Dometic CFX5 25L Electric Cooler (97000050753)

Overview: who is this for?

The Dometic CFX5 25 is the smallest model in Dometic's premium CFX5 line: a 25-litre single-zone compressor fridge-freezer with the same VMSO 3.5 compressor, weatherproof colour display and Bluetooth app as the CFX5 35. It's for small vehicles and solo travellers who want premium-brand features in a box that fits behind a seat, in a small SUV cargo area or in a compact van galley.

What the Amazon link sells: the listing this page links to is "Dometic CFX5 25L Electric Cooler", model and part number 97000050753. That's Dometic's US SKU for the CFX5 25 described here.

Choose this if:

• You travel solo or as a couple on short trips and 25 litres covers your fresh food.
• Your space is short rather than low: the CFX5 25 is about 22.4 inches long against 27.3 for the CFX5 35.
• You want Dometic's app, display and build in the smallest package.

Skip this if:

• You expect the small size to mean a much smaller power draw. Dometic's rating is only about 7% below the CFX5 35's.
• You're on a tight budget. The Alpicool C20 is a budget compressor fridge of similar size, and the ICECO GO20 is a mid-range, dual-zone one.
• You shop for a week at a time. Two people for more than a long weekend usually want 35 litres or more.

This is a research-based review. VanLifeKitchens doesn't test products hands-on. The specifications come from Dometic's US product page for SKU 97000050753, the CFX5 operating manual and the Amazon listing. Where Dometic's documents disagree, we say so.

Capacity, dimensions and clearance

Interior capacity. Dometic lists a total volume of 25 litres. The Amazon listing says it holds up to 40 twelve-ounce cans and describes it as a compact size for up to three people's weekend trips and long solo trips. (Dometic's US spec table shows "121" for the number of cans, which is the same figure it shows for the 55-litre model, so we treat the 40-can figure as the realistic one.)

External dimensions. Dometic's manual lists 342 x 569 x 420 mm (W x D x H, including handles), which it gives as 13.46 x 22.40 x 16.54 inches. The US product page matches.

Weight. Dometic's documents disagree again. The US product page lists 29.70 lb. The operating manual lists 15.5 kg (34.2 lb). Plan around the heavier figure if you're watching payload.

Ventilation clearance. Dometic's manual says: "Ensure at all times that there is a minimum of 50 mm (1.97 in) ventilation on all sides of the cooling device." With that clearance, the CFX5 25 needs roughly 17.4 x 26.3 inches of floor space.

Lid and access. It's a top-loading chest with a removable, textured non-slip lid. Dometic's manual shows a lid-reversal procedure for the CFX5 55IM and the dual-zone models but not for the 25, so treat the hinge side as fixed. At 16.5 inches tall, it has limited interior height: tall bottles will need to lie down.

Wheels. None. It has self-folding aluminium handles and M6 threaded inserts in the base for mounting.

Power consumption

Keep the published rating and the daily figure apart.

• Published power rating: 45 W rated AC input, with a rated DC input current of 7.2 A at 12 V and 3.2 A at 24 V (Dometic US page). Use that to size the fuse and wire. It's the running maximum, not a 24-hour average.
• Published energy figure: Dometic's US page rates the CFX5 25 at 1.03 Ah per hour at 12 V DC, at 90°F ambient with 39°F inside.

Over 24 hours, 1.03 Ah/h is about 25 Ah per day, roughly 297 Wh at 12 V.

The mild and hot rows are our estimates, scaled in the same way as our other CFX5 figures. Running it as a freezer near 0°F uses considerably more.

Why small doesn't mean frugal

The CFX5 25's rating is 1.03 Ah/h against 1.11 for the CFX5 35 under the same stated test. You give up 11 litres for a saving of roughly 2 Ah per day. That's because a compressor fridge's energy use depends heavily on its surface area, insulation and compressor, not just its volume. A small box has more surface per litre, and the compressor and electronics have fixed overheads.

So buy the CFX5 25 for space and weight, not to save energy. If your bay can take a 35-litre fridge, the larger box costs little extra to run.

Battery protection and sizing

Dometic's manual describes a three-stage battery monitor: if the supply voltage falls below the set level with the ignition off, the fridge switches off and restarts once the battery recovers. Dometic recommends HIGH on a starting battery and says LOW suffices on a house battery. The manual shows the exact voltages only in a graphic.

At about 25 Ah a day:

• 50 Ah lithium: about two days of fridge-only use with no charging, by our estimate. Common in small cars and portable power stations.
• 100 Ah lithium with 100–200 W of solar: comfortable for weekends and longer trips in most weather.

Model your own setup in the fridge battery calculator. For a power station pairing, the Jackery Explorer 500 v2 is sized for a fridge of this kind on short trips.

Build and features

From Dometic's US page and manual:

• VMSO 3.5 variable-speed compressor; R1234yf refrigerant.
• Temperature range of 68°F down to -8°F (the page says -7°F).
• Rated operating ambient of 61°F to 109°F. Dometic notes the minimum temperature may not be reached above 90°F ambient.
• Weatherproof colour display, Bluetooth app with temperature and energy tracking.
• USB port, interior LED light, basket and drain plug.
• AC 100–240 V and DC 12/24 V inputs.
• Self-folding aluminium handles and an integrated bottle opener.

Dometic's marketing for the CFX5 line leads with Vacuum Insulated Panels. The CFX5 25's US specification table lists "Insulation Type: PU (Polyurethane)". VIPs are usually combined with foam, but Dometic doesn't say which panels are vacuum-insulated on this model.

Dometic's US page shows a 3-year warranty for this model. The manual refers to an online limited-warranty document, so confirm the terms before buying.

CFX5 25 vs the other small fridges

The CFX5 25 is the biggest and best-equipped of the three, with the most detailed published energy figure. The ICECO GO20 is the one to choose if you want a separate freezer section in a small box. The Alpicool C20 is the budget option, with no app and no published wattage.

How it fits a van kitchen

The CFX5 25 makes most sense in a small van, a car-camping setup or a truck cab, where length is the constraint. Its 22.4-inch length fits across the rear of many SUVs and behind the front seats of some vans. It also works as a second fridge or freezer in a larger build: a 25-litre freezer alongside a main fridge, for example.

For a couple living in a van, though, 25 litres is small. The what size 12V fridge do you need guide has worked examples, and the 12V fridge buying guide covers compressor and insulation in detail.

Limitations

• Little energy saving over the CFX5 35, by Dometic's own figures.
• Conflicting weight figures: 29.70 lb on the page, 34.2 lb in the manual.
• Limited interior height. Tall bottles lie down.
• Fixed hinge side, per the manual.
• Premium price for a small box.

Verdict

The Dometic CFX5 25 brings the CFX5's app, display and build to a fridge short enough for small vehicles. Dometic publishes a clear energy rating with stated conditions, about 25 Ah per day at 90°F, which is close to the CFX5 35's. Buy it if length or weight rules out a 35-litre fridge and you want premium features. If you have the space, the CFX5 35 holds 11 more litres for little extra energy.

FAQ

How much power does the Dometic CFX5 25 use?

Dometic's US page rates it at 1.03 Ah per hour at 12 V, with 90°F ambient and 39°F inside. That's about 25 Ah, or roughly 297 Wh, per day. Its rated input is 45 W, 7.2 A at 12 V, which is a running maximum, not an average.

How big is the Dometic CFX5 25?

Dometic lists 13.46 x 22.40 x 16.54 inches (W x D x H) including handles. The US page gives 29.70 lb and the manual 34.2 lb. Add at least 50 mm (about 2 inches) on all sides for ventilation.

Does the CFX5 25 use much less power than the CFX5 35?

Not much. Dometic rates the 25 at 1.03 Ah/h and the 35 at 1.11 Ah/h under the same stated conditions, a difference of roughly 2 Ah per day.

How many cans does the CFX5 25 hold?

The Amazon listing says up to 40 twelve-ounce cans.

Can the CFX5 25 work as a freezer?

Yes. It's a single-zone fridge-freezer with a range down to about -8°F per Dometic's manual. It runs as either a fridge or a freezer at any one time, and freezer use draws considerably more power.

What warranty does the CFX5 25 have?

Dometic's US page shows a 3-year warranty. The manual points to an online limited-warranty document, so confirm the terms before buying.

Sources and verification

• Dometic US product page, CFX5 25 Electric Cooler, SKU 97000050753: dimensions, weight, rated input current and power, energy consumption with test conditions, operating temperatures, insulation type, 3-year warranty label. https://www.dometic.com/en-us/product/cfx5-25-electric-cooler-97000050753 (checked 2026-10-11)
• Dometic CFX5 operating manual (EN/FR/ES edition linked from Dometic's US CFX5 pages): 50 mm ventilation requirement, lid-reversal models, battery monitor, technical data for the CFX5 25. https://media.dometic.com/externalassets/07-0703-070328-070328005_97000050756_152475.pdf (checked 2026-10-11)
• Amazon US listing for ASIN B0DVM19BJ2, the listing this review links to: title, model 97000050753, 40-can capacity, feature bullets and availability (checked 2026-10-11)