Do you want to find compatible roof racks or crossbars for Subaru Crosstrek or Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid? If you are seeking solutions, you are on the right boat. We will help you find suitable roof racks or crossbars to create a rooftop cargo management system on your Crosstrek or Crosstrek Hybrid.
If you are new to rooftop cargo carriers or roof racks, you should read some articles to build a knowledge base for choosing the most appropriate items for your Subaru SUV.
Recommended Reading:
Most people have no idea if they should have roof racks on their cars – an article talks about the topic and shows some common reasons for having roof racks on a car.
Do and Don’t When Having Roof Racks – We have some tips and advice for what you can and cannot do with roof racks.
Cargo and Interior Space
We use the 2023 models as examples. Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid offers 15.9 cubic feet of trunk space, but you can get 43.1 cubic feet of space if you fold the back seats down. On the other hand, the Subaru Crosstrek provides larger cargo space than the Hybrid, which is 20.8 cubic feet of trunk space or 55.3 cubic feet with folding seats.
Although you can use the legroom to load luggage, where do friends sit? Most outdoor lovers would like to travel with friends or families, so you better not occupy the seat room with belongings. You can utilize roof-mounted or hitch-mounted cargo carriers to create extra cargo space on the car roof or at the rear of your Subaru Crosstrek or Hybrid.
Before adding roof-mounted cargo carriers to your Subaru SUV, you must first create a roof rack system for holding all kinds of rooftop cargo carriers: cargo boxes, baskets, bags, kayak carriers, ski carriers, bike racks, roof tents, and more. As a result, you can follow this content to find compatible roof racks or crossbars for your Subaru Crosstrek or Hybrid to get ready for using rooftop cargo carriers to transport different equipment or gear on the roads.
Quick-Pick List Of Roof Racks or Crossbars For Subaru Crosstrek and Hybrid
Subaru Crosstrek with Factory-Installed Raised Roof Rails – Option One
| Image | Info | Links |
|---|---|---|
 | A pair of 50-inch Thule WingBar Evo Crossbars | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Thule EVO Raised Roof Rail Foot Pack – compatible with the Thule One Key System | Check Price on Amazon |
Subaru Crosstrek with Factory-Installed Raised Roof Rails – Option Two
| Image | Info | Links |
|---|---|---|
 | Rhino Rack Pioneer Roof Rack Platform 60 x 49 inches for Subaru Crosstrek | Check Price On Amazon |
 | Rhino Rack SX100 Foot Pack – Compatible with Pioneer Platform and Crosstrek with OEM Raised Roof Rails | Check Price On Amazon |
Subaru Crosstrek with Factory-Installed Raised Roof Rails – Option Three
| Image | Info | Links |
|---|---|---|
 | Malone AirFlow2 Aluminum Crossbars 58-inch model – without assembly process | Check Price On Amazon |
 | CURT Roof Racks 53-3/8 inch model – without assembly process | Check Price On Amazon |
Subaru Crosstrek with Factory-Installed Raised Roof Rails – Option Four
| Image | Info | Links |
|---|---|---|
 | Rhino Rack 46-inch Vortex Crossbars for Subaru Crosstrek | Check Price On Amazon |
| Rhino Rack SX100 Foot Pack – Compatible with Vortex bars and Crosstrek with OEM Raised Roof Rails | Check Price On Amazon |
Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid with Factory-Installed Flush Roof Rails – Only For Crosstrek Hybrid
| Image | Info | Links |
|---|---|---|
 | Thule WingBar Evo 47-inch Model | Check Price On Amazon |
 | Thule 460R Rapid Podium Foot Pack | Check Price On Amazon |
 | Thule Roof Rack System Fit Kits 4101 | Check Price On Amazon |
Detail of Roof Racks or Crossbars For Subaru Crosstrek or Hybrid
Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform Roof Rack System (For Subaru Crosstrek with the factory installed raised roof rails)(not for Hybrid)
It is the first option for people who want to add roof rack systems to their Subaru Crosstrek. The Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform roof rack platform is a unique and versatile solution to make your Subaru Crosstrek able to transport things on the car roof. It is compatible with most roof-mounted cargo carriers: roof cargo boxes, baskets, bags, bike racks, kayak or canoe carriers, ski or snowboard carriers, and more.
The Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform is a revolutionary roof-mounted rack system with mounting channels across the surface almost everywhere. Consequently, you can adjust the position of different roof-mounted cargo carriers and effectively maximize the loading capacity above the car roof to hold almost everything you need for outdoor holidays; however, you should know the Subaru Crosstrek or Hybrid’s roof loading limit before adding extra weight on the car roof. We recommend you read through an article about how much weight you can load on your car roof and find the differences between static roof loading rate and dynamic roof loading limit.
The Rhino-Rack Pioneer is an aluminum-made roof rack system, so it is sturdy, durable, ultra-light, and waterproof, with strengthened nylon finishes at the corners for better durability. It is the most expensive roof rack on the market. However, it works like a rooftop cargo basket, so you pay once and get two things: crossbars + a roof-mounted cargo basket.
The Pioneer cargo platform offers integrated strips and torque components for tightening things everywhere. If you require more straps, you can prepare some for emergency times.
If you decide to use the Rhino-Rack Pioneer cargo platform as the roof racks on your Subaru Crosstrek, you must get four SX mounting legs or feet for the Pioneer; thus, in total, you will spend almost a thousand to get the whole cargo system ready on the car roof.
The Pioneer cargo platform dimensions are 60 x 49 x 2 inches or 152.4 x 124.46 x 5.08 cm, and you can use these numbers to estimate how large the platform is above the car roof. When you receive the Pioneer cargo system from sellers, you get a package box with all you need to assemble and get a whole cargo platform. The assembly process is a little complicated compared with other rooftop cargo carriers, so you must read the installation manual several times to fully understand how accurately connect every component to build the platform without potential risks.
PDF that helps:
Official Installation Manual From Rhino-Rack: Installation Instruction
What do you need to build a Rhino-Rack Pioneer Cargo Platform on your Subaru Crosstrek?
Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform Rack 60 x 49 inches
SX100 Rhino-Rack SX Legs – Four
Thule WingBar EVO 50-inch Model Roof Racks or Crossbars (For Subaru Crosstrek with factory-installed raised roof rails)(not for Hybrid)
If you are not interested in getting the Rhino-Rack Pioneer cargo platform, you can consider getting the Thule WingBar EVO rooftop crossbars to make the installation easier.
If you are an outdoor enthusiast, you should know the Thule brand and its products, especially the popular Thule Motion XT rooftop cargo box. Thule became the Subaru rack supplier in 2016, and Subaru started to offer the Thule roof racks or other rooftop cargo carriers to customers through the Subaru Genuine Program.
The Thule WingBar EVO roof rack crossbars are aluminum-made aerodynamic roof bars that run from right to left and create a mounting channel for rooftop cargo carriers. You must install the 50-inch model on the Subaru Crosstrek with OEM raised roof rails, and these bars must combine with four Thule EVO Raised Foot Pack mounting feet to build a working roof rack system on the car roof.
Thule says you can load up to 220 lbs of items on the WingBar roof racks, but you should always follow your Subaru Crosstrek’s roof loading limit and never exceed the loading limit. Don’t forget to clean and maintain the roof racks after heavily using them for a while to keep them in good condition for better safety.
What do you need to build a Thule WingBar EVO Roof Rack System for Subaru Crosstrek (with OEM raised roof rails)?
A pair of Thule WingBar Evo roof crossbars
Four Thule EVO Raised Foot Pack Mounting Legs
Rhino-Rack Vortex Aerodynamic Roof Racks or Crossbars With 4 SX100 Mounting Legs (for Subaru Crosstrek with factory-installed raised roof rails)(not for Hybrid)
It is the third option for your consideration. You can use the Rhino-Rack Vortex crossbars on your Subaru Crosstrek to hold cargo for most outdoor adventures. If you still wonder if you should put roof racks on your Subaru SUV, you can refer to an article to check why people use car rooftop racks on their vehicles.
When choosing the Rhino-Rack Vortex Aerodynamic crossbars, you must pick the 46-inch model and four SX100 mounting feet to make your purchase compatible with the Subaru Crosstrek with OEM raised roof rails. Otherwise, you can encounter compatibility issues.
The lightweight Rhino-Rack Aero roof racks are low-profile elliptical bars that minimize the wind effects and decrease waste on gas consumption. These bars are aluminum-made with glass-filled nylon surfaces, so they are ultra-light, durable, sturdy, and waterproof. You can use them for off-road activities, but when off-roading, you must decrease the cargo weight to half for safety concerns.
When combining the SX100 mounting legs and the Rhino-Rack Vortex crossbars, you should follow the instruction and carefully assemble all the components.
PDF that helps:
SX100 Rhino-Rack Mounting Leg Instruction
Malone Airflow2 Universal Crossbars For Subaru Crosstrek with Factory-Installed Raised Roof Rails (not for Hybrid)
It is the fourth option that we pick for your Subaru Crosstrek with OEM raised roof rails. The Malone Airflow2 Universal bars don’t require assembly, so you don’t need to pay more attention to installation. You can pack up to 165 pounds of cargo on these bars, and the integrated T-slots and mounting towers can tightly lock these bars on the roof rails. When choosing it for your Subaru Crosstrek, you must select the 50-inch model; otherwise, you can encounter compatibility issues.
CURT Universal Aluminum Roof Racks For Subaru Crosstrek with Factory-Installed Raised Roof Rails (not for Hybrid)
It is another set of crossbars that don’t require an assembly process. The Curt aluminum-made roof racks can carry up to 150 pounds of belongings and are compatible with most rooftop cargo carriers like roof cargo boxes, cargo baskets, canoe or kayak carriers, bike racks, ladder racks, roof tents, and ski or snowboards carriers.
When mounting the Curt Universal 58-3/8-inch crossbars on the roof rails, you don’t require to use any tools. After installation, you can lock the bars on the roof rails to prevent theft.
Roof Racks or Crossbars For Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid with Flush Rails
It is slightly different when choosing roof racks for Subaru Crosstrek or Hybrid because they have different styles of roof rails. For example, the Subaru Crosstrek SUVs have factory-made raised roof rails, but the Crosstrek Hybrid SUVs have flush rails; consequently, we choose the below options for Crosstrek Hybrid SUVs.
Thule WingBar EVO Crossbars 47-inch Model
You can use the Thule WingBar EVO crossbars on Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid with the accessories below:
Thule 460R Rapid Podium Foot Pack
Thule Roof Rack Fit Kits – 4101
You can follow the installation manual below to combine the Thule WingBar EVO crossbars with the 460R Foot Pack and add Fit Kits on the Foot Pack to make the entire Thule roof rack system compatible with your Crosstrek Hybrid. The installation process costs several minutes without tools, but you better ask someone else to join the procedure for better results.
PDF that helps: Thule Official Installation Manual
You require to get a pair of the Thule WingBar EVO crossbars and two accessories to build a roof rack system on your Crosstrek Hybrid, and these items must work together to fit your vehicle; otherwise, they won’t be suitable for your Subaru SUV.
If your Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid has a sunroof or panoramic roof, you don’t open the roof window when roof racks are in use. You should remove the roof racks and store them in the garage when you don’t require transporting things between locations.
Roof-mounted Cargo Carriers and your Subaru Crosstrek
After adding roof racks or a pair of crossbars on your Subaru Crosstrek or Hybrid, your Subaru car has extra roof loading capacity for transporting different gear or luggage for outdoor needs.
However, there are three kinds of roof-mounted cargo carriers for people who want to load things on the car roof; thus, you should know the differences between these rooftop luggage carriers and choose the most suitable solutions to your cargo needs. In general, hardshell roof cargo boxes are the most secure options, and rooftop cargo baskets are the least; moreover, there are also special-made carriers for transporting specific gear like skis, snowboards, kayaks, and canoes.
If you don’t use rooftop cargo carriers at a high frequency, you can try the soft cargo bags and use one without having roof racks; however, you better prepare a soft mat underneath the bag to protect your Subaru from stretching. For Subaru Crosstrek or Hybrid with an expensive panoramic sunroof, you should never load things on the car roof without having roof racks.
After having roof racks on your Subaru Crosstrek or Hybrid, you better clean and maintain the roof racks for better enjoyment during your future outdoor life. We have a list of accessories that you can apply to most rooftop cargo carriers to better use them to maximize the results and convenience.
Most people are confused about roof racks, roof rails, and crossbars because they are similar to each other, but they are different things on the car roof. You better get a clear understanding before choosing roof racks and rooftop luggage carriers for your Subaru Crosstrek or Hybrid.
In Conclusion
If you are driving a Subaru Crosstrek or Hybrid, you can use this article to find four sets of compatible roof rack accessories or crossbars to get your Subaru SUV ready for carrying things on the car roof. After selecting suitable roof racks, you can follow the last paragraph to find a suitable rooftop cargo carrier to carry your belongings on different outdoor adventures: fishing, golfing, hunting, kayaking, traveling, camping, road trips, hiking, outdoor training, cycling, and more.
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