Picked up my EX last week and the dealer had put on the CROSS RAILS on the roof racks.I didn’t order it with them but didn’t want to go thru the time that night to have them removed.My question is:Could they DECREASE Mpg from added drag & Added WIND NOISE ?Do any of you engineers have insight?Thanks for your help Bunk

found this information on another thread.

fraggle wrote:Be forwarned...I found that there was SIGNIFICANT wind noise on the interior with crossbars compared to without.

Now, if you are one to have the audio system at "11" constantly, then won't be a prob for you.

Ciao for now

It should not decrease MPG, just a bit more wind noise when open the sunroof.

I am going to get an EX35 and need to rack mountain bikes. I will get the Infiniti rails, and am undecided on Thule/Yakima crossbars, or the Infiniti's. In either case, a fairing (wind deflector) will greatly reduce the wind noise. I've got fairings for my Thule crossbars, but don't know if there will be a fairing available for the Infiniti crossbars.

Oh I suspect there WOULD be reduction in MPG from increased drag. The only evidence I have to support this is my own experience test driving all of the ex35s on the dealer's lot last weekend. (Prior to buying one - without the rails). The audible wind noise on the unit with crossbars was clearly noticable to me and present even with the sunroof closed and interior sunroof shade closed.

I think the reduction in MPG would be on the order of hundredths or thousandths, and whether that is noticable or significant is unlikely, in my opinion. But note that my field is biologic, not physics.

The wind noise was alone enough for me to abandon the roof rails, and I rather prefer the lines of the vehicle without. Naturally, everyone's tastes and needs vary.

Doubt this helped, posted it anyway.

My car has both options (racks/cross bars) and I hardly heard any noise from it...then again, I never paid attention on the noise issue when I test drove the non-equipped vehicle.

Either I am going deaf or you SIR has a very sensitive ears!