5 of the Best Vehicles for Hauling Your Bicycle
Your two-wheeled friend will love these four-wheel haulers.
Subaru
Do you love cycling but find transporting bikes to your favorite trails with your current vehicle a hassle? We checked out a variety of new models and found five that make bicycle hauling a breeze. Several can even fit bikes inside for added security. As a bonus, all of our picks start below the average new car price.
Ford
2023 Ford Maverick
Our least expensive choice is the Ford Maverick, a new front-wheel-drive compact pickup that seats five and rides and handles more like a compact crossover SUV than the typical truck. The standard Maverick XL’s peppy 191-hp hybrid powertrain delivers a remarkable 37 mpg combined fuel economy. Special slots built into the Maverick’s 54-inch bed can accommodate 2-by-6-inch boards to anchor home-built cargo carriers and racks for bicycles. A
Subaru
2023 Subaru Forester
The all-wheel-drive Subaru Forester’s tall, squared-off shape maximizes cargo space and offers enough room to carry some bike models inside with their wheels attached. The Forester’s 51.2-inch tailgate opening is wide for its class, and the 60-40 split rear seatbacks fold to create a flat, 69.9-inch-long load floor. In the Forester Wilderness, protective material covers the seatbacks. All Foresters can roof-carry bikes with the proper Subaru or aftermarket attachments. Foot pads on the rear door sills make it easy to stand to access the roof. MSRP without destination charges starts at about $26,000.
Chrysler
2023 Chrysler Pacifica
Minivans can haul more than just kids. The Chrysler Pacifica is a solid choice for shielding adult road or mountain bikes from the elements and prying eyes. With Pacifica’s unique-in-class Stow ’n Go seating, folding the second- and third-row seats drops them into a recessed floor space, creating a flat load area. Depending on how many seats are stowed, the van can then carry two to four bikes with wheels and seats attached. A big rear tailgate and dual sliding side doors — with hands-free opening available for all — help make loading a breeze. Pacifica also offers roof-mounted and trailer hitch bike-transport equipment. MSRP without destination charges starts at about $37,000.
Honda
2023 Honda Passport
Honda’s two-row Passport SUV shaves about 10 inches of length from the three-row Pilot. Folding the rear seats opens 100.8 cu-ft of cargo space. The Passport’s design emphasizes a tall and wide tailgate opening and a low load floor that can accommodate most bikes with ease. Type of bike, wheel diameter, and frame size will dictate whether you’ll need to remove the wheels. Available protection panels shield the cargo area sides and entire floor from dirt and scuffs. Rooftop carrying options are also available. MSRP without destination charges starts at about $38,000.
Mercedes-Benz
2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Crew Van 2500
Need room for the family — or perhaps a small cycling race team and their bikes? Consider a version of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van you may see making Amazon and FedEx deliveries. The Sprinter Crew model offers seating for five while simultaneously providing a 103.5-inch-long, 70.4-inch-wide cargo area behind the second-row seats. That’s more than enough to carry five bikes plus the passengers’ gear inside the vehicle. Mercedes designed this nearly 20-foot-long van to maneuver easily. The standard 2.0-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder, gasoline engine provides just enough pep. All-wheel-drive options and diesel engines are also available. MSRP without destination charges starts at a little under $47,000.
