Which roof bars fit my car?
The five roof types
| Roof type | How to recognise it | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| No rails, no fixing points | Smooth roof, nothing to grip | Bars with feet that clamp in the door frames, plus a fit kit for your model |
| Fixing points | Small covers or flaps in the roof trim hiding threaded points | Bars with fixpoint feet and the kit for your model |
| Flush rails | Rails along the roof with no gap underneath (closed or solid rails) | Bars and feet made for flush rails |
| Raised rails | Rails with a gap underneath you can slide your hand through | Bars that clamp around raised rails (often semi-universal) |
| Modular rails (Dacia) | Rails that swivel to sit across the roof | Often nothing: turn the rails into crossbars |
Roof type by car and version
Current generation of each car. Click a car for the bars to look for on each version.
| Car | Version and roof type | Roof load |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 1 Series 1 Series (F70), 2024 on | 1 Series 5-door: Fixing points | Check handbook |
| Dacia Sandero Sandero III, 2021 on | Sandero (hatchback): No rails Sandero Stepway with modular roof bars: Modular rails Sandero Stepway without modular roof bars: Check | 80 kg |
| Ford Kuga Kuga Mk3, 2020 on | Kuga with flush rails: Flush rails | 75 kg |
| Ford Puma Puma, 2020 on | With factory roof rails: Flush rails Without roof rails: No rails | 50 kg |
| Honda CR-V CR-V, 2023 on | CR-V with flush rails: Flush rails | 75 kg |
| Honda Jazz Jazz (GR), 2020 on | Jazz hatchback: No rails Jazz Crosstar: Check | 50 kg |
| Kia Sportage Sportage (NQ5), 2022 on | Sportage 5-door: Flush rails | Check handbook |
| Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Evoque (L551), 2019 on | With roof rails: Flush rails Without roof rails: No rails | 75 kg |
| Mini Cooper Cooper (F66 / J01), 2024 on | Without roof rails: No rails With factory roof rails (option): Flush rails | Check handbook |
| Nissan Juke Juke (F16), 2019 on | Juke without rails: No rails | Check handbook |
| Peugeot 3008 3008, 2024 on | With longitudinal roof bars (rails): Flush rails Without longitudinal roof bars: Fixing points | 80 kg |
| Skoda Kodiaq Kodiaq II, 2024 on | Kodiaq with roof rails: Check | 75 kg |
| Suzuki Vitara Vitara, 2015 on | Vitara with roof rails: Flush rails | 75 kg |
| Toyota RAV4 RAV4 (XA50), 2019 on | RAV4 with factory rails: Flush rails | Check handbook |
| Toyota Yaris Yaris (XP210), 2020 on | Yaris 5-door: No rails | Check handbook |
| Toyota Yaris Cross Yaris Cross, 2021 on | Design (black roof rails): Flush rails GR Sport and Dynamic (aluminium roof rails): Flush rails Other trims: Check | Check handbook |
| Vauxhall Corsa Corsa F, 2019 on | Corsa 5-door: No rails | Check handbook |
| Volkswagen Polo Polo Mk6, 2017 on | Polo 5-door (no roof rails): Check | 70 kg |
| Volvo XC40 XC40, 2018 on | XC40 with integrated rails: Flush rails | 100 kg |
Roof loads come from carmaker accessory listings or handbooks; where we only found aftermarket bar ratings we say "check handbook". Each car page lists its sources.
Roof load: the rules that catch people out
- The limit includes the bars, the box or carrier and the load.
- A panoramic roof can lower it: Ford allows 60 kg instead of 75 kg on a Kuga with one.
- Use the lower of the car's limit and the bars' rating.
- Off-road limits are lower: the Evoque handbook gives 75 kg on road and 50 kg off road.
More on crossbar types and dynamic ratings in our roof rack basics, and how to size bars for boxes and bikes in measuring crossbar width.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my car has flush or raised rails?
Slide your fingers under the rail. If there is a gap between the rail and the roof, they are raised (open) rails. If the rail sits flat on the roof with no gap, they are flush (closed or solid) rails, and you need bars and feet made for flush rails.
Can I fit roof bars to a car without rails?
Usually yes. Some cars have hidden fixing points under covers in the roof trim; others need feet that clamp in the door frames. Either way you need a fit kit made for your exact model and body style.
Does the weight of the roof bars count towards the roof load?
Yes. The roof load in the handbook includes the bars, any box or carrier and what you put in it. Ford, for example, rates its Kuga bars at 75 kg including the bars, and 60 kg on cars with a panoramic roof.
Is the bar's load rating the same as my car's roof load?
No. Many aftermarket bars are rated 75 kg, but the car's own limit can be lower: Ford rates its Puma carriers at 50 kg. Always use the lower of the two figures.