My sis got me a bike rack for my birthday. It's a rear fitting, "high mount", 3 bike carrier from halfords.

They weren't 100% if it would fit my 2012 Mazda 2 Tamura, I've just had a fiddle to see, and I'm not convinced. The only way I can get enough clearance to prevent the bike pedals from going through the rear glass is to put the foam middle bar angled into the middle of the rear glass. So I'm essentially replacing a bike pedal, for a metal bar with foam padding on it. To me it just seems that if I have 2 bikes on the rack, and go over a bump, pothole or break suddenly, there'd be a LOT of pressure on the rear glass. Plus all the straps apparently need constant checks to make sure they're tight.

My mazda 3 had a roof fitting rack, which at least had proper clamps and locks, no straps that might come loose.

Any suggestions or recommendations on what to look at?

I've got a halfords one, not actually sure if it's high or low, and the pressure on the glass doesn't sound like a good idea. On the subject of the straps, I've always supplemented mine with bungee cords wherever seemed appropriate/possible, and that holds a treat. I've always checked the straps after a few miles, and they've always been tight as a drum.

You can get a spoiler that kicks the air over the bikes. Makes abig difference.

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