Best powered car subwoofer enclosures

Top pick: JBL BassPro Hub — a powered sub that drops into your spare-tire well, so you keep your whole trunk. 200W RMS, active amp built in, and the strongest owner ratings of the bunch. Best all-rounder if you want real bass without giving up cargo space.

Who the others suit:

• JBL BassPro 12 — classic ported 12" box; the pick if you have trunk room and want deeper, louder low end.
• Kicker 51HS8 Hideaway — compact 8" with a 150W amp; slides under a seat or into a corner when space is tight.
• Alpine PWE-S8 — small powered 8" for a clean, simple install in a small car.
• Rockville RG212CA V2 — dual 12" vented box with big power; for someone chasing maximum output on a budget.
• Rockville SS10P / SS8P — slim, low-profile enclosures that fit behind a seat or in shallow trunks.
• Cerwin Vega VPAS841 — slim powered sub with 4-channel output, handy if you're also amping door speakers.
• TROPO-1X12D2 — loaded ported 12" box for a loud, simple single-sub setup.

Check enclosure depth and mounting height against your vehicle before buying — slim boxes vary a lot.