Good Cars for Bikes

[Pedal Wench]

Toyota Rav4 with a truck bed mount just laying inside. Front wheel off, bike rolls into back of SUV, fork secured on the mount, life is good. It's inside, so protected from weather, thieves, rear bumper accidents and garage mishaps. (Have you ever looked at how many cars have dents in their rear bumpers? I do not want my bike to be a bumper!)
It's this, but it's just sitting loose in the very back of the SUV - I can slide it back to leave room for my aerobar bikes. Bike Rack on truck, I put mine inside


I've had 4 bikes in the car with both back seats down plus camping gear, three with room for one passenger in the (split) back seat.

[Biciclista]

It's inside, so protected from weather, thieves, rear bumper accidents and garage mishaps. (Have you ever looked at how many cars have dents in their rear bumpers? I do not want my bike to be a bumper!)
It's this, but it's just sitting loose in the very back of the SUV - I can slide it back to leave room for my aerobar bikes. Bike Rack on truck, I put mine inside

I witnessed two cyclists backing their motor vehicles into each other last year in a popular trail head park in Seattle. A few bikes got smushed...

[Ritamarie]

I witnessed two cyclists backing their motor vehicles into each other last year in a popular trail head park in Seattle. A few bikes got smushed...

Sorry, had to chuckle at that.

I like my bikes inside the vehicle. There have been plenty of times I've gone to/from a ride in the rain. Also, plenty of times I'm going to another ride in a day or two and just leave the bike in the car, or need to load it up a day or two early. It's safe, snug and dry inside.

I have a Toyota 4Runner, way too big for your needs, but I pull a small horse trailer with it too so it serves a lot of purposes. If buying American has any appeal, my husband has a Chevy HHR which is a hatchback and we get two bikes in there easily with the front wheels removed and the back seat down. The seat has to come off my husband's bike because it's tall. Good gas mileage, zippy little car.

[runningteach]

I have a Toyota Rav4 and can put my bike in without taking a wheel off. Fits great. It is easy to get my bike in and out. Picked the Rav for that reason when I needed a new vehicle. Recently I was hit from behind in a 4 car accident, and have to say that it got crushed, but I was fine. Luckily I wasn't transporting one of my bikes.

[wavedancer]

I like my Passat wagon. We can fit both bikes with wheels on in the back, lying on top of each other with a packing blanket between them. I will keep this one until it dies, but am also looking at other options for the future. The Fit sounds good. Has anyone tried or seen the Mazda 5? It looks like a pretty good option for gear transport Mazda 5

[zoom-zoom]

Has anyone tried or seen the Mazda 5? It looks like a pretty good option for gear transport Mazda 5

It's OK. We would look at one if it were possible to remove the rear row of seats. For a family of 3 we would have NO use for that and it would leave a TON of room for bikes if those could be dragged out or even if Mazda offered an option without the rear bench--it's too small to be useful for anyone over the age of 7.

[irrealised]

I have a Rav4 and I love it. I have two fork locks mounted on a 2x6 and can fit two bikes in the trunk AND keep the larger half of the backseat up.

[Jaclyn]

We have both the Element and the MINI, and love both.

The Element is typically configured without the rear seats. It holds our tandem (with the back wheel between the front seats) as well as two single bikes and a ton of gear. You can hose out the interior! My only complaint is that the roof is high enough that this 5'0" kayaker really struggles to load our kayaks on top (we carry a small footstool).

The MINI carries two single bikes, but only with at least one of the seats pushed pretty far forward (it would be difficult with two tall passengers). My bike fits great with the passenger seat pushed forward. With two bikes, we put a picnic blanket over my bike on the bottom. Must remove both front and rear wheel on my partner's 58cm bike to put on top. But it works.

I do not want my bikes outside - too many risks. We hit one of those 7'6" warning bars once with three bikes on the roof rack. We were very fortunate that we only bent the rails on a saddle. And although we own a Saris Bones trunk rack, it is almost never used.

[Blueberry]

My only complaint is that the roof is high enough that this 5'0" kayaker really struggles to load our kayaks on top (we carry a small footstool).

Heh. It's not any better at 5'4.5". My DH has learned to lift our sea kayaks by himself - I stabilize the ends....

[jp4995]

I have a Ford Escape (2008 model) and it's great for bikes! My bike and my husbands bike fit in the back (seats folded down, front tires removed) upright, we hook up a couple of bungee cords to the seat brackets and it's good to go. We put the front forks in a couple of fork lock mounts to protect them.

I have the V6, 4WD version and I get way above the EPA estimated fuel (estimated is 17 city/21 hwy), I get around 19-20 city and upper 20's on the highway. It also comes in a 4 cylinder and/or 2WD for a little bit better gas mileage. There is a hybrid option but it is a bit more expensive.

[geekgirl]

It's OK. We would look at one if it were possible to remove the rear row of seats. For a family of 3 we would have NO use for that and it would leave a TON of room for bikes if those could be dragged out or even if Mazda offered an option without the rear bench--it's too small to be useful for anyone over the age of 7.

Maybe it's not obvious from the pictures, but that 3rd row of seats folds down completely flat (as do the 2nd row seats), so the Mazda5 is an incredibly versatile vehicle. I drive one, and for our family of 3, it has been a perfect solution - bikes fit easily in the back w/ the front wheel off (standing up with the fork mount as others have linked), TONS of room, fun to drive (zoom-zoom) and the option of carrying six people for occasional carpools. That 3rd row bench IS pretty tight, but it's not bad for short trips, and perfect for small kids.

Consumer Reports chose the Mazda5 for their Top Pick for a Family Hauler:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/c...p-picks-ov.htm

Although that link indicates the price is $23K+, that's for the fully-loaded version. We have the Sport model, which starts around $18K.

[Fredwina]

I looked at the element, the Maza 5 and the Kia Rondo.
Surpirsling the element came in last . I live on the second floor, and I didn't like the idea of hauling seats up and down the stairs.
I wound up with the Rondo, a bit bigger than the 5, but you have put up with folks who can't get over the name on the Tailgate (it's been dead solid as far as reliability), plus the Rondo does have the "love it or leave it looks" and conventional rear doors


I get about 21 in the city and 25 highway, but I have the V6

[Ritamarie]

Toyota Rav4 with a truck bed mount just laying inside.

Or just get a couple of these http://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1031488_-1___ and mount them on a piece of wood.

[copperlegend]

The BF's mother has a Honda Element, and she easily transports her fully assembled bike in there, standing up! I think there are even hooks for a couple bungee cords.