Luggage capacity in estates.

[croyde]

Need a bigger car and more concerned with load capacity yet I am finding the boot capacity, given in litres, a little confusing.

Eg the boot of my BMW E36 saloon is something like 480L yet the capacity in a Jeep Wrangler 4 door is 500L.

Are the manufacturers not allowed to give the full capacity of estates when you use the area above the boot line, for safety reasons maybe? as surely the Jeep has a bigger load area than my saloon.

[Chrisw666]

It is probably space below a load cover they quote. The boot in my Volvo doesn't look huge with the cover in place and the rear seats up but for the past few weeks I have had them down (to aid cornering) and the thing will swallow as much as I can find to put in it.

Useful boot space is more relevant though surely as most manufacturers count the useless space near the arches into their volume.

[croyde]

Sorry people, think I have answered my own question. Thanks to the Autotrader site that has all the dimensions of each car for sale, it would appear that the capacity is measured up to the bootline.

Eg 3-series saloon 460L

3-series touring also 460L and 1300L with back seats down.

Makes it a bit difficult to work out which estate/MPV/4x4/SUV to go for.

Think what I'll do is load up my boot and roofbox to the gunnels and then turn up at various dealers who'll let me see if I can easily get everything out of mine into the back of whatever they have for sale

[randlemarcus]

As you're discovering, not all holes are equal.

Do bear in mind height of the load platform - my OH does book drops, and its a lot easier getting boxes in at knee height in her V40 than at waist height in the Cayenne

[Ozzie Osmond]

croyde said:

Need a bigger car and more concerned with load capacity yet I am finding the boot capacity, given in litres, a little confusing.

I find those measures useless. You need to look at cars and judge by eye how much space you need.

For a BIG estate you need to be looking at 5-series as a minimum and more likely a Mondeo or an E-class. Also for best use of space you want a fully flat floor (with no lip at the back either so easy loading) and no suspension turrets intruding.

[croyde]

Ozzie Osmond said:

croyde said:

Need a bigger car and more concerned with load capacity yet I am finding the boot capacity, given in litres, a little confusing.

I find those measures useless. You need to look at cars and judge by eye how much space you need.

For a BIG estate you need to be looking at 5-series as a minimum and more likely a Mondeo or an E-class. Also for best use of space you want a fully flat floor (with no lip at the back either so easy loading) and no suspension turrets intruding.

Very true.

My BiL's E46 Touring has barely anymore useful room as the roof slopes so much in order to make the car look more sporting. Seems to be the problem with most mid-size estates that I see.