Average boot size by type of car
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There are many types of car bodies to choose from and their looks can be deceiving. For example, some SUVs look big on the outside, but they aren’t as big on the inside. You can make a guess of course, but as I have a database of boot dimensions of the most popular cars for camping, why not make your life easier – by providing the average boot dimensions.
In this article:
Average boot length, width and height:
The averages are calculated from 90 cars in our database. MPVs/Minivans have the biggest boot by all measures – the longest, widest and tallest. Station wagons (estates/combis) or SUVs have about the same average boot length and width, but SUVs offer 10cm more boot height, on average. Hatchbacks are not far behind in terms of boot length or width, but fall behind with their compact and low boot. The three cars in the Small car category don’t surprise with their boot length or width, but their boot is taller than hatchbacks, estates and almost taller than the average SUV! But this measurement is based on only 3 cars, so don’t run out buying a Punto for camping just yet!
The most important dimension is always the boot length – if you can’t stretch your legs in there when sleeping, you won’t last long in there, no matter how keen you are (it is still possible to sleep in the smallest cars, mind you).
Body type | Average boot length (cm) | Average boot height (cm) | Average boot width (wheel arches) (cm) | Number of cars | Average consumption l/100km |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Small car / City car | 122 | 86 | 100 | 3 | 6.9 |
Hatchback | 176 | 71 | 100 | 2 | 6.5 |
Station Wagon / Estate | 186 | 77 | 104 | 9 | 7.45 |
SUV | 187 | 87 | 108 | 21 | 9.95 |
MPV / Minivan | 202 | 106 | 117 | 55 | 7.60 |
The MPV / Minivan category is strongly influenced by US Minivans, like the Honda Odyssey and similar cars – they are bigger than a typical European MPV. Let’s take a look at the same table, but US and EU separately:
Average boot length, width and height – EU cars:
Body type | Average boot length (cm) | Average boot height (cm) | Average boot width (wheel arches) (cm) | Number of cars | Average consumption l/100km |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Small car / City car | 122 | 86 | 100 | 3 | 6.9 |
Hatchback | 185 | 69 | 104 | 1 | 6.5 |
Station Wagon / Estate | 186 | 77 | 104 | 9 | 7.45 |
SUV | 188 | 86 | 106 | 17 | 9.53 |
MPV / Minivan | 198 | 105 | 116 | 49 | 7.13 |
Average boot length, width and height – US cars:
Body type | Average boot length (cm) | Average boot height (cm) | Average boot width (wheel arches) (cm) | Number of cars | Average consumption l/100km |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hatchback | 167 | 73 | 96 | 1 | |
SUV | 180 | 92 | 117 | 4 | 12.85 |
MPV / Minivan | 235 | 113 | 123 | 6 | 11.2 |
The Minivans made in the US are much longer and taller, even wider than their EU counterparts. You can generally get these cars in the EU too, but they are more expensive to service and to run too – see the average consumption difference between EU and US-made cars.
You will get a bit more legroom for a much higher fuel bill – and environmental impact.
There is a way to get the size of an US-mad Minivan in an EU car – the VW Caddy Maxi or the new Hyundai Staria or Doblo Combi Maxi XL offer very similar, if not bigger boot dimensions, with a much lower consumption:
Here are the top 12 cars included in this analysis
(sorted by their NimbleCamper rating)
Lukas
Founder of NimbleCamper.com, avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast. Car camping and microcamping allows me to keep traveling and exploring with a much greater level of freedom & privacy – to go anywhere and sleep anywhere. I didn’t have 30K to buy a VW Multivan, so found my way to the world of everyday car camping conversions. Here I share my experiences and what I learn.
Check out my thoughts on a balanced life: sensimism.com