Sometimes even a large Škoda luggage compartment isn’t enough. When you have too much cargo, an external box can come in handy. Special carriers are a must for transporting bikes. But there are also rules to respect when driving with this kind of cargo. Besides safety, fuel consumption or range is an important issue, because additional cargo carried outside the car affects its aerodynamics. This means increased fuel consumption, increased noise and the need to ensure that the load is secure.
Another thing to remember is that a carrier on the towing rack will cover the registration plate, so that has to be placed on the back of the carrier. Some countries require a third plate, which the authorities will issue on request, while in others (such as Škoda’s home country, the Czech Republic) it is sufficient to move the rear plate to a position where it is visible.
“Škoda naturally offers accessories that meet all the legislative requirements and have the relevant certificates,” explains Matěásko, adding, “The products are also tested according to strict Volkswagen Group requirements for safety, durability and functionality.”
The need to use verified accessories is demonstrated by some of the safety requirements. Roof systems, for example, have to comply with the CityCrash standard, which dictates that in the event of some impact, no object or part heavier than 10 grams may be released from a carrier that is +20% overloaded compared to the maximum permitted weight.
“Škoda Original accessories are also subjected to aerodynamic optimisation during development, first using computer simulations and, in the final stage, by measuring the products on vehicles in a wind tunnel,” explains Jan Jagrik, head of vehicle aerodynamics development.
External loads always affect fuel consumption. “As far as consumption is concerned, the better thing is to carry an extra load behind the car, e.g. a bicycle carrier on a tow bar or a storage box on a tow bar,” Jagrik says. That’s because cargo placed behind the car does not interfere with the frontal area of the car, so it affects the car’s aerodynamics and overall driving resistance less than cargo on the roof.