A dated summary of Auto Express's seven-set UK roof-bar comparison on a 2025 Nissan Qashqai, with the results and fit-verification limits.
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Auto Express’s 2026 Roof-Bar Test on a 2025 Nissan Qashqai
Auto Express published its comparison on 6 July 2026 and tested seven roof-bar sets on a 2025 Nissan Qashqai. Its introduction calls the car’s rails factory-fitted fixed rails, while its Cruz and Temu entries describe the test car’s rails as flush. The report does not reconcile those terms, so check the exact roof interface for your vehicle instead of treating either label as a confirmed specification. The UK editorial test considered fitting time and skill, installed solidity, aerodynamic features, security, reported crash-test information, and value. Its ratings and observations describe that test sample and vehicle. They are not a current compatibility lookup, a controlled noise or fuel-economy result, or a universal ranking for other cars.
Test results as reported
| Set tested | Auto Express rating | Reported observations |
|---|---|---|
| Summit SURT-965 | 5.0 stars | About 15 minutes to fit; the article reports quiet operation after rubber channel seals were added. |
| Cruz 118 cm Airo FIX Black Aluminium Roof Bars | 4.5 stars | The reported price included the Qashqai-specific fitting kit 6613; locks were optional. |
| Yakima S17B Black Bars | 4.0 stars | The article says the wide bar could limit some U-clamp or claw accessories and describes a T-bolt channel as an alternative interface. |
| Halfords Roof Bar System | 3.5 stars | The tested item had a square profile, no T-type use, no locks, and was not suitable for a rooftop tent. |
| Yakima StreamLine Roof Bar System | 3.0 stars | The article describes more involved fitting-kit adjustment than for the S17B and suggests professional help for an uncertain first-time fitter. |
| Thule Evo WingBars | 3.0 stars | The article describes straightforward assembly and reusable self-sealing T-track rubber; the rating also reflects its value assessment. |
| Temu Roof Rail Racks 48 Inch | 2.5 stars | The delivered bars reportedly did not suit the test car’s rails, described as flush in this entry; the article found no safety-testing information. |
The stars are Auto Express’s editorial ratings, with value included in its assessment. A score is not a substitute for the vehicle maker’s load limits, a manufacturer’s fit approval, or the installation instructions for the exact product revision.
What a Qashqai owner can take from it
The test is useful as a dated example of how parts, fit, and accessory interface can change the decision even when products are all described as roof bars. In the reported setup, some packages included a vehicle-specific fitting kit while others required a separate fit path. The review also notes differences in bar width, channel use, locks, setup effort, and tent suitability. These are the kinds of details to compare against your own intended cargo before choosing a system.
The test does not establish that every bar sold under a listed brand fits every 2025 Qashqai, or that the tested configuration applies to another model year, trim, roof, or country. Check your vehicle’s actual roof type and use the current manufacturer lookup and instructions to confirm all components: bars, feet or towers, any fitting kit, and the cargo accessory. For a used or older system, confirm that its exact generation and parts are still approved for the vehicle.
Limits of the comparison
Auto Express does not report controlled decibel measurements, repeated noise trials, drag measurements, or fuel-consumption results in this comparison. Its aerodynamic descriptions and fitting observations should not be converted into a quantified performance promise. The test also does not establish compatibility for accessories beyond the specific interface notes it reports. A statement about a general bar shape or cross-brand compatibility should not override the bar and accessory manufacturers’ instructions.
Use the results as a shortlist prompt, then verify the live fit path for your exact vehicle. Compare the complete purchase cost, including any vehicle-specific kit, locks, adapters, and accessory hardware. Read the instructions before fitting, observe the vehicle and rack limits, and ask the manufacturer or a qualified fitter when the exact combination is unclear. For a broader brand decision, see how to compare Thule and Yakima after fitment.
Sources and product references
Use these references to check the current instructions and fit information for your market and exact setup.
- Best roof bars 2026specialist