The Thule Passage 2 and 3 trunk bike racks are designed for hatchback cars. These racks are made for 2 and 3 bikes and have valuable characteristics. In this article, we have thoroughly analyzed the bike rack and have rated the various aspects.

You will understand the features, safety, the value of money, capacity, compatibility, and aesthetics of the Thule Passage rack and will be able to compare it with other trunk mount racks because of our rack score rating system. 

This rack is among the 2022 hitchless bike racks for SUVs review.

Thule Passage

Rack score 

We have created a ranking system to evaluate various bike racks according to their qualities. First, we analyze the features, capacity, value for money,  security, compatibility, aesthetics, brand value, and customer happiness. 

Then we rate them all individually by the Rack score (R score) grading system. Finally, we calculate an absolute score for the rack after assigning suitable points to each of these variables. We give the item a score out of 10.

Features of Thule Passage Trunk Mount Rack 

The Thule Passage 2 bike rack is designed to carry two bikes and has many reliable features. With arms that bend down if not used, it gets easier to keep the rack on the car when not being used. It has an anti-sway function to prevent bike-to-bike interaction. 

Moreover, narrow cradle arms carry many bike frames, including smaller child bike frames.  The rubber cradles protect bike frames while holding them securely. The trunk and hatch of the vehicle are shielded by SoftCushion pads. 

Furthermore, the Thule Passage racks have vinyl-coated buckles that offer a secure grip on the car and offer scratch protection. The racks are fastened to the vehicle using a six-strap method. Both are foldable and weigh around 9.7 pounds and 10.8 pounds respectively. 

A frame adaptor may be required if your bicycle has a non-standard frame, such as a woman’s, child’s, or full-suspension bike, to transport it on a rear mount bike rack in the hanging style. For these features, we give it an R score of 7.

Are the Customers of Thule Passage Satisfied? 

On Amazon, there are around 962 ratings for this item. With 78% of responses from customers who liked the bike rack and gave it a score of 4 or 5, the Thule Passage 2 got 4.2 stars out of 5. We award it an R score of 8 for incredible client satisfaction.

Thule Passage Trunk Bike Rack Value for Money 

You could have to invest a significant sum of money if you don’t want to compromise on the quality of the bike rack. However, there are several bike racks on the market that are relatively inexpensive compared to the value they offer. Therefore, we place more emphasis on the worth of the money than the bike rack’s price.

The cost of the 2-bike rack is about $220. This implies that each bike will cost you more than $100. While Thule Passage 3 costs around $250 which is more cost-effective because the cost for each bike would be roughly $85. Even though the Thule Passage bike rack has practical functions, at this price they ought to at the very least include a locking system for the bikes and rack. As a result, we assign it an R score of 7. 

Is Thule Passage Trunk Bike Rack Secure?

For many customers, a bike rack’s security features are crucial. You shouldn’t have to worry about the security and safety of your bikes and rack, especially if you plan to get out of the car frequently throughout your road trip.

The Passage racks lack a locking mechanism to secure bikes to the rack or the rack to the car. To lock the bikes to the rack, you can purchase a Thule Passive Lock Strap. Alternatively, you can purchase locking cables to protect your bikes. As a result, we assign it an R score of 6.

Brand value of Thule

The Thulin family launched Thule in 1942 when Eric Thulin gave the Thule name to a pike trap he created and started marketing across Scandinavia. It didn’t take him long to expand the company’s line of useful products. The business started focusing on automobile-related goods in the 1960s, including the first roof rack.

In 1979, the family sold Thule to Eldon, a publicly traded business, and it has subsequently expanded both organically and via acquisitions. In terms of providing transportation options for an active lifestyle, The Thule Group is a global leader. We give it an R score of 9.

Capacity and Compatibility of Thule Passage

The Passage racks have the capacity of carrying two and three bikes respectively. You can accommodate any bike if it does not weigh more than 35 pounds. You can carry a BMW, a road bike, a kids’ bike, and many others. 

We have researched the compatibility of various vehicles with this Thule bike rack. Below you can see a list of vehicles that are compatible with the Thule Passage along with the suitable fit dial positions in the bracket. But note that these are only a few compatible vehicles. If your car is not listed here you may check its compatibility on the Thule website. 

• 2017 Dodge Durango (fit dial position 11)
• 2009 Volkswagen Passat (7)
• 2006 Mustang (7)
• 2015 Subaru Forester (10)
• 2013-2015 Toyota RAV4
• Used 2012 Honda Civic Coupe (7)
• 2004 to 2015 Toyota Prius (7)
• 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee (9)
• Mercedes ML 350 (9)
• 2017 Mazda CX-5 (9)
• 2017 Nissan Maxima
• 2004 Toyota Corolla (8)
• 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe (10)
• 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan (11)
• 2018 Subaru Forester (9)
• 2009 Acura TSX (7)
• 2014 Buick Encore (8)
• 2016 Chrysler Town and Country (11)
• 2019 Chevrolet Spark (9)
• 2014 Honda Accord (6)
• 2006 Acura RL (7)

We also found that the Thule Passage racks are not compatible with

• Lexus UX
• 2014 Ford Fusion
• 2017 MINI Cooper S
• 2013 Volvo XC60
• 2018 Lexus RX 450h
• 2020 Honda CR-V 
• 2012 Honda CR-Z Hatchback

For this capacity and compatibility, we give it an R score of 8.

Aesthetics of Thule Passage Trunk Rack

Thule Passage 2 weighs around 9.7 pounds while the three-bike version weighs around 10.8 pounds. The rack features a steel body that has been vinyl coated. It measures 21.65 inches in width, 16.93 inches in height, and 33.86 inches in length. The bike rack is elegant overall and does not detract from the attractiveness of automobiles. We give it an R score of 8.

Passage 2 Trunk Mount Rack
Greatest Number of Bikes	3
Rack lock	No
Bike lock	No
Brand	Thule
Weight	9.7lb (Passage 2) 10.8lb (Passage 3)
Load Carrying Ability	35lb per bike
Hitch required	No Hitch
Client Satisfaction	78%
Price	Around $220 (Passage 2) Around $250 (Passage 3)
Rack Score (Overall)	7.65

Conclusion 

The Thule Passage trunk racks are simple to install and operate with value-added attributes that make it the ideal option for a cyclist who is just starting. It has a rack score of 7.65. You may have to sort out a way to lock the bikes and rack, and then you are ready to go.

How to install a Thule Passage 2 on an SUV

Thule Passage installation tutorial