My bikes ride "in" with the rear seat down:

1 bike: remove front wheel. Lay bike into the trunk, front wheel back there, too.

2 bikes: same, with an insulated blanket between them, then something between the wheels.

3 bikes: I remove both wheels, use my bikebag.com drivetrain protectors, and lay the frames across the car behind the front seat, protection between frames, bars turned 1/4 turn. Rear wheels in bags in the back, front wheels in bags used to protect between the frames.

4 bikes: Same, but one bike is in the back, 3 behind the front seat, and the wheels get put where they fit. Always use protection between frames.

That's the limit in my Cruze. When I drove an Impala, I'd store 4 behind the seat, with wheels, and leave room for Doc's (rccardr) bike in the trunk area, where nothing would touch it. Respect for my elders, basically.

I'm not into racks.

I like the Honda Element for bike storage, sans front wheel, up against the side. I think they even make a mount for one MTB for those. You can always put the kayak on the top if you are doing the Outside Magazine poseur thing.

I like the approach with small and large SUV's and vans that use fork-mounting holders. Easy in, easy out.

When I get a truck, I'm going with the half-shell bed cover, from behind the cab for about 3'. I'll use a fork-mounting bracket to store 2 bikes and their wheels, up under the cover and out of the rain, but open at the rear for easy removal. If I get derailed into a Subaru Baja, I'll figure something out.....

One of my friends bought a high-dollah tilting hitch rack, put it on 2016 Honda Odyssey. Of course, she can roll her bike right into that cave, so she never uses the rack. She has to move it down and out of the way to get to her bike. Yes, she's a Cubs fan.

My perfect bike wagon is a 95-97 Honda Odyssey. 15" tires, Double-DIN stereo slot, 8 speakers, 4 cyl, rear air, sunroof, all 4 doors are regular hinged doors, big 3-way hatch. Rear seat folds into the floor, mid seats (buckets) come out with a click. Instant bike caveatorium. Easily holds 6 bikes, plenty of room, speakers not covered up, and 25-28 mpg. They are hard to find in decent shape. With two bikes, sleeps 2 easily. And cup holders. Not that I've really thought much on the subject.... yeah, cup holders.