Consumer Reports Measures and Lists Cargo Room for Cars by Vehicle Category

When Your Vehicle’s Actual Cargo Space is Important to You

Whether its car-pooling kids to their activities, getting ready for a weekend bike, camping or ski trip, fitting in all those home repair items in your car, or even using your vehicle as part of a small business venture, the cargo space you need in a vehicle could be the most important factor behind your car buying decision.

Unfortunately, according to a recent Consumer Reports update on vehicle cargo space “…manufacturer claims don’t always reflect real-world utility,” when it comes to matching a vehicle’s features with its customers’ needs---especially when it comes to accurate cargo and trunk space realities.

To help consumers dig through all of the marketing claims on vehicle cargo space, CR analysts have recently updated their measures of the useable space consumers need to know that a vehicle possesses by providing a new listing of vehicles that have the most room under several categories consisting of wagons, SUVs, minivans and sedans.

Cargo Space in Wagons, SUVs, and Minivans

Cargo space measurements in Wagons, SUVs, and Minivans is modeled after an “expanding pipe-frame box” in which the consumer can visually picture just how much actual practical room the interior has to fit their load. This is with the consideration that the 2nd and 3rd row seating is folded down and that the rear hatch or door can be closed afterward.

The following is a summary broken up into four cubic-feet measure categories and sub-categorized by vehicle type.

56-74 CUBIC FEET

Large SUVs
Chevrolet Suburban
GMC Yukon XL
Ford Expedition Max
Jeep Wagoneer
Chevrolet Tahoe
GMC Yukon
Lincoln Navigator

Minivans
Kia Carnival
Honda Odyssey
Chrysler Pacifica

46-55 CUBIC FEET

Large SUVs
Infiniti QX80
Nissan Armada

Midsized SUVs
Chevrolet Traverse
Buick Enclave
Volkswagen Atlas
Lincoln Aviator
Honda Pilot
Kia Telluride
Hyundai Palisade

Minivans
Toyota Sienna

40-45 CUBIC FEET

Large SUVs
Mercedes-Benz GLS

Midsized SUVs
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Nissan Pathfinder
Toyota 4Runner
Ford Explorer
Dodge Durango
Land Rover Defender
Land Rover Discovery
Jeep Wrangler
Toyota Highlander
Infiniti QX60
Subaru Ascent
GMC Acadia
Cadillac XT6
Ford Bronco

34-39 CUBIC FEET

Midsized SUVs
Kia Sorento
Ford Edge
Honda Passport
Genesis GV80
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Subaru Outback
Acura MDX
Lexus GX
BMW X5
Mercedes-Benz GLE
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Hyundai Santa Fe
Audi Q7
Volvo XC90
Chevrolet Blazer
Mazda CX-9

Compact SUVs/Wagons
Hyundai Tucson
Kia Sportage
Subaru Forester
Nissan Rogue
Honda CR-V
Mazda CX-50
Volvo XC60

TRUNK CAPACITY IN SEDANS

Trunk capacity is a calculated according to the number of suitcase and duffle bags the trunk will allow.
Here is a summary of the vehicles ranked from most to least luggage capacity by category.

4 Suitcases Plus 3 Duffle Bags
• Tesla Model S

4 Suitcases Plus 1 Duffle Bag
• Honda Accord
• Subaru Legacy
• Volkswagen Arteon

4 Suitcases
• Nissan Altima

3 Suitcases Plus 2 Duffle Bags
• Nissan Sentra
• Volkswagen Jetta
• Hyundai Sonata
• Kia K5
• Chevrolet Malibu

3 Suitcases Plus 1 Duffle Bag
• Nissan Versa
• Toyota Corolla
• Honda Civic
• Mazda3
• Kia Forte
• Toyota Camry
• Chrysler 300
• Lexus ES
• Audi A6
• BMW 5 Series

3 Suitcases
• Nissan Kicks
• Nissan Leaf
• Nissan Maxima
• Kia Stinger
• Polestar 2

For a more detailed breakdown of each vehicle’s features, please visit the Consumer Reports website. Note that while access to some information requires a CR membership, the potential savings make it negligible in comparison when looking for the latest information to aid your car buying research.

And finally…

For additional articles about roomy vehicles, here are a few for your consideration:

• Roomiest and Comfiest Compact Hybrid Cars Tested by Consumer Reports

• SUVs With the Roomiest and Most Comfortable Interiors Per Consumer Reports Testing

• Recommended Compact Cars with the Roomiest, Most Comfortable Interiors Per Consumer Reports Testing

COMING UP NEXT: Don’t Buy a Car Like This One Warns Toyota Mechanic

Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.

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