ICECO VL45 ProS vs Dometic CFX2 45 Fridge

The short answer

For most van builders shopping for a 45-litre single-zone fridge, the ICECO VL45 ProS is the better buy. It holds the same 45 litres as the Dometic CFX2 45, sits 1.3 inches lower, has a lid that opens from either side, runs a Secop compressor that ICECO backs for five years, and costs considerably less.

The Dometic CFX2 45 is the better choice if weight or app control matter more. At 36.6 lb empty, it's more than 15 lb lighter than the VL45 ProS, and it has Bluetooth app control, which the ICECO lacks. Dometic's published energy figure is also lower, but that figure comes from Dometic's Australian listing for a model with a different refrigerant, and ICECO's figure comes from a lab test with no stated conditions, so the two numbers aren't a fair head-to-head.

For the details, read our ICECO VL45 ProS review and our Dometic CFX2 45 review. If you're still deciding on size, start with the 12V fridge buying guide.

Quick comparison

Sources: ICECO's VL35/45/60 ProS manual (version 7.0) for the VL45 ProS; Dometic's US manual and listings for the CFX2 45, as cited in our reviews.

Energy use: the figures aren't comparable

ICECO VL45 ProS. ICECO's manual lists 0.510 kWh per 24 hours, about 42.5 Ah per day at 12 V. ICECO says this figure is only suitable for laboratory testing and that real consumption depends on conditions. It doesn't give the ambient temperature or setpoint.

Dometic CFX2 45. Dometic's US listing doesn't publish an energy figure. Dometic's Australian listing rates its CFX2 45 at 0.86 Ah per hour at 90°F ambient and 39°F inside, about 21 Ah (roughly 250 Wh) per day. That's a different-market model using R600a refrigerant, so treat it as a guide for the US version, not a rating.

On paper, then, the Dometic looks like it uses half the energy. In practice, the two tests have different conditions (one unstated), and one figure isn't for the US model at all. What can be said: the Dometic has a stated test at 90°F, and ICECO's figure is the higher of the two. Plan generously for either.

Neither number is the nameplate. The CFX2 45's rated DC input is 8.8 A at 12 V, for fuse and wire sizing. ICECO doesn't publish one for the VL45 ProS, and its manual lists a 15 A internal fuse on the supply line. Our planning figures for summer van use, both estimates: about 25–28 Ah per day for the CFX2 45 and about 55–65 Ah per day for the VL45 ProS in a hot van.

Edge: Dometic CFX2 45, on published figures, with the caveat that they come from different tests.

Battery sizing and protection

Both fit the same broad battery class for full-time use: 200 Ah of lithium with solar or alternator charging is comfortable for either. On 100 Ah, the CFX2 45 leaves more margin if Dometic's Australian figure holds for the US model.

Their battery-protection cutoffs differ. ICECO's manual lists 12 V cut-off / restart voltages of 9.6 / 10.9 V (Low), 10.4 / 11.7 V (Medium) and 11.1 / 12.4 V (High). Dometic's CFX2 US manual lists 10.1 / 11.4 V (LOW), 11.2 / 12.2 V (MED) and 11.8 / 12.6 V (HIGH). Both makers recommend the highest setting on a vehicle starting battery. On a lithium house bank, use the lowest setting your battery maker allows, so the fridge doesn't cut out while the battery still has charge.

Run your own numbers in our fridge battery calculator.

Edge: tie.

Footprint, height and fit

The footprints are close. The CFX2 45 is 1.4 inches shorter in length; the VL45 ProS is 1.3 inches lower. In van builds, height is usually the tighter constraint: under-bench bays and bed platforms often leave around 20 inches. With 18.1 inches of cabinet height, the VL45 ProS leaves more room for the lid to clear.

Clearance requirements differ in how specific they are. ICECO's manual asks for more than 5 cm (about 2 inches) at the left and right sides and 10 cm (about 4 inches) at the front air outlet. Dometic's CFX2 US manual asks for "sufficient ventilation on all four sides" without a distance. We suggest at least 2 inches all round, the distance Dometic gives in its CFX5 manual. Either way, plan for roughly 31–32 by 20 inches of floor space.

Lids are where the ICECO has a practical edge. ICECO's VL45 ProS lid opens from the left or right or lifts off. Dometic's CFX2 manual covers reversing the lid only for the CFX2 57, so on the 45, the hinge side is fixed. In a van where the fridge sits against a wall, being able to choose which way it opens can decide whether you can reach inside easily. For more on access, see the chest vs upright 12V fridge guide.

Edge: ICECO VL45 ProS, for the lower cabinet and reversible lid.

Weight

This is the CFX2 45's clearest advantage. Dometic lists 36.6 lb empty; ICECO lists 52.2 lb for the VL45 ProS. That 15.6 lb matters if you lift the fridge out of the van for camp, carry it into a house to pre-cool, run it on a drawer slide, or watch payload on a small van. Loaded, both are a two-person lift in practice.

Edge: Dometic CFX2 45.

Compressor and build

The VL45 ProS uses a Secop compressor in a steel cabinet. Secop is the long-established compressor supplier behind many serious 12 V fridges, and ICECO backs it with a 5-year compressor warranty (1 year on other parts). The Amazon listing says it works at up to a 40-degree tilt.

The CFX2 45 uses Dometic's own variable-speed compressor in a polypropylene body with reinforced corners, stainless hinges and folding ABS handles. It's lighter for that reason.

Both have DC and AC inputs and a USB port. The ICECO has DC sockets at both ends; the Dometic has a 4-digit LED display, a produce crisper and Bluetooth app control.

Edge: ICECO VL45 ProS, for the compressor warranty and steel case; Dometic for app control.

Controls and app

The VL45 ProS has an LED display and buttons, with no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The CFX2 45 has an LED display plus Bluetooth app control, so you can check and change the temperature from your phone. If you want remote monitoring with the ICECO, add a wireless thermometer such as the AcuRite 00986M.

Edge: Dometic CFX2 45.

Value

The VL45 ProS sits in the mid-range; the CFX2 45 is a premium-priced fridge from Dometic's entry line, and it costs considerably more. Check current prices on Amazon with the buttons on each review page, since they change often.

The extra money for the Dometic buys a lighter fridge, Bluetooth app control and a lower published energy figure from a non-US listing. It doesn't buy more space, a lower cabinet or a reversible lid. On warranty, ICECO's manual gives 5 years on the compressor and 1 year on other parts. Dometic's US manual refers to an online limited-warranty page, so confirm the US term with Dometic before you buy.

For most builds, the price difference does more as battery capacity than as fridge features, and it covers the extra battery the VL45 ProS's higher published figure might call for.

Which one should you buy?

Buy the ICECO VL45 ProS if:

• You want 45 litres at a mid-range price, with the savings going to batteries or solar.
• Your bay is under 20 inches tall, or you need to choose which way the lid opens.
• You want a Secop compressor with a 5-year compressor warranty.
• You'd rather have buttons than an app.

Buy the Dometic CFX2 45 if:

• You lift or carry the fridge often, or payload is tight.
• You want app control without moving up to the CFX5 line.
• You want a published energy rating with a stated test temperature, even if it's from Dometic's Australian listing.

FAQ

Which is better, the ICECO VL45 ProS or the Dometic CFX2 45?

For most van builders, the VL45 ProS: same 45 litres, a lower cabinet, a lid that opens either way, a Secop compressor with a 5-year compressor warranty, and a considerably lower price. The CFX2 45 is better if weight or app control matter most.

Which uses less power?

On published figures, the Dometic: about 21 Ah per day from its Australian listing at 90°F ambient, against ICECO's lab figure of about 42.5 Ah per day for the VL45 ProS. The tests aren't comparable: Dometic's figure is for a different-refrigerant model, and ICECO doesn't state its test conditions.

Which is lighter?

The Dometic CFX2 45, at 36.6 lb empty against 52.2 lb for the ICECO VL45 ProS.

Can I reverse the lid on either fridge?

The VL45 ProS lid opens from the left or right or lifts off, per ICECO's manual. Dometic's CFX2 manual covers lid reversal only for the CFX2 57, so the CFX2 45's hinge side is fixed.

Do these fridges have apps?

The Dometic CFX2 45 has Bluetooth app control. The ICECO VL45 ProS has no app, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Sources and verification

• ICECO VL35/45/60 ProS manual, version 7.0: VL45 ProS dimensions, weight, capacity, lid, clearance, battery-protection voltages, 24-hour consumption, 15 A fuse, warranty. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0053/1536/2906/files/ICECO_VL354560_ProS_Manual_7.0_APP.pdf?v=1740649158 (checked 2026-10-11)
• Amazon US listing for ASIN B08ZSSN6N1 (ICECO VL45 ProS): title, model, steel case, tilt claim and availability (checked 2026-10-11)
• Dometic CFX2 45 figures (dimensions, weight, rated current, Australian energy rating, battery-protection voltages, ventilation wording, lid reversal) are taken from our existing Dometic CFX2 45 review and its cited sources.