Best Mazda CX5 Bike Rack 2023 Reviews & Buying Guide
As a car owner, you might have felt anxious whenever you had to travel somewhere with your bike. Well, not actually ride them but carry them. If you have a car with ample trunk space, it is easy for you to travel with your bicycle. You keep it in the trunk and forget about it. But if your vehicle doesn’t have much space, it can be a problem.
Mazda CX5 is such a car. It does have enough space in the trunk, but if you keep your bike there, you would have to relocate your luggage. And we all know which is more important. This is where bike racks come in. there are quite a few options for Mazda CX5 bike racks. That is why it might get confusing as to which one to get. For that reason, take a look at this article so that you can find the best Mazda CX 5 bike rack in the market.
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Contents
What Style Bike Rack Will Fit a Mazda CX5?
So, you own one of the magnificent Mazda CX5s. Now you are planning on going on a trip and are thinking about taking your bike. The problem is that your vehicle’s trunk does not have enough space to store your bike. That is why you need a bike rack. More precisely, a bike rack for Mazda CX5.
Now you have mainly three options when choosing the type of bike rack that you can get.
If you are in a hurry, here is my selection of the best bike racks for your Mazda CX5 SUV:
- Hitch bike rack – Kuat Sherpa 2.0
- Roof bike rack – Thule UpRide
- Trunk bike rack – Saris Bones EX
Trunk Bike Racks
This is one of the most common forms of bike racks. The rack is mounted or attached to the trunk. It can be attached to the trunk using straps or utilizing straps and hooks. Some of them also have the feature of being linked with screws. They are designed in such a way that they can be used with any vehicle body form.
Roof Bike Racks
Roof bike racks are to be attached to the roof of your vehicle. They are optimal for cars that have a low form factor. They are also compatible with the crossbars that some vehicle roofs have. One of the best features is that these bike racks have is that they can be used to carry other equipment when the bike is not on the scene.
Hitch Bike Racks
If you don’t like modifying the body of the vehicle, this is the hitch bike rack that will suit your taste. These racks are attached to the towing hitch rear side of your car. They are perfect if you are thinking of carrying more than four bikes. They can also pull cargo if the weight is within their limit.
So you now know about the three different types of bike racks you can get. This brings the question – are they all available for Mazda CX5? The answer is yes, obviously. Moreover, if you are panicking if there is any specific model, then don’t. That is because all the models of Mazda CX5 are compatible with any type of bike rack you chose. The car is versatile in that sector.
Best Bike Racks for Mazda CX5 Reviewed
Now that you know the types of bike racks and their installment process for your Mazda CX5, you must be eager to find the best bike rack for your car.
Well, here are the three best bike racks for Mazda CX5 in my opinion.
Kuat Racks Sherpa 2.0 (2 Bike Platform Hitch Mounted Rack)
If you are lucky enough to have a hitch attached to your CX5, then this is a viable option. The Kuat Racks Sherpa 2.0 is one of the greatest Mazda CX5 bike rack among the hitch-mounted ones. The rack has a full aluminum built. This makes sure that they will last a long time. They are super user-friendly.
You just attach them with your vehicle’s hitch and drive away. The rack has a folding tire cradle. Due to this, enough clearance is created when the bike is mounted on them. The rack is also lighter than all its other competitors. So, if you have a hitch, get this bike rack. You can store it in the trunk of your car when not in use. And when in use, just hook it in and start driving. There is no pain of strapping in the bicycles
Features
- Full aluminum built
- The finishing is of industrial-grade
- Rack weighs only 32 lbs
- Easy to install
- Can be stored anywhere
- Can carry two bikes
- Has about 14 inches of spacing between the bikes
Pros
- Lightweight rack
- Foldable tire
- Plug and go installment
- Heavy-duty performance
Cons
- Can carry only two bikes
- The bikes are not locked in properly
Thule UpRide (Roof Bike Rack)
The best thing about roof bike racks is that you can determine the number of bikes you can carry. This is the same for Thule UpRide Roof Bike Rack. Each rack is capable of holding only one cycle. But the number of racks that you can attach to your roof is limited by you. The racks are directly locked in with the crossbars of your car.
So, you can connect four to five racks and secure a bike with each of them. The design is innovative and fits perfectly. The interface of the rack is easy, and it locks the bike perfectly. You can even use external locks to make sure your bike is secure. The rack uses plastic frames with an aluminum body. This makes sure that the bike doesn’t make any contact with the car’s body. So if your CX5 has crossbars, then this is a great Mazda CX 5 roof bike rack worth considering.
Features
- The design is super versatile
- Easy to install and use
- There is no contact with the frame
- The rack weighs 17 lbs
- Can carry bikes weighing 44 lbs
- The bike remains upright when strapped in
- Has locking feature
- Fits perfectly with the crossbars
Pros
- Number of bikes is determined by you
- Straps in securely
- No contact with the frame
- Compatible with most roof rails and crossbars
Cons
- One bike per rack
- Can not carry bikes with thin tires
Saris Bones EX Model 803 (3 Bike Trunk Mounted Bike Rack)
So, your car does not have any hitch or roof rails. Then Saris Bones EX Trunk Bike Rack is a great option for you. It is a trunk-mounted bike rack. So you can easily strap the rack to your Mazda CX5’s trunk. The rack is light but sturdy. The strap used by the rack is a spring buckle one.
So, the installment is easy. Just wrap it around the trunk and use a ratchet to tighten it in place. The rack has a clean and sleek look due to being built by injection molding. This makes the arms sturdy, and almost no metal is used. So the probability of your car getting damaged is virtually zero.
Features
- Fits like a glove due to the spring buckle attachment
- Can carry up to three bikes at a time
- The load capacity is 105 lbs
- Rack weighs about 11 lbs
- Injection-molded arms for no rust development
- Sleek and clean look
Pros
- Vehicle specific design
- Rack weight is meager
- Premium Bike hold
- 100% recyclable material
Cons
- The bike capacity is only three
- If the straps are damaged, there is no way to repair them
Related reading: How To Carry Bike In Car?
What is Mazda CX5?
If you are someone who likes SUVs, then you might have heard of Mazda CX5. It is mainly a compact crossover SUV. That means the car is a variant of an SUV. Due to its compact and crossover feature, it is a bit different from conventional SUVs. The compact feature makes the vehicle have a smaller form factor. This gives them a good look that suits the taste of many soccer mom-type families.
On the other hand, due to the crossover tag, the car’s body is that of a Sport Utility Vehicle or SUV. It is making the car an option to act as a heavy-duty passenger car. The body of the Mazda CX5 is not a Cabrio or a Hatchback. But despite that, the vehicle has a similar trunk space as a hatchback. Moreover, the car consists of five doors, four-passenger, and one trunk. This makes it a great car to be used for traveling.
Mazda CX5 has been in production since 2012. They are still in production due to their popularity. The car features a front engine. There are two drive options you can choose from. One is the front-wheel drive, and the other is the four-wheel drive. Since the start of production till now there have been two models that have been marketed. They are,
- First Generation – KE, 2012 to 2017
- Second Generation – KF, 2017 to present
The First Generation – KE has two variants. One is the Pre-facelift style, and the other is the Post-facelift style. When it comes to performance, both generations have the same benchmark. The only significant difference is their exterior and interior design details.
The car does not have any alternative name for being marketed in different regions. They are sold globally under one name, Mazda CX5.
What Should You Be Aware of When Choosing a Mazda CX5 Bike Rack?
If you are looking for the best Mazda CX5 bike rack, you need to look out for a few things. These things will affect your choice as they will make sure the bike rack you chose is the correct one.
For example, if the Mazda CX5 that you own has roof rails, it is better to get roof bike racks. That is because this rack can utilize the roof rail correctly and at the same time secure its hold. On the other hand, if your vehicle’s design is one void of roof rails, then choose the trunk bike racks. They are easy to mount, and they also can be strapped. Then again, if you are thinking of hitching light cargo, then try out the hitch bike racks. They will help you tow both bicycles and load when you need to. But do take note of the weight the tow can carry. If you overload them, you are likely to damage the hitch.
Installing Mazda CX5 Hitch
If you got the hitch system bike rack for Mazda CX5, you might be asking how to install it. Well, rest easy. The installation process for any Mazda CX5 is pretty straightforward.
Take a look at the CURT 13315 Class 3 Trailer Hitch. It is cheap and easy to attach to your car. The system of an installment is similar to plug-and-play. There is no need to cut anything. You just need to remove the plastic piece under the bunker. After that, the hitch can be bolted with the bumper due to the four predrilled holes. The only hindrance is getting that plastic off.
For easy removal, you can use some lube like soapy water. With the help of some lube, the whole installation process can be completed in a matter of minutes. There are cases where the entire process has been completed in less than two minutes. If you still feel like the process is challenging, then take a look online.
There is sure to be an installation guide along with the product, and you can even lookup online for the installation process. If you search on YouTube, you are sure to find videos showing the steps elaboratively.
So, if you are thinking of getting a hitch bike rack for Mazda CX 5 for a reasonable amount of money, then go for CURT 13315 Class 3 Trailer Hitch. It is cheap and easy to install. You can do the installation yourself.
This helps you save you $300 labor costs that you would have had to spend if you wanted it done by the dealership. Don’t worry about the quality. Though the product is cheaper than the alternatives, it is of excellent quality and will last a long time. Most of the hitch rack installment is as easy as this.
Installing Mazda CX5 Roof Bars
Another type of Mazda CX5 bike rack is the one for the roof. These racks are attached to roof rails or roof bars. The Mazda CX5 has mounting points on the roof. These points are perfect for roof bars and roof rails. One such product which utilizes this feature is the Mazda OEM roof rails. These rails are an ideal fit for Mazda CX5.
The installation process for the rails is pretty straightforward. Some roof rails require more tools like measuring tapes, masking tapes, markers, saw, etcetera. But that is not the case with Mazda OEM roof rails. You mainly need three tools while installing them. They are a flathead screwdriver, a ratchet, and a T30 socket. With these tools at hand, you can install them yourself and save the money you might have needed if the dealership was involved.
To install the rails, the first thing you need to do is remove the roof molding. It is the plastic lining on both sides of your car’s roof. Just use the flat head screwdriver and pop it open. After that, take the racks and line them up with the screw holes. Then using the rachet and T30 socket, screw it in.
The rack might seem to be a bit elevated, but that is supposed to be like it. Just make sure the screws are tightened properly. After that, you are good to move on to the final part. Line up the crossbars with the holes on the racks and bolt them in place. And voila, you are done. The installment is done, and you are good to go. Don’t worry if the roof bar that you want to be installed is not the same model. That is because the process is similar for almost all Mazda CX5 roof rails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you fit a bike in a Mazda CX5?
The trunk space of the Mazda CX5 is the same as Mazda 3 Hatchback. So the room in the trunk is pretty big. But sadly, it is not spacious enough for you to store your bike in it. If it is a kid’s bike, then it is possible when there is no other luggage. But in the case of an adult bike, that is impossible. That is why bike rack for Mazda CX5 is preferable.
Conclusion
You just got a Mazda CX5 and thinking of going somewhere for a bike ride. Then you must be thinking of getting a bike rack for Mazda CX5.
I have discussed all the points that you need to know before you buy the bike rack for your Mazda CX5. I have also explained which I believe are the best Mazda CX5 bike racks of different types. Hopefully, this article helps you find the CX5 bike rack that’s best for your needs.
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