>22
May
When it comes to finding the best cars for carrying bikes, you’ll need to look further than just how it looks and how powerful it is. As a cyclist, your car will need to be able to manage your bike, your gear, and your lifestyle.
Whether you enjoy a relaxing weekend ride in the country, extreme mountain biking, or need to get to cycling competitions, it’s vital that your vehicle can accommodate all your needs. In this blog, we’ll look at some of the best cars for cyclists, and find out just what makes a good vehicle for carrying bikes.
What makes a good car for cyclists?
The best cars for cyclists will be roomy enough to carry bikes, either inside the car or outside on a bike rack, whilst also being able to withstand a little wear and tear. Many cyclists prefer to carry their bikes inside the car, for security reasons but also to help reduce the impact on fuel efficiency that bike racks can have. Travelling with bikes inside the car can also help to protect the bike from the elements.
For mountain bikers who frequently travel into remote areas, the vehicle will need to be reliable and comfortable on potentially rugged terrain. Fuel efficiency will, of course, be a bonus, especially when cyclists will be travelling long journeys to reach the best biking routes.
Best cars for carrying bikes
There are a number of great vehicles on the market that all tick the boxes that cyclists need from their vehicles.
Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback is a no-nonsense, tough and rugged SUV. It has a wide-body design and 213mm ground clearance, so it can handle any terrain with ease. Plus, it’s also great for day-to-day commuting, so it’s ideal for cyclists who need a car for biking adventures as well as regular driving.
The Outback has plenty of room for storing bikes inside. It has a huge 561 litre boot, that extends to over 1,700 litres with the rear seats down. In addition, it can easily accommodate a bike rack on the back or the roof. For fuel efficiency, the latest Outback reaches 26 mpg for city driving and 32 mpg for highway driving.
Audi A6 Allroad
The Audi A6 Allroad is a sophisticated and practical four-wheel drive estate car. It has the luxurious interior we’ve come to expect from Audi but with a tougher exterior and slightly raised height that’s designed for more rugged environments.
The generous 1,680 litre boot can easily accommodate bikes, equipment and accessories, so it can be perfect for day trips or longer camping weekends. Most Allroads have diesel engines delivering 50 mpg with great pulling power.
Skoda Octavia Estate
The Skoda Octavia Estate is a smart and functional vehicle. It offers a super generous boot space – 640 litres as is, extending to 1,700 litres with the rear seats folded. It can easily manage bikes and other equipment, making your cycling trips completely hassle-free.
The Octavia Estate is available with diesel, petrol, or hybrid engines, so you can pick your preference. Petrol engines see around 42-56 mpg, diesel sees 51-67mpg and the plug-in hybrid sees an average of 44.6-46.9 mpg without the battery assistance or 188-282 mpg with assistance.
Land Rover Discovery
The Land Rover Discovery is obviously fantastic off-road and on rough terrain, but it also brings a luxurious and comfortable interior. It’s majorly roomy, with 115 litre boot or 1,451 litres with the back seats down – which still leaves 5 seats for passengers. There are also 45 litres of storage space up front, according to Land Rover, including a deep centre console.
The Discovery can accommodate a rook mounted bike rack, but due to the size of the vehicle this can be tricky to access. Luckily, it can easily accommodate a tow ball mounted cycle carrier too, which can be a great alternative.
Mercedes E Class Estate
The Mercedes E Class Estate is a spacious, sophisticated car. It offers a huge 615-litre boot or 1,830 litres with the rear seats down. It can easily accommodate bikes and other equipment and accessories, but also has the option for roof-mounted or rear-mounted bike racks as extras.
Available as a hybrid engine, it offers 42.2 mpg for petrol or 56.5 mpg for diesel. Whilst the hybrid option does take up some potential boot space, for many the rewards in fuel efficiency easily make up for the loss.
Honda Jazz
The Honda Jazz is definitely the smallest car on this list, but it’s still mighty. The Jazz has a smart solution to bike storage, in the rear seats that fold upwards. This leaves an ideal space to store bikes. If you need more space, the Jazz can easily accommodate a roof rack, although this will affect fuel efficiency.
The Jazz is only available with one engine option – a petrol hybrid. It offers impressive fuel economy at just over 60 mpg and is great on motorways, city driving, and rural roads.
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