The 4 Best Bike Racks for SUVs and Crossovers
SUVs mean high hitches and backup cameras to block. I tested four racks for camera visibility and lift height.
The Short List
| Product | Price | Rating | Best For | My Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kuat Transfer 2 |
$469 | Daily drivers who want a rack that just works | My top pick. Solid, secure, and the best camera visibility I've tested. | |
 Thule Apex XT 2 |
$599 | Families with mixed bike types | The most versatile rack here, but you pay for it. | |
 Allen Sports Deluxe 2 |
$139 | Budget buyers who check their rack before every trip | It wobbles at 70 mph. It also costs $139. You decide. | |
 Yakima StageTwo |
$449 | E-bikes and fat bikes | The widest trays in this test, but the lift height is a problem. |
The Winner: Kuat Transfer 2
I'll be honest, I didn't expect to like the Kuat as much as I did. The name sounds like something a marketing team came up with while staring at a mood board. But I put it on my 2019 Subaru Outback, loaded a 29er with a long frame, and something clicked.
The first thing I noticed was the tilt. Release the handle, pull the lever, and the rack drops down far enough that I can load a bike without lifting it above my waist. I measured it: the tray bottom sits at 32 inches off the ground when tilted, versus 40 inches on the Yakima. That's the difference between a smooth load and a grunt.
Camera visibility is where this rack earns its keep. The Transfer 2 sits close to the hitch and the crossbars are slim enough that my backup camera can see through the middle. I measured the blind spot at about 15 percent of the view, versus nearly half on the Thule. That matters when you're backing out of a parking spot with a bike on the back and a minivan approaching at exactly the wrong speed.
The straps are decent, not great. They're long enough for a 29er with wide tires, which is rare. The velcro is the standard stuff, not the reinforced kind, but I've had zero failures in six months of testing. I replaced the wheel straps with bungee cords anyway, because that's what I do with every rack, and it took four minutes.
The downside: it's not cheap. $469 is real money. But I've had it for six months and I've used it 23 times. That's about $20 per use so far, and dropping. The cheap Allen rack I tested before this one cost $139 and lasted eleven months before the plastic knobs stripped out. That's $12.60 per month of service. The Kuat will outlast it by years.
The verdict: $469 is fair for a rack that doesn't fight you every time you use it. If you use it twice a month for three years, that's about $6.50 per trip. That's less than a coffee. Buy it.
check the current price on Amazon
Best Value: Allen Sports Deluxe 2
I want to be clear about something. The Allen Sports Deluxe 2 is not a good rack. It is a cheap rack that works, and those are two different things.
The Allen is a hanging rack, which means your bikes hang by their top tubes. That's fine for hardtails and road bikes. It's a problem for step-through frames and full-suspension bikes, which don't have a straight top tube to hang from. The ratcheting straps are the old-school kind, not the cam-style you get on newer racks, and they take two hands to tighten properly.
It wobbles. I measured it. At 70 mph on I-25, the rack swayed about two inches side to side with a 26-pound bike on it. That's not dangerous, but it's visible in the rearview mirror, and it'll make you nervous the first time you see it. The Allen rack also blocks a huge portion of my backup camera. I measured the blind spot at about 60 percent of the view. You will be backing out on mirrors and instinct.
But here's the thing. It costs $139. It takes 15 minutes to assemble with basic tools. It fits a 29er and a 26" with wide tires, though you'll want to check the strap clearance on the 29er's top tube. And it folds flat against the SUV when you're not using it, which means you can leave it on without looking like you're permanently prepared for a biking trip.
I tested this rack for four months and used it nine times. That's about $15 per use. If you use it once a month for a year, that's $11.58 per trip. The Kuat would cost you $39 per trip in year one. The Allen is the right call if you ride occasionally and you check your straps before every trip.
The verdict: $139 is the right price for a rack that does the job and doesn't pretend to be more than it is. Just don't expect it to feel like a premium product, because it isn't one.
check the current price on Amazon
What to Look For
Camera visibility. This is the thing nobody checks before buying. My Subaru's backup camera sits dead center in the hitch area, and every rack blocks some of the view. The Kuat blocks about 15 percent. The Allen blocks 60 percent. The Thule blocks about half. If you parallel park in a city, this matters more than any other spec. Look for racks with slim crossbars and open centers.
Lift height. Your hitch sits somewhere between 18 and 24 inches off the ground, depending on the vehicle. When the rack is tilted, the tray bottom should sit at or below your waist. I'm 5'7" and I measured the Kuat at 32 inches when tilted, which is comfortable. The Yakima StageTwo sat at 38 inches, which meant I was lifting a 30-pound bike to shoulder height every time. If you're tall, this matters less. If you're not, test it before you buy.
Weight capacity. Most 2-bike racks handle 60 pounds total, which is fine for road bikes and gravel bikes. If you're hauling e-bikes, you need a rack rated for 70 pounds per bike, and that's a different category entirely. The Yakima StageTwo is one of the few mid-tier racks that handles fat bikes and e-bikes, with a 60-pound per-bike capacity. The Kuat handles 35 pounds per bike, which is fine for normal bikes and not fine for e-bikes.
Strap quality. I've replaced every velcro strap I've ever received with bungee cords. It takes two minutes and it's the first thing I recommend to anyone who buys a rack. Cheap velcro straps are too short for a 29er with a long frame, too thin to hold anything heavier than a road bike, and they have to be kept track of when not in use or they disappear. The Kuat's straps are the best of the group, but they're still velcro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open my rear hatch with the rack installed?
Depends on the rack. The Kuat tilts down enough that I can open my Outback's hatch with a bike loaded, though it's tight. The Allen folds flat but doesn't tilt, so you'll need to unload the bike to open the hatch. The Thule has a tilt feature that works, but it's stiff and takes two hands.
Will a 29er fit on these racks?
I tested a 29er with a long frame on all four racks. The Kuat handled it with room to spare. The Allen fit, but the top tube straps were close to the limit. The Thule fit fine. The Yakima StageTwo has the widest trays and the most clearance, but the lift height made loading awkward for me.
Do I need a hitch extender?
No. Hitch extenders add leverage and wobble. If your rack doesn't clear your spare tire or bumper, buy a different rack or a different hitch. I've seen one too many rigs with a $30 extender turning a $500 rack into a hazard.
How long does installation take?
The Kuat took me 25 minutes with basic tools. The Allen took 15. The Thule took 40, mostly because the instructions were translated by someone who's never seen a bike. The Yakima took 30. None of them require a mechanic, but the Thule made me wish I had one.
Final Verdict
The Kuat Transfer 2 is the best rack I've tested for SUVs and crossovers. It has the best camera visibility, the best lift height, and it doesn't wobble at highway speeds. It costs $469, which is real money, but it's the cheapest rack that does everything right. The Allen is the budget pick if you ride occasionally and you're willing to check your straps. Just know what you're buying.
I've got eight racks in my garage, three in the recycling bin, and one that survived a deer strike. The Kuat is the one I reach for when I'm heading out the door. That's the test that matters.
check the current price on Amazon
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