NEWS
We’ve found manufacturer-published cargo specifications an unreliable representation of space, especially when comparing numbers across different vehicle types and automakers. So we developed our own method of evaluating the cargo space behind the backseats of test vehicles that’s consistent across all vehicles, regardless of brand or body style.
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This is a complicated task, as cargo areas are hardly uniform spaces. Our as-tested volumes combine two measurements: relatively straightforward depth, width and height within a typical cargo area’s major boundaries — the usable space if you needed to fit a large rectangular box from, say, your local furniture store — and then all the various nooks outside of that box into which an owner might stuff belongings.
We report this total volume behind the backseat or, for a three-row vehicle, behind the second row with the third row folded. For three-row vehicles, we conduct a separate accounting of space behind the third row using the same methodology, and we publish both figures. We don’t cite maximum room (with all seats folded) because too many variables exist to accurately measure such volume with the tools at our disposal. (The variables include space in the second-row footwells and the many crevices inherent in rear doors.)
We won’t go into great detail, both because it would get terribly boring and because we worked for many years to arrive at a methodology that we don’t want to share with competitors, but here are the highlights:
All of our figures are comparable regardless of body style or seating configuration — which is to say, you can compare our numbers between hatchback and sedan body styles for a given nameplate. That said, cargo volume alone is but one facet of overall storage provisions. Remember, the open cargo areas in a hatchback, wagon, minivan or SUV still present inherent advantages to maximize cargo room behind the first row, with other seats folded. Enclosed trunks in sedans and coupes, by contrast, universally limit what you can shoehorn through an opening with the backseat folded down.
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You might notice our volumes are often much smaller than manufacturer-published cargo volumes in open cargo areas, even behind the second or third row. Such manufacturer-published volumes may extend to the ceiling or bear other differences in practice, such as seating position or what exactly gets accounted for. Practices are hardly uniform from one automaker to another, or even between two cars from the same automaker. Our as-tested cargo volumes aim to give real-world consistency across the spectrum.
Always secure your cargo, and note that certain specifics — namely, a spare tire or extra stereo speakers — can alter cargo volume in the example you’re shopping versus what we test. To give the best frame of reference, we’ll note all relevant specifics in each test car for which we publish cargo volume.
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