So you just got yourself a Volvo XC40, and you want to increase your carrying capacity?
The Volvo XC40 is a fabulous compact SUV, but the trunk capacity of 20.7 cubic feet can be a little limiting when it comes to preparing for a family road trip.
The great news, though, the Volvo XC40 fitted with flush roof rails is the ideal vehicle for installing roof racks, helping you increase your cargo-carrying capacity.
If you’re in a hurry, our top recommendation for a roof rack to install on your Volvo XC40 is the Thule Wingbar Evo Crossbars.
They look great on your car, incredibly strong and durable, yet still lightweight and easy to install.
Let’s take a step back, though, and examine some of the important features to look for in an after-market roof rack and then give you our top six picks for the best racks for Volvo XC40.
- You may also want to check out the best roof box for Volvo XC40.
What To Consider When Selecting A Volvo XC40 Roof Rack?
Before you buy a new roof rack for any vehicle, here are some important things you should consider.
Aerodynamic Vs. Squarebar
When choosing a crossbar, you can choose aerodynamic and square bar designs. Aerodynamic bars are designed to reduce wind noise and drag, making them more efficient in noise and wind drag reduction.
Squarebar designs are more traditional and provide more stability but create more wind noise and drag.
Weight Capacity
Different roof racks have different weights, so choosing one that can handle the weight of whatever you carry is important.
For example, if you are carrying a kayak, you will need a roof rack with a higher weight limit than if you are only carrying a few pieces of camping gear.
Easy Installation
Some roof racks can be installed without tools, while others may require drilling. Make sure you are comfortable with the installation process before purchasing a rack. But worry not; all the products in this review can be installed without any tools.
Note that the Volvo XC40 is fitted with flush roof rails, where the cross bars of a roof rack are installed on an inner and outer grove.
Price
Finally, the price of the roof rack is an important consideration. Choose one that fits your budget without compromising quality or features. A premium crossbar may be a bit more expensive, but it will be worth the investment.
How We Evaluated These Roof Racks
When evaluating roof racks for Volvo XC40, we consulted manufacturer websites for details about each rack’s type, load capacity, size, and materials. In addition, we also considered reviews from thousands of users on Amazon.
Hopefully, our picks here will help you choose the right one for your needs.
Best Roof Rack For Volvo XC40 Review
Every product has pros and cons. It’s up to you to decide what features or things that matter to you most.
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1. Thule Wingbar Evo Crossbars – Best Thule Roof Rack Volvo XC40
Specifications:
- Type: Crossbar
- Size: 53”
- Material: Aluminum
- Maximum Load: 220 lbs
- Weight: 3.07 kg (6.75 lbs)
- Dimension: 50 x 3.15 x 1.15 inches
Thule is probably the most well-known brand on this list. After reading all the real owners’ feedback, we’d recommend this product as the best crossbar for your Volvo XC40 for several reasons.
This Thule Wingbar Evo crossbar easily kills the competition because they are excellent noise reducers thanks to its proven Thule’s WindDiffuser and TrailEdge technologies.
Plus, it weighs only 6.75 pounds which is important because it can reduce the weight of a car and improve the overall gas mileage.
This Wingbar is one of the most durable and robust crossbars. Made of durable aluminum material and has been reinforced to be able to haul any load up to a maximum of 220 pounds.
However, we advise you not to maximize its load capacity because the limit weight of the Volvo XC40 roof rack can hold 165 pounds.
It is very easy to install and features the Upper T-track with QuickAccess interface, which lets you quickly install or remove other accessories.
Although we are annoyed by the high pricing, after looking at all the features and the quality it offers, we think this product justifies its price. Furthermore, these sleek and low-profile Thule Wingbar Evo Crossbars will last for years.
Pros
- Wind noise reduction technology
- Better features
- Premium built quality
- Can haul the load up to 220 pounds
Cons
- Pricey
- Confusing installation instruction
Click here to see more photos of this product on Amazon.
2. YAKIMA JetStream Bar Aerodynamic Crossbars – Best Alternative To Thule Crossbar
Specifications:
- Type: Crossbar
- Size: 50”
- Material: Aluminum
- Weight: 9 lbs
- Maximum Load: 165 lbs
- Dimension: 52.5 x 3.25 x 1 inches
If you are a big fan of Yakima products, this YAKIMA JetStream Bar Aerodynamic crossbars is the best option next to Thule Wingbar.
Although its weight is about 2.5 pounds more heavy than the Thule Wingbar Evo, it has all the features that the Wingbar has, plus it’s slightly cheaper.
This teardrop shape crossbar can effectively minimize the wind noise and drag, thus ensuring a quiet driving experience.
Installing this roof rack is pretty easy. It features T-Slot attachments that work seamlessly with Yakima mounting systems and other compatible accessories.
The YAKIMA Jetstream crossbar is expensive but slightly cheaper than the Thule Wingbar.
Overall, we like this sleek design crossbar and how it blends in with your Volvo XC40. Finally, it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Better look
- Very durable
- Work seamlessly with other accessories
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Pricey
- Slightly heavy
See more details about this roof rack on Amazon.
3. Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Cross Bar – Best Value Aero Crossbar
Specifications:
- Type: Crossbar
- Size: 59”
- Material: Aluminum
- Weight: 4.5 lbs
- Maximum Load: 165 lbs
- Dimension: 61 x 9 x 5 inches
If you are pricing out both Thule and Yakima and looking for a cheap alternative yet excellent product, this Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero crossbar is the right one for you. If you don’t know, this brand is the most popular in Australia.
This low-profile crossbar has an elliptical shape design that reduces wind noise, although it’s not the best on this list.
One thing you will appreciate is how lightweight it is. Weighing about 4.5 pounds will put less burden on your car rooftop. Although not significantly, it does improve the mpg.
This crossbar is also made of sturdy aluminum material and can haul your loads up to 165 pounds.
What we like about this product is although it is inexpensive, it equips with lockable cores security features to deter theft from stealing your roof racks.
This product comes with a 5-year warranty. So if you are looking for the cheapest and most durable aerodynamic crossbars for your Volvo XC40, this is the one you should consider.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Good quality product for the price
Cons
- Sometimes there’s a whistling noise
- Rubber channel strips are sold separately
Find out more about this product on Amazon.
4. Thule SquareBar Crossbars – Best SquareBar For Volvo XC40
Specifications:
- Type: Crossbar
- Size: 53”
- Weight: 8.2 lbs
- Material: Steel
- Maximum Load: 220 lbs
- Dimension: 53.15 x 1.97 x 0.2 inches
If you don’t fancy the Wingbar or aero bar, then this Thule Squarebar crossbars might be suited to your car. This classic crossbar from Thule is one of the popular options among Volvo XC40 owners.
The noise and wind drag reduction aren’t its plus points, being a square bar style. But it does what it does. This 8.2 pounds crossbar is made from a solid steel material with a plastic coating and has a maximum load capacity of 220.5 pounds.
However, one of the biggest cons of using steel material is that it can get rusty after exposure to the weather over time. The installation is relatively easy, but it doesn’t equip with T-Track for adaptability with other accessories.
In our opinion, the Thule Squarebar crossbars are a decent product but still practical for your XC40. It is nothing fancy but reliable roof rack that you can rely on for a road trip.
Pros
- High load capacity
- Solid and sturdy bar
- Good value for money
Cons
- Noticeable noise when on the road
- Many complaints about missing end caps
Click here to read what else the real owners have to say about this product.
5. Malone AirFlow2 Roof Rack – Best Kayak Roof Rack for Volvo XC40
Specifications:
- Type: Crossbar
- Size: 58”
- Material: Aluminum
- Weight: 10.9 lbs
- Maximum Load: 165 lbs
- Dimension: 60 x 6 x 4 inches
This 58-inch long crossbar is an ideal roof rack option for people who want to carry some large items like kayaks, canoes, and even bikes for road trips. As the width is slightly wider and protrudes over the roof rails, you have a more spacious area for those items.
But, the tradeoff is that there will be noticeable wind noise even though it has an aerodynamic design. This AirFlow2 roof rack from Malone is made of aluminum material, weighs about 10.9 pounds, and has a weight limit of 165 pounds.
The installation of this roof rack is easy and doesn’t need any tools. The T-slots design feature enhances its practicality for attaching accessories like cargo baskets or boxes. Also, AirFlow2 has a built-in Allen wrench to tighten the attachments to your XC40.
The overall quality of this roof rack is good, but it’s hard to beat the fancier Thule and Yakima. Surprisingly it comes with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty. So if you want more space and a sturdy and easy-to-use crossbar, this is the one you should have on your shopping list.
Pros
- Great for hauling large items
- Strong and sturdy
- Easy to install
- We love the adjustment tool is included
Cons
- Noticeable wind noise
- Still fairly expensive
Click here to check the latest pricing on Amazon.
6. CargoLoc Roof Top Crossbars – Best Budget Option
Specifications:
- Type: Crossbar
- Size: 52”
- Material: Aluminum
- Weight: 8.6 lbs
- Maximum Load: 150 lbs
- Dimension: 3 x 52.5 x 5.75 inches
If you don’t want to spend much money, we recommend purchasing CargoLoc Roof Top crossbars since they are inexpensive and cost-effective for transporting goods on your next trip.
This crossbar has a very simple design and makes it very easy to install. In addition, it is equipped with a keyed locking mechanism to ensure the crossbars stay on the side rails after tightening the clamps.
The overall built quality of this roof rack is not as good as others on this list, but it can handle 150 pounds load with no issue. But, you don’t recommend using it to carry heavy items like bikes.
At first, we were skeptical about whether this product could survive a long trip. However, after reading some reviews, we were surprised about the durability of this product.
One of the owners said that the crossbars survived more than 3000 miles of a road trip from Florida to Washington without any issue, except one of the plastic ends was broken.
If you’re occasionally making road trips with a family and don’t carry some very heavy loads, then this product is worth it. Also, it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Simple design
- Very easy to install
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Not as sturdy as the other crossbars
- It can’t handle a heavy item of more than 150 pounds.
Check the latest pricing on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Volvo XC40 Roof Racks
Here are some answers to questions related to Volvo XC40 roof racks.
The first thing most people think about when they buy a car is how it will get them out into nature. And since XC40 wants to provide this capability for its customers, the brand has equipped all its Volvo XC40 variants with raised roof rails. It will give an option to the customer (that’s you) to install a roof rack of their choice.
A Volvo XC40 roof rack can hold a maximum weight of 150 pounds. Check the weight capacity of your roof rack before loading it up with cargo.
The installation of this bar is simple. Simply open two screws at both ends and place the bar at the top with small parts at the bottom. Make sure the bar has a front side, and that part should be toward the front of the car.
Yes, Thule does make Volvo load bars. And almost all rooftop products are made to be maximally interchangeable.
If you’re looking for one, we recommend the Thule Motion XT (XL) Rooftop Cargo Carrier as the best one. The Thule Motion XT is easy to install and use, thanks to the PowerClick quick-mount system. With its sleek, aerodynamic design, it’s also one of the most stylish cargo boxes on the market.
Best Volvo XC40 Roof Rack
If you are looking for the best roof rack for your Volvo XC40, we recommend the Thule Wingbar Evo Crossbars. They are a little more expensive than other options but offer superior quality and performance.
If you are on a budget, the CargoLoc Roof Top Crossbars is a good option and will get the job done without breaking the bank.
Whichever option you choose, properly measure your car’s roof dimensions before purchase to ensure compatibility.
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