Vauxhall Flexfit car rack review

For £425 you can buy a lot of bike rack – like two excellent Saris Bones RS – but the Flexfit is unique because it’s an optional built-in  extra when you buy a Vauxhall Corsa.

So, if you’re in the market for an accomplished small hatchback, is Flexfit a reason to opt for a Corsa? On the face of it, yes.

The system is clever and easy to use – lift a handle in the boot and the rear number plate pops out to reveal the rack. Pull it out fully, lock it in place, slip on the extra rear lights provided and load. It feels solid too.

The carrying system is similar to that of the Twinny Ergo towbar rack tested last month – you drop the cranks into a metal sleeve and secure with a twist of the knob. You then secure the wheels to extendable arms using a ratchet system. Sounds good, and it is… up to a point.

Sadly, you can forget Flexfit if your crank arms are anything other than standard size – wide or short modern road and mountain bike cranks don’t fit. Full stop.

When we did get bikes to fit, the cranks were secure but the guides in which the wheels are placed were more awkward to use and secure than on racks we’ve used in the past. You also get filthy hands – the rack is essentially the underside of the car so it gets coated in road muck.