Tested: How Rooftop Boxes and Hitch Carriers Affect Fuel Economy
We ran back-to-back tests with our long-term Toyota Grand Highlander, first carrying a Yakima EXO SwingBase hitch carrier, then a Thule roofbox.
The hitch-mounted carrier was the clear winner, returning 25 mpg compared with 21 mpg for the rooftop carrier.
Welcome to Car and Driver's Testing Hub, where we zoom in on the test numbers. We've been pushing vehicles to their limits since 1956 to provide objective data to bolster our subjective impressions (you can see how we test here).
If you've ever looked at an electric car and wondered why so many of them have flush-mounted door handles, the reason is to reduce aerodynamic drag. It's the same reason you see cyclists wearing funny helmets and Olympic speed skaters wrapped in skin-tight spandex. It's also why hitch-mounted cargo carriers are generally viewed as a more fuel-efficient alternative to rooftop carriers. Since our Gear Team was already working on a test of the best hitch-mounted carriers, we decided to put the numbers to the test to see just how much more fuel a roof box burns.
See Long-Term Photos
Michael Simari
To keep things fair, we ran back-to-back highway fuel-economy tests on our long-term Toyota Grand Highlander. For the hitch-mounted test, we selected the Yakima EXO SwingBase carrier equipped with Yakima's GearLocker. The carrier and locker weigh 93 pounds combined and together measure 59.5 inches wide.
As for the roofbox, we pulled an older Thule model down from the storage rafters in our HQ garage and then mounted it to a set of Thule SquareBar Evo crossbars. The box itself weighed 42 pounds and measured 90.0 inches long.
The test results were clear: The Grand Highlander averaged 25 mpg with the hitch-mounted carrier but only 21 mpg with the rooftop box attached, a significant 4-mpg difference.
Michael Simari
Michael Simari
We ran a similar test on our long-term 2022 Kia Carnival back in 2023. After continuing to be disappointed by subpar fuel-economy figures, we decided to do some digging and test the Carnival with and without the factory crossbars. With the crossbars attached, our initial highway fuel-economy test returned 25 mpg. With the bars removed, that number jumped to 28 mpg.
Jack Fitzgerald
Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Read full bio
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
2026 Toyota RAV4 Vs. 2026 Honda CR-V: 5 Major Differences
2026 Toyota RAV4 Vs. 2026 Honda CR-V: 5 Major Differences originally appeared on Autoblog. The compact crossover war is about to heat up The immensely popular compact crossover segment has seen a lot of action in recent months. Toyota unveiled the all-new RAV4 and Mazda finally showed us the all-new CX-5. We've already compared these two, but the RAV4's biggest competitor on the sales charts doesn't come from Mazda—it comes from Honda with the CR-V. Ahead of the RAV4's arrival, let's take a look at the most significant differences between it and the CR-V.1. Honda Plays It Safe, Toyota Looks Sharper View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article The CR-V has never been an excitingly styled crossover, not that it needs to be. Many buyers appreciate neat, inoffensive styling, and the latest CR-V looks good without being polarizing in any way. Models like the Sport Hybrid and TrailSport Hybrid do appeal more with their larger wheels and sportier details, though. Toyota has taken a bolder approach with the RAV4. Its wraparound headlights and tall hood look aggressive, while options like a black roof and more visual distinction between the trims work well. The GR Sport, for instance, gets a functional Matrix grille and front/rear wing-type spoilers. At 184.8 inches in length, the CR-V is longer than the RAV4 (up to 181.8 inches), although the top RAV4 trims are marginally wider and most are taller than the Honda. Both these SUVs look good, but we'd give the edge to the newer RAV4. 2. RAV4 Goes Hybrid-Only, Honda Still Offers Gas-Only Power Perhaps the biggest difference between the two is that the CR-V still comes with a non-hybrid powertrain as standard. It's a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque, and it directs power to the front or all four wheels. Above this is a CR-V Hybrid with 204 hp combined and an EPA rating of up to 40 mpg combined. The RAV4 range now starts with a conventional hybrid using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It produces 226 hp with FWD or 236 hp with AWD, so it's comfortably more powerful than the base CR-V. The big news is the upgraded plug-in hybrid RAV4, which also uses a 2.5-liter four-pot but now makes 320 hp. Not only is the RAV4 PHEV quicker than any CR-V, but it can be driven for up to 50 miles on electric power alone. In terms of performance, it looks like an easy win for the 2026 RAV4. 3. Only The CR-V Has A Plug-In Hydrogen Model View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article The CR-V does have one trick up its sleeve and it comes in the form of the e:FCEV derivative, or what Honda calls America's first plug-in hydrogen fuel cell EV. This CR-V is equipped with an electric motor producing 174 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. It has a much smaller battery than a normal EV at 17.1 kWh, but that's because there are two hydrogen tanks, giving this CR-V a range of up to 270 miles. It also takes very little time to refill the hydrogen tanks, a distinct advantage over a normal EV. Unfortunately, the CR-V e:FCEV is only sold in California, and while it's a great showcase for hydrogen powertrains, it's not available widely enough to give the CR-V range a significant advantage over the RAV4, which has no equivalent powertrain. 4. The RAV4 Can Tow More If you need to do any serious towing, you'll need a pickup truck or a bigger SUV. However, there's a clear leader here in terms of towing. The CR-V can tow up to 1,000 lbs in hybrid guise or 1,500 lbs for the non-hybrid model. For all RAV4 FWD variants and the LE AWD, the towing capacity is 1,750 lbs. On several AWD models, that rises significantly to 3,500 lbs. Items like pop-up campers, single-horse trailers, and larger U-Haul trailers will all benefit from the superior towing capacity of the Toyota. 5. Bigger Displays In RAV4 View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article Few things demonstrate the gap in age between two similar vehicles as well as the infotainment interfaces. While the Honda is still competitive in this regard, the new RAV4 has already moved the game along. In the CR-V, all models get a nine-inch touchscreen. A seven-inch TFT meter display is equipped to lower trims, while pricier ones have a 10.2-inch fully digital instrument cluster. In the new RAV4, a 10.5-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster are standard, and you can upgrade to a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen, have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the base sound system in the Toyota has six speakers, as opposed to the Honda's four. A nine-speaker JBL sound system is available for the RAV4, while the top CR-V trim has a 12-speaker sound system. The 2026 RAV4 has Toyota's latest Arene software, which includes a more responsive voice assistant. Honda, meanwhile, offers Google built-in, but only for the top CR-V trim. Once we've driven the RAV4, we can make a final call on whether its fresh infotainment system is actually easier to use than the Honda's. Final Thoughts While we expect the CR-V to remain popular when the RAV4 arrives later this year, the Toyota appears to have a clear edge in the powertrain department. Whether you're after efficient electric-only driving, maximum performance, or decent towing, the RAV4 leads in all areas. Toyota has also given the RAV4 an attractive design update, inside and out, and it includes a rugged Woodland trim to match the CR-V TrailSport. Not reflected in this on-paper comparison are the CR-V's excellent road manners and spacious cabin, but we can only cast judgment on how they match up once the RAV4 arrives. Pricing will also play a crucial role, but we don't know how much the 2026 RAV4 will cost yet, and the Honda starts at $30,920. The Honda CR-V will undoubtedly have its hands full when the new RAV4 arrives. 2026 Toyota RAV4 Vs. 2026 Honda CR-V: 5 Major Differences first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 27, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'What A Moment' - Bubba Wallace Celebrating NASCAR Win Will Give You Chills
'What A Moment' - Bubba Wallace Celebrating NASCAR Win Will Give You Chills originally appeared on The Spun. Bubba Wallace is on top of the NASCAR world on Sunday evening. The 23XI Racing driver bested a loaded field at the Brickyard 400 on Sunday. Wallace, who had last won a NASCAR race in 2022, ended his 100-plus race losing streak in pretty epic fashion on Sunday night. The driver of the No. 23 Toyota bested Kyle Larson, who finished in second place. "Unbelievable!" Wallace said to his team following the victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday evening. But while Wallace celebrated with his team, his fellow drivers and others in the NASCAR community, it was a touching moment with his family that went viral on social media on Sunday evening. Bubba Wallace immediately celebrated with his wife, Amanda Wallace, and their young son, Becks, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. FOX: NASCAR shared the incredibly emotional video on social media on Sunday evening. "First win as a dad for Bubba Wallace. What a moment. NASCAR is family," the outlet shared. Bubba Wallace, who became a dad last year, made it clear that fatherhood has changed him - both as a person and a NASCAR driver. 'We were just talking, wife [Amanda], there you seen it talking about the baby and talking about something else, and it's crazy how you have to compartmentalize things, so it's cool,' Wallace explained earlier this year. His teammate, Tyler Reddick, admitted that he had noticed a change, too. 'Fatherhood will change you in ways you don't expect,' Reddick said. 'I think he's got a good approach right now and am excited to see how he continues to grow and change at being a dad and how that affects racing for him. He seems like he's in a good place right now.' Wallace has made it clear that he's been pushing forward - and forward - despite up and down results over the years. 'I mean, it's nice to be on a consistent roll, knowing that it could change and could be wiped out in a moment. You just have to keep it at bay and be ready for what's next,' Wallace had said. 'Ever since I've been a part of 23XI they've highlighted my weaknesses, and they put the ball in my court. So I appreciate all the tools and resources. But, I think we've gotten better. I will say tomorrow is a total different story.' Wallace and Co. are surely hoping that this will be the first of many wins celebrated between the NASCAR Cup Series driver and his family. With his win, Wallace has clinched a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. His family will very much look forward to watching him compete for a championship later this fall. 'What A Moment' - Bubba Wallace Celebrating NASCAR Win Will Give You Chills first appeared on The Spun on Jul 27, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dale Jr. Makes Big Statement On Connor Zilisch's NASCAR Future
Dale Jr. Makes Big Statement On Connor Zilisch's NASCAR Future originally appeared on The Spun. Few drivers in the sport of racing can say they've been on the kind of heater that 19-year-old Connor Zilisch has been enjoying over the past nine races in Xfinity. With four wins, three runner-ups and a pair of top-five finishes, Zilisch has been everything he was advertised to be when he first made his NASCAR debut; and Dale Earnhardt Jr. believes this is just the beginning for the Charlotte, NC native. "He has the potential to do incredible, incredible Hall of Fame worthy things," Dale Jr. said after Saturday's checkered flag. "Oh man. He's a hell of a driver." "You know, he just went up there and got it back," Earnhardt added. "We've got great race cars, a good race car underneath him to do what he needed to do. So, it takes a lot of us ... that's what wins races in places like this and at Dover. So, thank y'all for all the hard work ... it's important to our performance." With only a handful of races left on the racing calendar, Zilisch is just 21 points behind fellow JRM teammate Justin Allgaier for this season's points lead. Zilisch himself was fired up after the win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Telling reporters: "I see some bricks that look kissable, and I'm going to kiss them. This is awesome. One hundred wins for JRM. Congrats to Dale, Kelley, L.W. [Miller], everybody who's raced for JRM, everybody who works at JRM." With how Connor has performed in the Xfinity Series it may not be long before he makes the jump to the Cup where he'll race against the big dawgs. Next up is the HyVee Perks 250 in Iowa where he'll look to add another Jr. Makes Big Statement On Connor Zilisch's NASCAR Future first appeared on The Spun on Jul 27, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
