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23 September 2024Kitchen sink carriers: EVs with the biggest boot space
Whether you’re looking for a car to haul three kids and the kitchen sink on camping trips or just something to do the weekly shop, the size of the boot can be a deal-breaker. That’s why we’ve done some research on electric vehicles (EVs) with the biggest boot space.
As the EV market has ballooned, so has the number of makes and models. There are old favourites remastered as well as a host of brands new to the UK.
To help you choose which one’s right for you, we’ve determined the EVs with the biggest boot space by class of car:
- Superminis
- Small family cars
- Large family cars and SUVs
- Executive cars
Superminis
If you were around in the 1990s, there’s a good chance you’ll remember Nicole et Papa, and Nicole’s Renault Clio. If you’re too young (lucky you), YouTube is your friend.
The supermini class is epitomised by those iconic TV ads: small cars designed for nipping around the cobbled streets of the 18th arrondissement.
These days, of course, the Clio is making way for the Zoe, its electric compatriot.
Cars in this class tend to have limited boot space. But they’re generally the most affordable, great for daily driving, and perfect if you live in a town or city.
The big question is: how many Louis Vuitton shopping bags could Nicole cram into one?
The winner: Renault Zoe
As luck would have it, the Renault Zoe wins.
It’s got 338 litres available with the seats up, and 1225 litres with the seats down, just pipping the Vauxhall Corsa-e and the Peugeot e-208. Nicole can shop till she drops.
Supermini boot space: the top three
Car | Boot space with seats up (litres) | Boot space with seats down (litres) | Frunk (litres) | Total space available (litres) | |
1 | Renault Zoe | 338 | 1225 | 0 | 1225 |
2 | Vauxhall Corsa-e | 309 | 1118 | 0 | 1118 |
3 | Peugeot e-208 | 265 | 1106 | 0 | 1106 |
Small family cars
The good old family hatchback. It’s big enough to carry the kids and all their paraphernalia. But it’s not so bloated you get flustered trying to squeeze past a bin lorry in town.
This size vehicle is popular with people looking for an entry into the EV market. It includes standard hatchbacks, small SUVs, and smaller estates.
Some of the most commonly seen electric cars on the road, such as the Nissan Leaf, VW ID3, and BMW i3, fall into this bracket.
The winner: Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric
There’s no space for the Nissan, VW, or BMW in the top three.
After running Renault close in the supermini class, Vauxhall claims top spot this time with its Astra Sports Tourer Electric.
You get a total of 1533 litres of carrying capacity with the seats folded down. Peugeot features again with their e-2008. The MG 5 completes the podium.
Small family car boot space: the top three
Car | Boot space with seats up (litres) | Boot space with seats down (litres) | Frunk (litres) | Total space available (litres) | |
1 | Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric | 516 | 1533 | 0 | 1533 |
2 | Peugeot e-2008 | 434 | 1467 | 0 | 1467 |
3 | MG MG5 | 479 | 1367 | 0 |
Large family cars and SUVs
This segment is huge: our research unearthed 87 different models available. It also contains the three best-selling EVs in the UK: the Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, and Kia e-Niro. Together these three accounted for over 66,000 new car sales in the UK in 2022.
There are plenty of options from brands big in the diesel and petrol-pumping market, such as BMW, Audi, and Volvo, as well as several EV-specific brands, such as BYD, Polestar, Cupra, and Tesla. If you’re shopping in this class, you’ve got a big parking lot to choose from.
These bigger vehicles can be incredibly practical. In some of them, pop the seats down and you’ve got a small van, more-or-less.
The winner: Tesla Model Y
Like Usain Bolt in a 100m sprint, this category’s got a clear winner. The Tesla Model Y has an enormous 854-litre boot that expands to a gargantuan 2158 litres with the seats down.
And it doesn’t end there.
In case you’re still short of room, it’s got a 117-litre frunk (the space where the dirty engine sits in an internal combustion engine, or ICE, car). That’s a total of 2275 litres.
You won’t need to stop at the kitchen sink; you’ll be able to pack the oven, fridge, and washing machine too.
Large family cars and SUVs boot space: the top three
Car | Boot space with seats up (litres) | Boot space with seats down (litres) | Frunk (litres) | Total space available (litres) | |
1 | Tesla Model Y | 854 | 2158 | 117 | 2275 |
2 | Skoda Enyaq iV | 585 | 1710 | 0 | 1710 |
3 | Subaru Solterra | 575 | 1700 | 0 | 1700 |
Executive cars
A segment for the high-rollers. The executive car class covers luxury vehicles that cost upwards of £70,000. As you’d imagine, these cars are packed with features and their performance is on another level.
Some cars in this class have ranges well over 300 miles; others could keep up with a Formula One car in a 0-60 mph test.
That’s all well and good, we hear you cry, but what about the boot?
The winner: BMW iX
They might be high-end, but they’re no Tesla Model Y when it comes to carrying capacity.
The winner of the executive cars class is the BMW iX. It’s got a standard boot of 500 litres, expanding to 1750 litres with the seats down, making it the second biggest overall on test.
Executive cars boot space: the top three
Car | Boot space with seats up (litres) | Boot space with seats down (litres) | Frunk (litres) | Total space available (litres) | |
1 | BMW iX | 500 | 1750 | 0 | 1750 |
2 | Mercedes EQE SUV | 520 | 1675 | 0 | 1675 |
3 | Polestar 4 | 500 | 1536 | 15 | 1551 |
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