The logitudinal rails are purely cosmentic. With or without rails, crossbars mount directly to threaded inserts in the roof. The only difference between the crossbars are the bases are either molded to conform to the rails or not. It may be that some aftermarket crossbar manufacturers make based for only one or the other configuration.

 

L/LE don’t have threaded inserts like the XLE and high trims.

L/LE require positioning J-hook bolts into the brackets under the cover you removed

 

True, they are a bit different. In the L and LE there is a bracket already mounted to holes in the roof and the crossbar bases hook onto that bracket. The higher level trims have use a threaded hole. In either case, unlike most vehicles that have roof rails, the crossbars are not attached to or supported by the rails, but rather by the roof and are fixed in position so can't be positioned further forward or rearward.

 

Did the OP ever try these? I'm interested in buying one. My LE lost one of the roof drip moldings. It only costs a little less to buy the aftermarket rail instead. I'm wondering if you can mount a cross bar to the aftermarket rail, and if so, which type?