Whichever way you look at it, £350 is a lot of money for a rack that can only carry two bikes, especially if you need to fit a towbar to your car first. But if you want the best, this is it.
Some assembly is needed, but nothing too challenging, and once complete it immediately feels solid. And while it doesn’t justify the price on its own, the Thule looks as if it’s been designed rather than thrown together with no thought for aesthetics.
In this case, form follows function. The Thule fits securely (the tension on the towbar can be adjusted) and the bike finished our test ride exactly where it started. The rack can cope with wide tyres and bikes of different sizes, and a hidden handle tilts the whole rack backwards to give access to the boot.