Carrera is Halfords' budget in-house brand that covers all types of bikes, including electric bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes and hybrids.
Carrera bikes are a good option for new cyclists or riders seeking value, with features including disc brakes on all but the lowest-priced models.
In this article, we’ll run through each model in Carrera’s adult road bike, mountain bike, hybrid bike, folding bike and electric bike ranges and make a nod to its kids' bikes. We've focused on Carrera's core range here, but you'll also find other models on Halfords' site and in its stores, which may only be available for a limited time.
We've reviewed many of Carrera's bikes and you'll find links to our full reviews in the model entries below.
What can you expect from Carrera bikes?
Carrera updated both its road bikes and mountain bikes in 2020, upgrading specs and, for its MTBs, moving to modern long and slack geometry. The Carrera range carries this over into 2023.
Carrera's hybrid range includes 'urban hybrids', which have a rigid fork, and its 'leisure hybrid' bike range, which feature a suspension fork.
Carrera fits its own saddles to many of its bikes. These have a memory foam layer for additional comfort, while its own-brand tyres, made by Kenda, have added puncture protection via an aramid layer and ceramic particles in the rubber compound to up flat resistance.
Halfords has also aimed to keep the weights and prices down, for riders who want a lightweight bike without a heavyweight price tag. Considering the general level of bike price inflation over the last few years (which is showing signs of easing), its prices remain very reasonable.
Carrera says component availability remains difficult for some models, so in some cases, you may find alternative parts have been specced from what's shown below.
Where does Carrera fit in Halfords’ range?
Carrera bikes are sold exclusively by Halfords and sit between the budget Apollo range, and the premium Boardman and Voodoo bikes. The Carrera range’s emphasis is on value, with good specs and no bike priced above £1,000.
As with all Halfords bikes, you can buy online or in store.
2023 Carrera road bike range overview
The 2023 Carrera drop-bar road bike range consists of the Zelos, Virtuoso and Vanquish, with the Zelos and Virtuoso also available as women’s-specific models.
All feature cable disc brakes and 28mm tyres, with space for 32mm-wide rubber. Both men’s and women’s framesets are offered in small, medium and large sizes.
Carrera Zelos men’s and women’s bikes
The Zelos is an entry-level alloy-framed road bike with a steel fork and 14-speed Shimano shifting. Halfords quotes a bike weight just under 12kg.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, steel fork
- Gearing: Shimano Tourney 14-speed, Prowheel 50/34t chainset, 14-28t cassette
- Wheels: Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 28mm
- Brakes: Tektro MD-C400 mechanical disc
- Price: £385
- Read our full Carrera Zelos review
Carrera Virtuoso men’s and women’s bikes
The Virtuoso ups the spec to 16-speed Shimano Claris and includes an alloy fork, while retaining the other features of the Zelos. Halfords quotes a bike weight of 11.6kg.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, alloy fork with steel steerer
- Gearing: Shimano Claris 16-speed, Prowheel 50/34t chainset, 11-28t cassette
- Wheels: Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 28mm
- Brakes: Tektro MD-C400 mechanical disc
- Price: £435
Carrera Vanquish men’s bike
For £485, the Vanquish has an all-carbon fork, while retaining the 16-speed Shimano Claris groupset of the Virtuoso. Claimed weight drops to 10.5kg.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, full carbon tapered fork
- Gearing: Shimano Claris 16-speed, Prowheel 50/34t chainset, 11-28t cassette
- Wheels: Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 28mm
- Brakes: Tektro MD-C511 mechanical disc
- Price: £485
Carrera mountain bike range
The 2023 Carrera mountain bike range comprises both hardtail bikes and two full-suspension bikes, many of which are available in women’s as well as men’s sizes. Prices start at £335 and head up towards £1,000 for the full-suspension, SRAM-equipped Titan X.
Carrera Valour men’s and women’s MTB
The Valour is the starting point for Carrera’s MTB range. It comes with 14-speed shifting, V-brakes, 27.5in wheels and a Suntour XCE28 fork with 100mm travel. There's also the option to upgrade to mechanical disc brakes with Microshift gearing, which increases the price to £360.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour XCE28 fork, 100mm travel
- Gearing: Shimano TX800 14-speed, Prowheel 36/22t chainset, 14-34t cassette
- Wheels: 27.5in Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 2.10in
- Brakes: Tektro 837 rim V-brakes
- Price: £335
Carrera Karkinos men’s and women’s MTB
The Karkinos is a newer model that comes with 27.5in wheels, 2.1in Deli tyres, a Shimano Acera 2x8-speed groupset and mechanical disc brakes.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour XCE 28 fork, 100mm travel
- Gearing: Shimano Acera 16-speed, 36/22t chainset, 12-32t cassette
- Wheels: 27.5in Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Deli SA-258, 2.10in
- Brakes: Tektro MD-M280 mechanical disc
- Price: £350
Carrera Vengeance men’s and women’s MTB
Next up, the Vengeance gets mechanical disc brakes and 16 gears. It’s available in five men’s and three women’s sizes, with the men’s bike coming in dark green and the women’s in grey. Claimed weight is 14.5kg.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour XCM fork, 100mm travel
- Gearing: Shimano Altus 16-speed, Prowheel 36/22t chainset, 12-32t cassette
- Wheels: 27.5in Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 2.10in
- Brakes: Mechanical disc
- Price: £385
Carrera Hellcat men’s and women’s MTB
For an extra £25, the Hellcat offers some useful upgrades, bumping up to 29in wheels with slightly wider 2.2in tyres and hydraulic disc brakes.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour XCM fork, 100mm travel
- Gearing: Shimano Altus or Microshift Mezzo 16-speed, Prowheel 36/22t chainset, 12-32t cassette
- Wheels: 29in Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 2.20in
- Brakes: Clarks Clout hydraulic disc
- Price: £410
Carrera Vulcan men’s and women’s MTB
Another £25 buys you the Vulcan, with more fork travel and easier gearing. Wheels drop down to 27.5in.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour XCM fork, 120mm travel
- Gearing: Shimano Altus 18-speed, Prowheel 36/22t chainset, 11-34t cassette
- Wheels: 27.5in Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 2.10in
- Brakes: Clarks Clout hydraulic disc
- Price: £435
Carrera Vendetta men’s MTB
The £455 Vendetta gets big 2.8in tyres on 27.5in wheels, along with mechanical disc brakes and 18-speed Shimano Altus shifting.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour XCM fork, 100mm travel
- Gearing: Shimano Altus 18-speed, Prowheel 36/22t chainset, 11-36t cassette
- Wheels: 27.5in Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 2.80in
- Brakes: Tektro M280 mechanical disc
- Price: £455
Carrera Kraken men’s MTB
Shimano Acera gearing, chainset and hydraulic disc brakes feature on the second-tier Kraken hardtail, with the front rotor size upped to 180mm and 120mm of fork travel.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour XCR-32 fork, 120mm travel
- Gearing: Shimano Acera 18-speed, Shimano 36/22t chainset, 11-36t cassette
- Wheels: 27.5in Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 2.25in
- Brakes: Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc
- Price: £510
Carrera Fury men’s MTB
Top of the Carrera hardtail MTB range, the Fury boasts a Shimano Deore 1x drivetrain and a dropper post with 125mm of travel, along with a Suntour Raidon LO-R Air 120mm-travel fork.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour Raidon LO-R Air fork, 120mm travel
- Gearing: Shimano Deore 10-speed, Prowheel 32t chainset, 11-46t cassette
- Wheels: 27.5in Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: WTB Trail Boss with Carrera Puncture Protect, 2.25in
- Brakes: Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc
- Price: £680
- Read our full Carrera Fury review
Carrera Titan full-suspension MTB
The Titan is Carrera’s full-suspension mountain bike. Priced at £685, it comes with a 120mm-travel Suntour XCR 32 fork, 130mm rear travel and Shimano 18-speed shifting.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour XCR 32 suspension fork, 120mm travel, Suntour LO-R Air rear shock, 130mm travel
- Gearing: Shimano Alivio 18-speed, Suntour XCM 36/22t chainset, 11-36 cassette
- Wheels: Carrera 27.5in tubeless-ready alloy rims on thru-axle hubs
- Tyres: Kenda Kadre 2.1in
- Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc
- Price: £685
Carrera Titan X full-suspension MTB
Finally, the Titan X has a spec upgrade from the Titan, with kit from SRAM and RockShox. Priced at £960, it comes with a 130mm-travel RockShox Recon RL fork, 130mm rear travel and SRAM SX Eagle 1x12 shifting. It’s another 27.5in wheeled offering and comes with a Trans-X dropper post.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, RockShox Recon RL suspension fork, 130mm travel, RockShox Monarch rear shock, 130mm travel
- Gearing: SRAM SX Eagle 12-speed, 32-tooth SRAM SX Eagle Boost chainset, 11-50t cassette
- Wheels: Carrera 27.5in tubeless-ready alloy rims on thru-axle hubs
- Tyres: WTB Trail Boss, 2.25in
- Brakes: Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc
- Price: £960
- Read our full Carrera Titan X review
Carrera urban hybrid bike range
Carrera’s hybrid bike range is split into two categories: urban and leisure. The urban range starts at £310 and goes up to £485 for the Subway AW with mudguards and heated bar grips.
Carrera Parva men’s and women’s hybrid bike
Carrera’s entry-level urban hybrid, the Parva, comes with rim brakes and a Shimano Tourney 14-speed groupset.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, steel fork
- Gearing: Shimano TY 14-speed, Prowheel 46/30t chainset, 14-28t cassette
- Wheels: 27.5in Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 1.95in hybrid
- Brakes: Tektro 837al rim V-brakes
- Price: £310
Carrera Subway 1 men’s and women’s hybrid bike
Next step up, the Subway 1 gets mechanical disc brakes and a move up to a 16-speed groupset with a wider range of gears.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, steel fork
- Gearing: Shimano TX 16-speed, Prowheel 46/30t chainset, 11-34t cassette
- Wheels: 27.5in Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 1.95in hybrid
- Brakes: Tektro M280 mechanical disc
- Price: £345
Carrera Subway 2 men’s hybrid bike
The men’s size-only Subway 2 gets hydraulic disc braking along with an 18-speed groupset, with a slightly wider range of gears over the Subway 1. It's also available as the Subway All Weather Edition, which includes mudguards and heated handlebar grips.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, steel fork
- Gearing: Shimano Altus 18-speed, Prowheel 46/30t chainset, 11-36t cassette
- Wheels: 27.5in Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 1.95in hybrid
- Brakes: Clarks Clout hydraulic disc
- Price: £390
Carrera leisure hybrid range
The leisure bike range differs from the urban hybrids by adding a suspension fork, for a bit more off-road capability, although Halfords says the bikes are still good for your daily commute. The women’s models get step-through frames.
Carrera Crossfire 1 men’s and women’s hybrid bike
The Crossfire 1 gets V-brakes and a Suntour fork with 63mm of travel. Claimed weight is 15kg.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour M3010 fork, 63mm travel
- Gearing: Shimano Tourney 21-speed, Prowheel 48/38/28t chainset, 14-28t cassette
- Wheels: 700c Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 42mm
- Brakes: Tektro 837al rim V-brakes
- Price: £335
Carrera Crossfire 2 men’s and women’s hybrid bike
The step up to the Crossfire 2 gives you mechanical disc brakes instead of rim brakes and an extra sprocket on the rear cassette for 24 gears. Claimed weight is 15.4kg.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour MVX fork, 75mm travel
- Gearing: Shimano TX 24-speed, Prowheel 48/38/28t chainset, 11-34t cassette
- Wheels: 700c Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 42mm
- Brakes: Tektro M280 mechanical disc
- Price: £385
Carrera Crossfire 3 men’s hybrid bike
Finally, the Crossfire 3 has Shimano Altus 18-speed shifting with a double chainset and adds hydraulic disc braking to the mix, for improved stopping power. It’s available in men’s sizes only.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour NRX fork, 75mm travel and lockout
- Gearing: Shimano Altus 18-speed, Prowheel 46/30t chainset, 11-36t cassette
- Wheels: 700c Carrera alloy rims on quick-release hubs
- Tyres: Carrera Puncture Protect by Kenda, 42mm
- Brakes: Tektro M285 hydraulic disc
- Price: £455
Carrera folding bike range
Carrera’s range extends to folding bikes too, with two models in its range, although there are three spec levels for the Intercity. There's also the Carrera Crosscity folding electric bike, which we've covered in the next section.
Carrera Transit folding bike
A folder with 20-inch wheels, the Carrera Transit weighs around 14kg and comes with a three-speed hub gear. It includes folding pedals, a kickstand, mudguards and a rear rack, although it doesn’t fold quite as small as Carrera's other folding model, the Intercity.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, steel fork
- Gearing: 3-speed hub
- Wheels: 20in alloy
- Tyres: Not specified
- Brakes: Alloy V-brakes
- Price: £365
Carrera Intercity folding bike
The Intercity is a classic fold-in-the-middle design, with the front half flipping back to fold next to the rear. It’s got an alloy frame with a steel fork, 20in wheels, 8-speed shifting and V-brakes.
Other features include folding pedals, mudguards, a kickstand and a rear rack. It folds into a space of 835x360x660mm.
An extra £5 buys you the Carrera Intercity Disc 8-speed with mechanical disc brakes and, as its name says, eight speeds. For £60 more, you can get the Carrera Intercity Disc 9-speed, which has upgraded 9-speed gearing as well as hydraulic disc brakes.
Unfortunately, in both cases, you lose the mudguards and rear luggage rack of the base model.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, steel fork
- Gearing: Shimano Tourney 8-speed
- Wheels: 20in alloy rims
- Tyres: 20in
- Brakes: V-brakes
- Price: £380
Carrera electric bike range
Carrera’s electric bike range has expanded to include electric folding bikes, electric hybrids and electric mountain bikes, with prices from £949 to £1,999. The electric bike range starts off with the Crosscity folding ebike and works its way up to the Bosch-powered Crossfuse, with a range of up to 80 miles.
Carrera Crosscity electric folding bike
The Crosscity folding electric bike has a claimed range of up to 30 miles, for zippy commutes. It runs on 20in wheels, has a mid-frame fold and comes equipped with mudguards and a rear luggage rack.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, steel fork
- Gearing: Shimano Acera 8-speed, 52-tooth chainset, 11-28t cassette
- Motor: Shengyi DGWH2C rear hub
- Wheels: 20in alloy rims
- Tyres: Kenda K924
- Brakes: Tektro C310 V-Brake
- Price: £949
Carrera Vengeance E men’s and women’s electric mountain bike
The Vengeance E comes with Suntour electric assistance, and a claimed 40-mile maximum range thanks to its 317Wh battery. Recharge time is six hours. There are mechanical disc brakes and 8-speed gearing, and men’s and women’s versions available.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour XCT30-DS suspension fork, 100mm travel
- Gearing: Shimano HG200 8-speed, 38-tooth Suntour chainset
- Motor: Suntour Eco rear hub
- Wheels: 27.5in, alloy rims and hubs
- Tyres: Kenda K1027 2.1in
- Brakes: Tektro mechanical disc
- Price: £1,099
Carrera Subway E 2.0 electric hybrid bike
Another bike sold in both men’s and women’s versions, and powered by the same Suntour rear-hub motor as the Vengeance E, the Subway E is designed for road use, with a rigid fork and flat handlebar. It has a 374Wh battery for a 60-mile claimed range.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, steel fork
- Gearing: Shimano Altus 9-speed, 42-tooth chainset, 11-32t cassette
- Motor: Suntour rear hub
- Wheels: 27.5in, alloy rims, Formula hubs
- Tyres: Kenda K 1.95in
- Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc
- Price: £1,099
Carrera impel im-1.1 electric hybrid bike
A newer entrant to Carrera's range, the impel im-1.1 is the entry model to the impel range, with a single-speed drivetrain, a rear-hub motor and a 367Wh battery. The latter is removable, integrated within the bike's frame and gives a claimed 20 to 25 miles average range.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, steel fork
- Gearing: Single-speed, Prowheel 38-tooth chainset, DNP 16t cassette
- Motor: Hyena rear hub
- Wheels: 27.5in, alloy rims
- Tyres: Puncture Protect
- Brakes: Tektro V-brakes
- Price: £1,099
Carrera impel im-2.1 electric hybrid bike
The extra £100 for the im-2.1 spec gets you 9-speed Microshift gearing and mechanical disc brakes, with the same motor and battery package as the impel im-1.1.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, steel fork
- Gearing: Microshift 9-speed, Prowheel 38-tooth chainset, 11-36t cassette
- Motor: Hyena rear hub
- Wheels: 27.5in, alloy rims
- Tyres: Puncture Protect
- Brakes: Mechanical disc brakes
- Price: £1,299
- Read our full Carrera impel im-2.1 review
Carrera Crossfire E 2.0 electric hybrid bike
The road-going Crossfire E has a 417Wh battery and a range of around 60 miles. It’s available in a men’s and a women’s version, with different size ranges and with either a crossbar or a step-through frame design. Both have a Suntour suspension fork.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour NVX-DS HLO fork, 75mm travel
- Gearing: Shimano Altus 9-speed, Suntour 42-tooth chainset, 11-36t cassette
- Motor: Suntour Performance rear hub
- Wheels: 700c, alloy rims, Formula hubs
- Tyres: Kenda K935 40mm
- Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc
- Price: £1,399
Carrera impel im-3.1 electric hybrid bike
Top of the impel range, the im-3.1 spec gets a larger-capacity 496Wh battery for an average 35 to 40 miles claimed range. There's also 10-speed gearing and hydraulic disc brakes for better all-weather stopping.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, steel fork
- Gearing: Shimano Deore 10-speed, Prowheel 38-tooth chainset, 11-36t cassette
- Motor: Hyena rear hub
- Wheels: 27.5in, alloy rims
- Tyres: Puncture Protect
- Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes
- Price: £1,499
Carrera Crossfuse electric hybrid bike
Top of Carrera’s ebike tree is the Crossfuse. It’s powered by a Bosch Active Line Plus motor in the bottom bracket, with a Bosch Purion handlebar display unit and a 400Wh battery on the down tube for a range of up to 80 miles between charges.
There’s 9-speed gearing and a 63mm-travel Suntour suspension fork, paired with Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. Again, the Crossfuse comes in men’s and women’s sizes and frame styles.
- Frame and fork: Alloy frame, Suntour NEX HLO fork, 63mm travel
- Gearing: Shimano Alivio 9-speed, Bosch 42-tooth chainset, 11-34t cassette
- Motor: Bosch Active Line Plus bottom bracket mounted
- Wheels: 700c alloy rims, Shimano hubs
- Tyres: Schwalbe Tyrago KG 40mm
- Brakes: Shimano M315 hydraulic disc
- Price: £1,999
- Read our full Carrera Crossfuse review
Carrera kids' bike range
Last but by no means least, Carrera has a comprehensive range of children’s models, ranging from a £100 balance bike up to 24-inch and 26-inch versions of its adult bikes.
The range covers hybrids and mountain bikes with prices up to £360, suitable for kids up to 12 years old. See the full range on the Halfords website.
Halfords service and finance offers
Buy a bike from Halfords and you can apply for finance to spread the cost, and there's a Cycle to Work scheme to lower your total outlay. You can also book a free 32-point safety check at any Halfords branch.
