Whether you’re hitting local cycleways with the kids or an aspiring Tour de France rider, you need a car or van that’s capable of bringing your bikes
Most cars are capable of carrying at least one bike somehow. But, if you’re going to be transporting a bicycle regularly – or possibly several bikes – you’ll need a practical vehicle that’s suitable for the job.
All these cars are capable of carrying bikes and passengers at the same time, and some have four-wheel drive if you’re planning to hit up some gnarly trails.
But before we get to our top picks for the best cars for cyclists, it's worth considering what type of bike rack is best for your car and your needs.
| Type of bike rack | Pros | Cons |
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| Rear-mounted |
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| Tow bar-mounted |
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Best cars for bike racks
1. Skoda Octavia Estate
Boot space (seats up/down): 640/1,700 litres
Skoda has been a headline sponsor of the Tour de France many times in recent years, so you can be sure the brand takes carrying bikes seriously. Either the Octavia Estate or the Superb Estate could have made this list, but the Octavia is more affordable, a little easier to manoeuvre and still offers one of the biggest boots of any estate car. Flip the rear seats down and there’s plenty of room to throw in a bike without taking the wheels off. Or, with standard-fit roof rails, you can stick up to four bikes on the roof.
Shop used Skoda Octavia cars for sale or read our Skoda Octavia review
2. Land Rover Discovery
Boot space (with 7 seats/5 seats/2 seats): 228/1,137/2,406 litres
The Land Rover Discovery can’t be called cheap, but it still manages to feel good value as it’s so capable. It’s so big that most of the peloton could shelter inside, and its size means you have the flexibility to store bikes wherever you want. Put bikes on the outside of the car and there’s room inside for seven adults – and, with the soft leather upholstery, they’ll all be comfortable. Of course, the Discovery is a true go-anywhere vehicle, and its off-road technology means you can cycle over rough terrain if you so wish – just like these people in this photo. That’s why we think it’s the best SUV for cyclists.
3. Citroen Berlingo
Boot space (seats up/down): 775/1,884 litres
It probably won’t have escaped you that the Citroen Berlingo MPV is based on the van of the same name. Vans are practical by nature, and that means the boxy Berlingo is a great bike carrier. Just look how happy the man in this photo is that he doesn’t have to take the front wheel off! The Berlingo’s height means you can carry bikes standing up, and the enormous boot opening makes loading awkward items easy-peasy. Top-spec cars have roof bars if you’d rather leave the interior space free for passengers or luggage – just watch out for any height-restricted car parks or low-hanging branches.
4. Skoda Kodiaq
Boot space (with 7 seats/5 seats/2 seats): 340/845/2,035 litres
As it’s available with up to seven seats – and the third row is just about suitable for adults – the Skoda Kodiaq is a big car. That pays dividends if you want to haul awkward items like bikes, as you shouldn’t have to fold down all five rear seats to fit one in. Depending on the size of the bike, you may only need to drop the sixth and seventh seats. That’s made easier by the handy levers letting you fold the seats from the boot, while the Kodiaq also benefits from a flat cargo floor and no load lip. If you need to carry people inside, roof rails come as standard.
Shop used Skoda Kodiaq cars for sale or read our Skoda Kodiaq review
5. Dacia Jogger
Boot space (with 7 seats/5 seats/2 seats): 212/712/1,807 litres
One of the cheaper options on this list, the Dacia Jogger proves that more expensive isn’t always better. Its third-row seats are light and easy to remove, and its wide, tall boot opening is great for loading large items. As standard, the Dacia comes with clever roof rails that can switch to cross bars which you can mount bike carriers onto. Its materials are hard-wearing and should stand up well to woodland mud, and the third row of seats is surprisingly spacious if you need to carry lots of passengers. The Jogger comes with two economical engine options but no four-wheel drive – look to 4x4 versions of the Dacia Duster if you need off-road capability.
6. Honda Jazz
Boot space (seats up/down): 304/1,205 litres
The Honda Jazz is by far the smallest car on this list, but it has a trick up its sleeve. It’s almost unique in offering ‘magic’ rear seats that flip up like cinema stalls, leaving a space the entire width of the car. The low transmission tunnel takes up the space under your pedals, so you can carry a bike inside this clever supermini – instead of carrying it on the roof and compromising fuel efficiency. And fuel efficiency is one of the Jazz’s many plus points, with its hybrid engine returning up to 61mpg. What’s more, the Jazz’s rear door pockets are perfectly shaped for water bottles.
Shop used Honda Jazz cars for sale or read our Honda Jazz review
7. Volkswagen ID.3
Boot space (seats up/down): 385/1,267 litres
You're not meant to tow anything with the Volkswagen ID.3, but a towbar is among the optional extras. It's specifically for bike carriers, and is hidden away behind the rear licence plate to keep the bumper looking clean. A very James Bond solution. Putting the bikes behind the car rather than on top will help conserve your range estimate, and the fully electric powertrain means you can enjoy rapid acceleration and no local emissions.
Shop used Volkswagen ID.3 cars for sale or read our Volkswagen ID.3 review
8. Subaru Outback
Boot space (seats up/down): 561/1,750 litres
A niche choice in the UK, the Subaru Outback is a rugged estate that offers more off-road capability than the vast majority of SUVs. The Outback has full-time four-wheel drive and lots of ground clearance, so it’s perfect if you’re heading to the wilderness with your mountain bike. Just look at the chunkiness of those roof bars! Subaru is also one of the leading manufacturers when it comes to safety – making the Outback a solid family car choice – and owners tend to stick with their cars for far longer than customers of most other brands.
Shop used Subaru Outback cars for sale or read our Subaru Outback review
9. Citroen C5 X
Boot space (seats up/down): 545/1,640 litres
SUVs and estate cars are good for carrying bikes, so why not get a car that's inspired by both? The stylish Citroen C5 X focuses on suaveness and comfort, and it's available with petrol and plug-in hybrid engines. For cyclists, the C5 X is great because it's long enough to fit a bike in the boot with the seats down, and the leather upholstery is easy to keep clean after a session on the trails. You can also get roof rails for the C5 X, which are removable to keep the svelte shape.
Shop used Citroen C5 X cars for sale or read our Citroen C5 X review
10. Ford Kuga
Boot space (seats up/down): 536/1,534 litres
The Ford Kuga's steering is almost as responsive as your bike's – turn the wheel and the car feels agile and fun. We wouldn't advise trying to thread the Kuga through a mountain bike course, but there's plenty of space inside the car for all your bike gear and a range of options for fitting bikes to the exterior. Diesel is available if you're going to be driving far distances to go cycling, while we like the plug-in hybrid for its familiar petrol power and usable all-electric range – perfect if you don't want to pollute the air you're going to be breathing.
Shop used Ford Kuga cars for sale or read our Ford Kuga review
