Are you thinking of getting a trunk rack for your car? Thule has a variety of bike racks built for different cars for different biking requirements. In this article, we will review the Thule Gateway Pro 3. We will also rate the bike rack on a score of 10 based on its features, security, aesthetics, customer satisfaction, capacity, compatibility, and price.

In case you want to compare more racks, go through our list of 2022 hitchless bike racks for cars and SUVs

Thule Gateway Pro Summary

R Score 

We have designed the rack score (R score) to rate bike racks on a scale of 10. This score is calculated after individually rating the different aspects of bike racks such as security, price, and capacity. 

Thule Gateway Pro 3 offers the best features amongst trunk bike rack

The Thule Gateway is a trunk bike rack that is mounted at the rear of the hatchback or other passenger cars. It is made to accommodate up to 3 bikes each weighing no more than 35 lbs. This hanging-style trunk bike rack has cradles that prevent bikes from swaying and are spaced 7 inches apart to keep the bikes away from each other. 

The bike rack has a strong and sturdy build and foldable arms. You can also fold it up to the point it is flat and then easily store it. It can accommodate most types of bikes but some frames are not compatible for which you can get the Thule Frame Adapter. The Gateway Pro is compatible with carbon frames. 

The rack has a FitDial which can be adjusted according to different vehicles. The rack can be installed on the vehicle with the use of 6 straps. It is also equipped with molded pads to protect the paint on the vehicle. For these features, Thule Gateway gets an R score of 8. 

Thule Gateway Specs

Brand Value of Thule

Thule is a renowned firm in the bike racks business. It designs goods that make consumers’ lives simpler. It has been striving to develop sustainable products.  Thule’s focus is on making recreational activities more accessible to people so they can travel conveniently. It also tests the products for resistance to severe temperatures, shock, and water. For the high brand value, we give it an R score of 9. 

Formation of Gateway Pro

The Gateway Pro has a compact design with a length of 23.5 inches, a width of 18 inches, and a height of 33 inches. It is available in black color and weighs around 15 pounds. For aesthetics, it gets an R score of 9. 

Is Gateway Pro worth the money?

This three-bike rack can be bought for around $250. This makes the per bike cost around $84. Although it is more expensive than other available trunk bike racks, the product has good features and contains a security lock. So overall it is cost-effective. For the value of money, we give it an R score of 8. 

What is the Compatibility and Capacity Gateway Pro?

The Thule Gateway Pro 3 has a bike accommodating capacity of 3 bikes. The cradles on the rack allow different geometries of frames to be carried. The cradles only rotate a few degrees and keep the bikes fixed and away from each other. The rack is not suitable for tandem bikes but it can be used for carbon frames without any hesitation. 

This rack is compatible with passenger cars specially hatchback cars. Most vehicles with a spoiler might not allow the installation of this rack. We have done the research for a few vehicles and have mentioned their compatibility status along with the FitDial positions below. 

Vehicles Compatible with Gateway

• 2013 Hyundai Sonata (DialFit 7)
• 2012-2017 Subaru Impreza (DialFit 7)
• 2013 BMW X5 (DialFit 8)
• 2019 Hyundai Elantra GT N Line (DialFit 7)
• 2010 Dodge Journey (DialFit 11)
• 2013 Volkswagen GTI (DialFit 8)
• Buick Encore (DialFit 8)
• Honda Civic 2012 (DialFit 7)
• 2007 Honda Fit Sport (DialFit 10)
• 2016 Mazda CX-5 (DialFit 9)
• 2019 Toyota Camry XSE (DialFit 8) (2-bike rack)
• 2020 Chevrolet Spark (DialFit 8) (2-bike rack)
• 2013 Ford Explorer (DialFit 9)
• 2017 GMC Acadia
• Subaru Outback
• Mazda MX-5 Miata

Vehicles not compatible with Thule Gateway Pro 3

• 2017-2018 Infiniti QX60
• 2013 MINI Cooper Hardtop
• 2019 Lincoln Nautilus
• Models of Acura RDX
• 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250
• 2018 Ford Escape
• 2014 Audi Q5
• 2022 Lexus RX 350
• 2020 Toyota RAV4
• 2022 Kia Soul
• 2019 Volvo XC90

Keeping the above facts in view, a score of 6 seems suitable.

Are the customers of Thule Gateway satisfied?

The Thule Gateway Pro has been rated on Amazon with 3.9 stars out of 5. And from the total 317 global ratings, only 71% of customers have rated 4 or 5 stars. For this customer rating, the bike rack gets an R score of 6.  

Does Thule Gateway have locks for bikes and rack security?

The most reliable feature of this bike rack is that it has an integrated locking system for securing the bikes. The bikes can be locked to the bike rack with the help of a cable lock. The cable lock goes around the outermost bike and in this way locks all the bikes on the bike rack. 

The Gateway Pro can also be locked on the vehicle if you buy the Thule Passive Lock Strap separately. You can also buy Thule’s One Key System for this bike rack. For these security features, we give it an R score of 8.

Conclusion 

After researching and rating all the aspects of Thule Gateway Pro 3, we have calculated its total R score to be 7.65. The rack is a go-to if it suits your vehicle and if you want to travel with 3 or fewer bikes. You can have a carefree road trip because of the bike security system.