How to compare boot space when a brochure number is not enough

Boot volume is a useful number until you try to load something awkward. Two cars with similar litres can behave very differently when the object is tall, wide, long, heavy, or needed alongside a rear-facing child restraint. Compare boot space as a loading task, not as a single brochure statistic.

Define what must fit

Write down the items that travel most often. Include a pram, school bags, sports equipment, groceries, mobility equipment, work tools, a dog crate, or luggage for the people who use the car. Measure the largest item when folded or packed, including wheels, handles, and protective cases.

Mark the dimensions in three directions: length, width, and height. Note the shape of the item. A rectangular case may fit through the opening but fail between the wheel arches. A pram may fit with the parcel shelf removed but leave no room for bags. A tall box may require a vertical hatch and a high roofline.

Read the specification carefully

Record the published volume, the measurement method if stated, the seat position, the parcel shelf position, and the spare-wheel arrangement. Manufacturer figures can use different methods, so a litre number is strongest when comparing vehicles measured on the same basis.

Check the floor height, underfloor storage, rear-seat split, and whether the seats fold flat. A lower floor can make heavy items easier to lift but may create a step when the seats fold. A higher floor can be useful for a dog or a folded pram but reduce vertical clearance.

Use the exact New Zealand model and trim page. An imported specification, overseas body, or different powertrain may have a different boot floor. Toyota's New Zealand catalogue is one place to start, but the dealer should confirm the vehicle you can actually order.

Measure the opening, not only the floor

At the dealer, measure or compare:

• the narrowest part of the hatch opening;
• the distance between wheel arches;
• the height from the ground to the loading lip;
• the distance from the lip to the rear seat backs;
• the height under the parcel shelf; and
• the space left when the rear seats are in their normal position.

Open the hatch in a low garage and on a slope if those are normal conditions. Check whether a person can stand behind the car without blocking a footpath or traffic. Try the handle, powered-hatch height setting, and release from inside the cabin.

Test the family layout at the same time

Boot space and rear-seat space compete. Install the child restraints or boosters that your family uses, set the front seats for real drivers, and then load the pram or cargo. NZTA says a restraint must fit the vehicle and child, and its installation guidance says the back seat is preferred where possible. The fit test should therefore include the complete seating and cargo arrangement.

For two or three restraints, see where the bags go. A large boot is less useful if every trip requires putting a school bag on a seat or leaving the parcel shelf at home. Check that the boot can be reached without climbing over a restraint or placing loose items near a child.

Consider loading effort and security

Lift the heaviest object into the boot. Test the bumper height, lip, handle access, and whether the hatch gives enough clearance. A deep boot may hold more but make a heavy box harder to remove. A high SUV opening may reduce bending for one person and increase lift height for another.

Look for tie-down points, hooks, a cover, and a way to keep smaller objects from moving. Do not assume a net or divider is included because it appears in a photograph. Ask for the price and fitment of any cargo accessory.

Try seats folded and occupied

Fold each rear-seat section and check the resulting length and level. Test a bicycle, flat-pack item, or luggage case only if you normally carry it. Check whether the driver's seating position remains usable and whether the folded seat blocks a mirror or obscures the rear window.

If six or seven seats are important, load the boot with the rearmost seats occupied. A seven-seat claim can describe a layout with little luggage space behind the third row. Take the family and equipment to the test drive; photographs cannot settle this.

Keep a comparison record

For each vehicle, record published volume, opening measurements, floor height, usable width, seat configuration, actual test items, and the feature that failed or passed. Add price, safety equipment, warranty, tyres, and running costs. Consumer Protection recommends considering the vehicle's wider costs and intended use, not only the sale price.

What a showroom cannot tell you

Boot measurements vary by model year, trim, spare wheel, seat position, and measurement method. A showroom test cannot reproduce every trip or guarantee that a restraint is correctly installed. Confirm the exact vehicle specifications, take your own equipment to the dealer, follow both manuals, and use a qualified restraint technician when needed.

Sources

• Researching cars and sellers — Consumer Protection New Zealand
• Requirements for using child restraints — NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
• Installing and using a child restraint — NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
• New Toyota RAV4 — Toyota New Zealand