Which small car has the best boot space?

Despite their popularity, not everyone wants a dual-cab ute or an SUV. Luckily, there is still plenty to choose from in the small car segment.

There are various body styles with the choice of petrol, turbo-petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full EV powertrains.

According to VFACTS 38,210 buyers have opted to purchase a small car less than $40k in Australia to the end of June 2024.

However, which make and model in the less than $40k class has the biggest boot?

Boot space is calculated using one of two methods, SAE or VDA.

Society of Automotive Engineers or (SAE) for short, is an American method using small objects to fill all the cargo area, including the nooks and crannies, that aren’t always accessible.

The Vehicle Design Area (VDA) employs one-litre size blocks measuring 200x100x50mm. The blocks loaded in, counted and the tally converted into cubic metres.

Often the SAE method provides a higher figure though one can argue the VDA method is more realistic.

We’ve used the manufacturers official figures utilising the VDA method, where possible, in compiling the information, using the figures with the rear seat upright and dropped down.

Taking out the win is the sedan version of the ever popular Kia Cerato.

The booted Cerato’s cargo capacity juxtaposes the small car tagline by offering 502 litres of space, making it genuinely family-friendly motoring. Put into perspective, a 2016 VF Holden Commodore SV6 affords 496 litres – although it was available with a full-size spare.

Both the sedan and hatchback gain 60/40-split folding rear seats, but the latter offers added flexibility via its taller body style despite a smaller on-paper figure of 428 litres.
Sadly, the rear seats don’t lie completely flat when stowed in the sedan, making the loading of some items a little bit awkward and there is no official capacity figure with the cabin in this configuration.

A boon for the Cerato hatch is the inclusion underfloor storage in the boot, a cargo net and parcel shelf.

Kia Cerato hatchback dimensions
Length – 4510mm
Width – 1800mm
Height – 1445mm
Cargo capacity – seats up: 428L

Kia Cerato sedan dimensions
Length – 4640mm
Width – 1800mm
Height – 1440mm
Cargo capacity – seats up: 502L

Hyundai’s well-liked i30 grabs the second spot on the podium. And it shouldn’t come as a surprise given it is the parent company to Kia.

Like its sibling, the i30 comes in both sedan and hatchback form with the choice of turbo-petrol and hybrid engines.

The sedan grabs the headlines with its 474-litre cargo capacity, while the hatchback comes in at 395 litres.

Both employ 60/40-split folding rear seats, but it’s the hatchback’s boot that balloons to 1301 litres with them stowed.

The hatch also gains some handy features such as two bag hooks to secure shopping items as well as four tiedown points for larger items.

Hyundai i30 hatchback dimensions
Length – 4340mm
Width – 1795mm
Height – 1455mm
Cargo capacity – seats up: 395L/seats down: 1301L

Hyundai i30 sedan dimensions
Length – 4710mm
Width – 1825mm
Height – 1420mm
Cargo capacity – seats up: 474L

Claiming third-place honours is one of Australia’s most-popular cars, the Toyota Corolla.

However, like the two contenders ahead of it, the sedan does most of the heavy hauling here with its sizeable 470-litre boot.

Apart from the sporty GR variant, the venerated Corolla range is also now exclusively hybrid.

While the hatchback ultimately offers great carrying versatility with a capacity of 1052 litres with the rear 60/40-split folding seats stowed, the five-door Corolla struggles with them in place. The cargo bay drops to just 217 litres in this arrangement.

The sedan also utilises 60/40-split folding back seats for extra convenience and is only 54 litres shy of its bigger sibling, the Camry.

Toyota Corolla hatchback dimensions
Length – 4375mm
Width – 1790mm
Height – 1435mm
Cargo capacity – seats up: 217L/seats down: 1052L

Toyota Corolla sedan dimensions
Length – 4630mm
Width – 1780mm
Height – 1435mm
Cargo capacity – 470L

While the Skoda Scala misses out on a top-three finish, it can take solace in being the most commodious hatchback in the small car segment.

The Scala does this by virtue of a 467-litre boot, a figure achieved with the 60/40-split folding rear seats in the upright position.

Folding them liberates the useable space to an SUV-like 1410 litres while the Scala has an assortment of useful hooks for shopping bags and a profusion of restraint net. Skoda’s traditional umbrella also features in the front door.

There are two variants on offer in the Scala range with two differing turbo-petrol engines powering the front wheels via a dual-clutch gearbox.

Skoda Scala dimensions
Length – 4362mm
Width – 1793mm
Height – 1471mm
Cargo capacity – seats up: 467L/seats down: 1410L

Holding positive sentiment with Aussie buyers, the Mazda3 is a fan favourite for a reason.

Mazda’s small car player comes in both sedan and hatchback form, with the latter lagging in both function and outright capacity due to its design.

So, there’s no prizes for guessing it’s the sedan’s 444-litre boot that does the heavy lifting here. The booted Mazda3’s pragmatism is further aided by 60/40-split folding rear seats to accommodate longer items.

The hatchback makes do with 295 litres of storage space, but that figure jumps to 1026 litres with the 60/40-split folding back seats stowed.

Skyactiv-X and a manual transmission are no longer available with the Mazda3. Hence the range now comprises naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines tied to an automatic transmission.

Mazda3 hatchback dimensions
Length – 4460mm
Width – 1800mm
Height – 1435mm
Cargo capacity – seats up: 295L/seats down: 1026L.

Mazda3 sedan dimensions
Length – 4460mm
Width – 1795mm
Height – 1440mm
Cargo capacity – seats up: 444L

Another brand winning loads of Aussie buyers is MG. No longer the pride of British motoring, the MG brand is now Chinese owned.

The MG5 compact sedan is offered in two variants with the entry-model Vibe having a drive-away price of $25k.

The MG MG5s swoopy-styled sedan features a fold-down rear seat, but when in its upright position 401 litres of boot space is available.

MG MG5 dimensions
Length – 4675mm
Width – 1842mm
Height – 1473mm
Cargo capacity – seats up: 401L

Over the years the Volkswagen Golf has grown since its launch five decades ago.

Putting aside the performance models, GTI and R, the Golf hatchback has a four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, driving the front wheels.

The rear seat is 60/40-split folding and the boot affords 374 litres of space with the rear pews in place. Fold them and there’s a generous 1230 litres available.

Volkswagen Golf dimensions
Length – 4284mm
Width – 1789mm
Height – 1475mm
Cargo capacity – seats up: 374L/seats down: 1230L

Carsales Car of the Year for 2023 is the electric powered (EV) MG4 hatchback.

Four variants are offered and the range is up to 530 kilometres on a single battery charge, depending on the model.

The MG4’s practical styling gives it between 350 and 363 litres of boot space (depending on the variant) with the seat upright.

Lowering the 60/40-split folding rear seats increase the boot space to between 1165 and1177 litres depending on the model.

The boot area also comes with a cargo net to keep items secure.

MG4 dimensions
Length – 4287mm
Width – 1836mm
Height – 1504mm
Cargo capacity – seats up: 350-363L/seats down: 1165-1177L

One of the newest brands in Australia and making huge inroads is BYD (Build Your Dreams).

Its Dolphin hatchback is a fully electric vehicle and available in two variants, Dynamic and Premium.

The Dynamic has a 410 kilometre range while the Premium extends to 490 kilometres. The battery packs comes with an eight year-160,000 km warranty.

With the 60/40-split folding rear seats in place the cargo capacity is a respectable 345 litres. Drop both seat sections down and that figure expands to 1310 litres.

BYD Dolphin dimensions
Length – 4290mm
Width – 1770mm
Height – 1570mm
Boot capacity – seats up: 345L/seats down: 1310L

Subaru’s long-standing Impreza is now an all-hatchback line-up (not including WRX and Sportswagon).

Like all Subarus, the Impreza is all-wheel drive with the signature boxer engine mated to a CVT.

To keep prying eyes invisible to its contents, the boot area has a retractable cargo blind and 291 litres of space with the rear seats upright.

With the 60/40-split folding back pews lowered the space expands to 883 litres.

Subaru Impreza dimensions
Length – 4490mm
Width – 1780mm
Height – 1480mm
Cargo capacity – seats up: 291L/seats down: 883L

The GWM Ora is a small EV hatchback and is manufactured by the makers of Haval.

Three variants complete the Ora line-up in Australia, with only the entry level variant dipping below $40k before ORCs.

Both standard and long-range options are available while up to a maximum of 420km in range can be achieved from one charge.

Boot space is the tightest of the small car class with 228 litres on offer with the split-folding rear seats in place and 858 litres with them stowed.

GWM Ora dimensions
Length – 4235mm
Width – 1825mm
Height – 1603mm
Cargo capacity – seats up: 228L/seats down: 858L

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