ARB Altitude Electric vs Autohome Maggiolina Airlander Plus

The ARB Altitude Electric and the Autohome Maggiolina Airlander Plus are both hardshell tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. ARB and Autohome take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.

The Maggiolina Airlander Plus is 34 kg lighter at 72 kg against 106 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Inside, the Altitude Electric gives 3.63 m² of sleeping floor against 2.47 m², about 47 percent more, though both are rated for 2. Headroom separates them further: 118 cm in the Altitude Electric against 92 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. Autohome does not publish a list price for the Maggiolina Airlander Plus, so a direct cost comparison means getting a quote from a dealer.

They open differently: the Altitude Electric is a clamshell and the Maggiolina Airlander Plus a pop-up. That is not cosmetic — it decides whether headroom is even across the tent or tapers towards one end, and how much of the roof the tent occupies when closed. The Altitude Electric uses fiberglass; the Maggiolina Airlander Plus uses 100% fiberglass with insulated honeycomb roof panel. Canvas differs too: 380GSM poly-cotton canvas against dralon acrylic, waterproof and breathable. The Altitude Electric adds solar-powered ventilation and the ability to carry cargo on the shell, which the Maggiolina Airlander Plus does not offer. Closed, the Maggiolina Airlander Plus sits 7 cm lower on the roof — 30 cm against 37 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.