A capacious and practical boot is a high priority for many car buyers.These are the models that can haul the biggest loads
Claire Evans claire.evans@haymarket.com
Whether you’re a car boot sale fanatic, a habitual Ikea shopper or a parent with loads of child paraphernalia to transport, you know the importance of having a big boot. Size is hard to judge, though; just because a car has a footprint bigger than Sasquatch’s, doesn’t mean it’ll swallow a Louis Vuitton luggage set.
So, to find out exactly how much a model’s boot can take, we do much more than comparing boot volume in litres; we also cram in as many carry-on suitcases as we can. We use the space up to the load cover in hatchbacks, SUVs and MPVs, and sevenseaters are tested in five-seat mode (in other words, with the third row of seats folded down). Our cases are 560x350x230mm.
As you’d expect, many of the cars with the most useful boots are fairly large, but some small cars and small SUVs also did surprisingly well in our suitcase test. We’ve listed those separately on page 42.
The cars that take the least luggage
If you want a useful boot, it’s best to avoid sports cars – especially the Alpine A110, which came bottom in our testing.The A110 has two boots, but the rear one is too small for a carry-on case, and the front one took one.
Two other sports cars, the Lexus LC and Mazda MX-5 RF, are marginally better, each swallowing two cases. The LC has rear seats that can be used for storage, but the MX-5 doesn’t.
The only other car we’ve tested that takes just two cases is the Honda E. Its boot has a wide opening with no loading lip, but it’s one of the smallest of any electric car you can buy. There is some underfloor storage for charging cables, and the rear seatback folds down to create a bigger storage area, but it doesn’t split. In other words, if you want to carry something bulky, you can’t have a back seat passenger.
The Fiat 500 and Peugeot e-208 are more practical small electric cars, and both have enough space for three cases.The e-208 has the advantage of four doors, while the 500 is only available with two.
VOLKSWAGEN ID BUZZ
The ID Buzz electric MPV is our 2023 Car of the Year, because it’s safe, good to drive, holds its value very well and is extremely practical.
It has seating for five (a seven-seat version is due later this year), and you’ll have no trouble stowing everyone’s kit – even if you’re transporting a four-person polo team with saddles, helmets and mallets. Its tally of 16 cases is twice as many as you’ll fit in the BMW iX3 electric SUV. Th
