Luggage Test Mega Round-Up: All our cargo tests grouped into segments
I’ve now been doing luggage tests since late 2019, which amounts to an awful lot of cars at this point. Most of those tests are still valid since, as you’ll see below, relatively few have been replaced by a next generation or new model (at least for now, obviously). I figured it was finally time to put them all onto one hub page broken down into segments, rather than relying on the simple, chronological tag page.
For newcomers to this series, all of the below tests use the exact same set of six suitcases to measure the cargo capacity of various new cars. It’s admittedly a hodge-podge collection of luggage since that’s just what was in my garage back in 2019. The main goal is to see how well those bags fit inside the cargo area or trunk of the vehicle in question. In the case of three-row vehicles, the test involves how many bags fit behind the raised third-row seat. In some instances, I turn to a collection of extra items from my garage to fill ‘er up when the standard set leaves plenty of extra room.
My main observation after doing all these tests has been that doing so has been surprisingly useful. Manufacturer-provided cargo volumes, reported in cubic-feet, are inconsistent in what exactly they are measuring (to the roof? to the back of the seat? other?) and aren’t really comparable between body styles. These luggage tests provide a standardized, real-world comparison between vehicles even if they’re hardly scientific.
I broke tests down into various vehicle segments, with some vehicles residing in multiple categories. That includes a separate, redundant electric vehicles category since people frequently cross-shop body styles. The vehicle in each segment capable of holding the most stuff is pictured and highlighted.
Subcompact SUVs | Compact SUVs | Midsize SUVs
Luxury Subcompact SUVs | Luxury Compact SUVs | Luxury Midsize SUVs
Three-Row Crossover SUVs | Three-Row Traditional SUVs | Luxury Three-Row SUVs
Compact Sedans | Midsize Sedans | Luxury Sedans
Hatchbacks | Wagons
Other
Electric Vehicles
Best test result in segment: Ford Bronco Sport
Subcompact SUVs
Chevrolet Trailblazer
Ford Bronco Sport
Honda HR-V
Hyundai Kona (first generation)
Hyundai Venue
Kia Niro Hybrid, PHEV and Electric
Kia Seltos
Mazda CX-30
Nissan Kicks
Subaru Crosstrek
Volkswagen Taos FWD
Best test result in segment: Kia Sportage
Compact SUVs
Ford Escape
Honda CR-V
Hyundai Tucson
Kia Sportage
Mazda CX-5
Mazda CX-50
Mitsubishi Outlander
Nissan Rogue
Subaru Forester
Subaru Outback (yeah it’s a wagon, but commonly cross-shopped with these)
Toyota RAV4
Toyota Venza
Volkswagen ID.4
Best test result in segment: Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class
Luxury Subcompact SUVs
Audi Q3
Audi Q4 E-Tron
Mercedes-Benz EQB
Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class
Best test result in segment: Acura RDX
Luxury Compact SUVs
Acura RDX
Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Audi Q5
BMW X3 with Spare Tire
Genesis GV70
Infiniti QX55
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class (2016-2022)
Volvo XC60 Recharge
Best test result in segment: Toyota 4Runner
Midsize SUVs
Ford Bronco 2-Door
Ford Bronco 4-Door (includes comparison with Wrangler)
Ford Mustang Mach-E (we put this in “Hatchbacks” too)
Hyundai Ioniq 5 (we put this in “Hatchbacks” too)
Jeep Wrangler 4-Door
Kia EV6 (we put this in “Hatchbacks” too)
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Subaru Outback (yeah it’s a wagon, but commonly cross-shopped with these)
Toyota 4Runner
Best test result in segment: Kia Telluride
Three-Row Crossover SUVs
Honda Pilot
Honda Pilot (2016-2022)
Hyundai Palisade
Kia Sorento
Kia Telluride
Mazda CX-9 (2016-2023)
Mazda CX-90
Mitsubishi Outlander
Nissan Pathfinder
Subaru Ascent
Toyota Highlander
Best test result in segment: Jeep Wagoneer
Three-Row Traditional SUVs
Chevrolet Tahoe (and GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade)
Ford Expedition (and Lincoln Navigator)
Jeep Wagoneer
Toyota Sequoia
Best test result in segment: Land Rover Defender 110
Luxury Midsize SUVs
Audi Q8 E-Tron Sportback
Land Rover Defender 110
Lexus RX (2016-2022)
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Porsche Cayenne “Coupe”
Range Rover Sport
Best test result in segment: Literally the Grand Wagoneer, but among three-row luxury crossovers, the XC90.
Luxury Three-Row SUVs
Cadillac XT6
Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class
Volvo XC90
Best test result in segment: Honda Civic
Compact Sedans
Honda Civic
Hyundai Elantra
Mazda3 (comparison with sedan, hatchback and CX-30)
Best test result in segment: Honda Accord
Midsize Sedans
Honda Accord
Honda Accord (2018-2022)
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Hyundai Sonata
Toyota Camry
Subaru Legacy
Volkswagen Passat (final generation)
Best test result in segment: Lucid Air
Luxury Sedans
Acura TLX
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Audi E-Tron GT
BMW 2 Series Gran “Coupe”
BMW 3 Series (compares 330e and gas-only versions)
Cadillac CT4
Cadillac CT5
Genesis G70
Lucid Air
Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan
Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan (it’s technically a hatchback, so it’s down there, too)
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Polestar 2 (it’s technically a hatchback, so it’s down there, too)
Best test result in segment: Literally the Mercedes EQS, but in terms of a traditional hatchback, the Subaru Crosstrek/Impreza
Hatchbacks
Acura Integra
BMW i4
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Honda Civic Hatchback (including Type R)
Honda Civic Hatchback (2017-2021)
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Hyundai Venue
Kia EV6
Mazda3 (comparison with sedan, hatchback and CX-30)
Mercedes-Benz EQS “Sedan”
Polestar 2
Subaru Impreza/Crosstrek
Subaru Impreza/Crosstrek (2018-2023)
Toyota Prius
Best test result in segment: Subaru Outback
Wagons
Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo
Subaru Outback
Volvo V60 Cross Country
Volvo V90 and V60 Comparison
Other
Aston Martin Vantage
BMW 4 Series Convertible
Chevrolet Corvette
Ford Mustang
Ford Ranger SuperCrew
Honda Odyssey
Honda Ridgeline
Lexus LC Coupe
Mazda MX-5 Miata RF
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Cargo Van 170″
Porsche 718 Cayman
Subaru BRZ & Toyota 86
Toyota Supra
Best test result of an electric vehicle: Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Electric Vehicles
Audi E-Tron GT
Audi Q4 E-Tron
Audi Q8 E-Tron Sportback
BMW i4
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Kia EV6
Kia Niro Electric
Lucid Air
Mercedes-Benz EQB
Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan
Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Polestar 2
Volkswagen ID.4
