Roof Bars Tested

Don’t worry about squeezing all your holiday luggage in the car this summer – a set of roof bars makes it easy to carry big loads. We pick the best from 10.

Auto Express Car Reviews

June 2009

When your car is just too small for your luggage or hobby, the only way to go is up – with a box or carrier on the roof. But whether you’re attaching a huge roof box or a simple cycle mount or ski holder, you will need to fix a set or bars to your car.

Designs have evolved to match the styling of modern vehicles, and there are solutions for most makes and models. Easiest are those designed to fit on to the roof rails or T-tracks found on many estate cars and 4x4s, while others clamp into the gutter or around door openings.

Increasingly popular are bars which clip into fixpoints built into the vehicle. These combine the ease of roof rails with perfect alignment every time they are fitted – and we test them here, too.

So, which is the best bar none? We bolted on 10 sets to find out.

The Test

Top of our checklist was ease of use – for most drivers, these bars will be fitted only when they are needed, rather than attached permanently. So we looked for good instructions and simple assembly, plus quick fitting to and removing from a 2000 Skoda Fabia. We road tested each set, driving up to the legal limit to rate noise.

Security was also a factor. Price was taken into account, but it’s a minor issue in this test as these are long-term investments and can often be transferred from one car to another.

Contacts
* Mont Blanc 01525 850800 www.montblancuk.co.uk
* Atera (Roof Box Company) 01539 621884 www.roofbox.co.uk
* Cruz (Roof Box Company) 01539 621884 www.roofbox.co.uk
* Thule 01275 340 404 www.thule.com
* Automaxi (Mountney) 01525 383055 www.mountneyltd.com

Verdict

The Thule sets are difficult to beat for user-friendliness, slipping on and off the car quickly. Due to its cheaper price, the Rapid System is our champ. The T Track is our pick of the aero bars, yet if you’re on a budget, go for the basic but effective Automaxi Supra set. It’s great value.