Managed it in a focus several times. Split the seats, all wheels and pedals and seatposts off bikes. No problem.

Wheels off and seats off…should make racking them side-by-side easier for space…you can probably put the seatposts in some dead space between first bike and car; wheels either in between frames or in front of them (resting on the front passenger seat).

Kit goes in the space behind the single seat still up in back and away you go.

Suspect putting them flat will make packing easier but reduce space…possibly.

Get creative with the use of the space – how much space in the frames? Can you get them lined up and a kitbag in there?

I’ve got 3 people & 3 MTBs + luggage for a week cycling in Germany in a Vectra estate but did have one bike on a rack, split folding seats worked very well to fit things in.

Easy – the Vectra is vast and the seats fold completely flat. Less so in the Mondeo and the Insignia is a bit crap cos it’s got a much more sloping roof.
Might need a bit of fiddling to work out the best way of doing it all though. One half of the rear seats down and some juggling of bikes/kit, it’ll go.

I’ve had 3 people plus kit in an 05 Vectra, wheels & seatpost off, bikes stacked up on each other.

They burn fuel?

Sure it’ll go if you squeeze but it’s going to be a hassle, I’d get a rack without a doubt, a back-of-car strap-on one isn’t that expensive.

We get two bikes on a rack, a full size family-type tent, all the riding kit, all the camping kit incl. a table/bedding/stove etc and suitcases into/onto a Ford Ka!