Range Rover Evoque L538 with Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars and Menabo Mania 460 roof box

On this 5-door Land Rover Range Rover Evoque L538 we fitted a complete set for long journeys: roof bars Menabo Tema Aluminium and the roof box Menabo Mania 460 ABS Black. The fitting was done in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.

About the car: Land Rover Range Rover Evoque L538

The first-generation Range Rover Evoque, code L538, was built from July 2011 to 2018, on the LR-MS (JLR D8) platform, related to that of the Freelander 2. The facelift came with model year 2016, with discreet changes: the fog lights moved higher and a slimmer high-mounted brake light above the rear window. For the Evoque in this fitting we cannot say for sure whether it is from before or after the facelift, but the bar kit fits for the whole 2011-2018 period, in the 5-door version.

The Evoque roof is made of aluminium, and the car has no roof rails, so the bars attach to the bodywork, with dedicated fittings. The Land Rover manual allows 75 kg on the roof on the road and 50 kg off-road for the factory-approved system, and with other bars their weight counts in the calculation. With a large box on the roof, these figures matter more than with a simple bike rack.

What we fitted on this Range Rover Evoque

The base is the set of Menabo Tema Aluminium roof bars for the Range Rover Evoque L538, 5-door: 2 bars of 1,300 mm with an oval profile, 4 feet, 4 dedicated fittings, locks and an Allen key. The bars have a 20 mm T-track on top and carry 50 kg.

On top of them we put Menabo Mania 460 ABS Black roof box, made of gloss black ABS plastic, with a volume of 460 litres, a lock and opening on one side. The box comes with a 20 mm T-bolt fitting and a 60 mm U-bolt fitting, and on the Tema Aluminium bars we use the T-bolt fitting, directly in the T-track of the bar. The product data sheet confirms the compatibility of the Mania with Menabo Tema Aluminium bars.

Video: Menabo Mania roof box, overview

Technical details and what to watch for

• Load calculation: the Menabo Tema Aluminium bars carry 50 kg, the Menabo Mania 460 box weighs 20.2 kg, so 50 - 20.2 = 29.8 kg remain for luggage, even though the box on its own is rated for 75 kg.
• On the Evoque roof, with bars that are not Land Rover: 5.2 kg of bars + 20.2 kg of box + 29.8 kg of luggage = 55.2 kg, below the 75 kg limit in the manual.
• With the Menabo Mania bars and box fitted, the car becomes taller: measure the total height before underground car parks and car washes.
• The Evoque manual asks for the load to be distributed evenly, without exceeding the bars, and for the fixing to be checked after the first 50 km.
• Menabo recommends a maximum of 130 km/h with the bars fitted; with accessories on the bars, noises can appear while driving.
• For the Mania box there are fitting instructions in PDF on the product page; for the bars, the manual is included in the package.

Instructions and documents

• MENABO MANIA MARATHON 400 460 fitting instructions (PDF)
• Menabo Mania 400L 460L specifications (PDF)
• Menabo Mania specifications 2 (PDF)

Frequently asked questions

Which roof box fits the Range Rover Evoque L538?

On a 5-door Range Rover Evoque L538, after fitting roof bars with a dedicated kit, you can put on a box with a universal fitting. We fitted Menabo Mania 460 ABS Black on Menabo Tema Aluminium bars, with the 20 mm T-bolt fitting.

How much weight does the Menabo Mania 460 box carry on Menabo Tema bars?

The Menabo Mania 460 box is rated for 75 kg, but the Menabo Tema Aluminium bars carry 50 kg. As the box weighs 20.2 kg, on a Range Rover Evoque with Tema bars you can load at most 29.8 kg into it.

Is a 460-litre roof box worth it on a Range Rover Evoque L538?

The Menabo Mania 460 box has a volume of 460 litres and helps you free up the boot of a Range Rover Evoque L538 for a holiday or city break, within the weight limit of the bars. We wrote about the advantages of a roof box in the guide 6 reasons why a roof box is worth buying.

Does the Menabo Mania box need an adapter for Menabo Tema Aluminium bars?

No. The Menabo Mania 460 box comes with a 20 mm T-bolt fitting and a 60 mm U-bolt fitting included, and the product data sheet indicates that it needs no adapter. On the Tema Aluminium bars on the Range Rover Evoque it fixes directly into the 20 mm T-track.

We are waiting for you in the showroom

Planning a long journey with your Evoque? Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania, where you can see in person roof boxes and roof bars that suit you. You can also reach us here: contact us through our contact page or at [email protected].

You can also message us on WhatsApp.

Sources: Wikipedia - Range Rover Evoque · Range Rover Evoque Owner's Handbook, JLR 2015, page 83 · SuportBicicleta.ro guide - 6 reasons why a roof box is worth it · SuportBicicleta.ro guide - Why do my roof bars make noise while driving · product pages on suportbicicleta.ro