterproof , we douse the film with water. This clearly demonstrates the lotus effect of the cover: the water virtually bounces off the film. Only a few small drops remain on the film and these can be easily shaken off. The underside of the film remains completely dry.
Removing the car cover takes just a few moments. Due to the considerable size of the cover, it can no longer be folded as neatly as when it was delivered. Nevertheless, it fits easily into the storage bag, which has enough space for this.
Apart from the less than ideal size and a few minor details, the car cover from COSI CAR made a very good impression in our practical test. However, the manufacturer has already announced an intermediate size that will also solve this problem. What was particularly surprising in the test was how well the water bounces off the film thanks to the lotus effect.
Price/performance ratio
and ratings from consumers
ℹ️ Finally, we look at how the product compares to the competition. Can it keep up with the competition in terms of price and quality? Would we generally recommend buying it? We also examine consumer ratings and check whether the critical and positive reviews are actually justified.
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Price / performance ratio | Very good quality in the mid-price segment | 80 points |
| Rating cut | 4.5 out of 5.0 on Amazon | 75 points |
| Total | 78 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
On the Amazon platform, consumers have given the product an average rating of 4.5 stars. They often complain that the tarpaulin is difficult for one person to attach and that the size does not fit every vehicle. Many customers like the fact that the cover is weatherproof and protects very well against sunlight and moisture. In our practical test, we were able to confirm the good quality of the cover, and in particular that it repels water extremely well. However, our test also showed that the dimensions of the car cover do not fit every vehicle. However, we had no problems fitting the cover on our own.
Prices of up to €129.99 are charged on the Internet for equivalent products. Very inexpensive products are available from as little as €19.39. The car cover from COSI CAR is currently priced at €59.90, which puts it in the mid-price segment. The price ratio is reasonable for the quality and scope of services offered.
Overall result
| Weighting | Score achieved* | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. packaging & labeling | 10% | 90 points |
| 2. package contents & instructions | 10% | 82 points |
| 3. product processing & appearance | 20% | 100 points |
| 4. in the practical test | 40% | 94 points |
| 5. price/performance & consumer ratings | 20% | 78 points |
| Total | 90 points |
