OEM vs Aftermarket Crossbars

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Many Subaru owners eventually face a choice: keep their OEM crossbars or upgrade to an aftermarket setup. For some, factory crossbars work perfectly well. For others, larger cargo boxes, kayaks, and multiple accessories make aftermarket options worth considering. The right choice depends on how you use your vehicle — in real-world Subaru ownership, fitment and everyday usability usually matter more than weight capacity alone.

Subaru Outback with a Thule roof cargo box mounted, parked on a city street — Photo: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What’s the Difference?

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) crossbars are designed specifically for Subaru vehicles and sold through Subaru dealerships or parts suppliers. Their biggest advantages are simplicity, straightforward fitment, and guaranteed compatibility with the vehicle. Aftermarket crossbars come from third-party brands like Thule and Yakima, offering more bar spread, adjustment range, and accessory compatibility — at the cost of an added purchase and installation step.

Raised Rails vs Integrated Crossbars

Subaru’s factory setup comes in two forms. Some trims have raised side rails with separate crossbars that clamp on. Many Outback trims instead have integrated crossbars: bars built into the side rails that swing out when you need them and tuck back in line with the rails when you don’t. Your owner’s manual, or a look at the rails, will tell you which one you have.

Integrated bars are the easiest roof system to live with. There is nothing to buy, nothing to store in the garage, and they sit low and quiet when stowed. The tradeoff is spacing. Their front-to-rear spread is fixed or nearly fixed, so a cargo box has to fit the bars rather than the other way around. With a longer box, that can force it rearward, where it catches the rear hatch. If you have integrated bars and your box clears the hatch, you already have the simplest setup that works.

Where OEM Crossbars Work Best

For many owners carrying bikes, skis, or smaller cargo boxes, OEM crossbars provide enough functionality without added cost or complexity. If you use roof storage occasionally and your current setup handles your gear without problems, there’s often little reason to upgrade — simplicity, easy installation, and minimal setup complexity outweigh the extra flexibility aftermarket systems offer.

Where Aftermarket Crossbars Work Best

Aftermarket crossbars become worthwhile once larger cargo boxes enter the picture — many systems offer greater bar spread and positioning flexibility, making it easier to maintain rear hatch clearance as boxes get longer and larger. Hatch clearance is one of the most common reasons owners upgrade at all: more adjustment range makes it easier to position a box without the hatch catching. Kayaks, canoes, skis, and multiple simultaneous accessories also push owners toward aftermarket systems, since OEM bars run out of usable spread quickly once more than one accessory is mounted.

Cargo Boxes That Often Push Owners Beyond OEM

Best Overall: Yakima SkyBox NX 16
Best Family Cargo Box: Thule Force 3 L
Best Premium Cargo Box: Thule Motion 3
Best Budget Cargo Box: SportRack Vista XL

Side-by-side diagram of a fixed factory crossbar and a sliding aftermarket crossbar carrying a cargo box

What an Upgrade Costs Beyond the Bars

Aftermarket bars usually need a fit kit matched to your model and year, and locks are often sold separately. The first install takes the longest, since you are measuring spread and centering the bars. After that, plan to re-check tightness now and then, and to re-measure whenever you swap between a cargo box, bike trays, or a kayak carrier. None of it is hard, but it never fully goes away. If your roof setup rarely changes, that upkeep buys you nothing.

OEM vs Aftermarket at a Glance

Feature	OEM Crossbars	Aftermarket Crossbars
Cargo Box Fitment	Good	Better
Hatch Clearance	Limited Adjustment	More Flexible
Accessory Compatibility	Good	Better
Wind Noise	Good	Good to Excellent
Ease of Use	Excellent	Good
Daily Practicality	Excellent	Very Good

OEM crossbars are designed specifically for the vehicle and generally perform well for everyday driving and occasional use. Aftermarket aerodynamic crossbars can be even quieter, particularly when left installed year-round, with the biggest differences showing up on highway drives and longer road trips. On daily convenience, OEM keeps the edge — less setup, fewer compatibility concerns — while aftermarket trades that convenience for more flexibility when you actually need it.

Which One Makes Sense for You?

Keep OEM if you use roof storage occasionally and your current setup already handles your gear without problems — smaller cargo boxes, bikes, skis, and occasional road trips are all well within OEM’s range. Upgrade if roof storage becomes a regular part of how you use your vehicle: larger cargo boxes, kayaks, multiple accessories, or recurring fitment and hatch-clearance issues are the clearest signs aftermarket crossbars will pay off.

Popular Aftermarket Crossbar Upgrades

Best Overall Upgrade: Thule WingBar Evo
Best Premium Upgrade: Yakima JetStream
Best Budget Upgrade: Yakima CoreBar
Also Worth a Look: Rhino-Rack Vortex

FAQs

Are OEM Subaru crossbars good enough?

For most everyday roof storage, yes — limitations mainly show up with larger cargo boxes or multiple accessories.

Do aftermarket crossbars hold more weight?

Some do, but for most cargo boxes, OEM crossbars already work well — fitment and positioning matter more than raw capacity.

Which works better with cargo boxes?

For smaller boxes, OEM crossbars often work well. For larger boxes, aftermarket crossbars typically provide better fitment and positioning flexibility.

Do aftermarket crossbars improve hatch clearance?

Often yes — additional adjustment options make it easier to position a cargo box without interfering with the rear hatch.

Are OEM crossbars easier to install?

Usually — they’re designed specifically for the vehicle with fewer fitment and compatibility concerns.

Are aftermarket crossbars worth the extra cost?

They can be if you frequently use cargo boxes, kayaks, or multiple roof accessories. For occasional use, OEM crossbars are often enough.

When should you upgrade from OEM crossbars?

When you start experiencing cargo box fitment issues, hatch clearance problems, accessory limitations, or more demanding roof storage needs.

Do I need aftermarket crossbars to put a cargo box on my Subaru?

Usually not. Most mid-size boxes mount fine on factory bars. Aftermarket bars help when the box needs to sit farther forward than the factory spacing allows.

Are integrated crossbars quieter than aftermarket bars?

Usually, especially when stowed. Aero-shaped aftermarket bars come close. Round and square bars are louder.

Can I leave aftermarket crossbars on all the time?

Yes. Many owners take them off between trips to cut wind noise and fuel use, but leaving them on does no harm as long as they stay tight.

Final Thoughts

The choice between OEM and aftermarket crossbars comes down to your storage needs. For occasional use, OEM crossbars are usually enough — for frequent, heavier, or multi-accessory roof storage, an aftermarket upgrade pays for itself in fitment and flexibility.

• Aero Bars vs Round Bars

• Best Cargo Box for Subaru Crosstrek

• Best Crossbars for Crosstrek

• When Should You Upgrade From Factory Crossbars to Aftermarket?