The loading volume in liters is usually the first criterion when looking for family cars with large trunks. Mainly if there is also a need for a room for a dog. An essential factor for practical loading and unloading in everyday life is the variability of the interior, including the back seat.
In many models, you can either fold down the back seat entirely or only partially – for example, just the right seat or just the left two seats. The benefit: with this “asymmetrical division”, you have different load capacities available for different transport tasks, from taking the kids on a trip to picking up a piece of furniture.
Further practical car equipment for families includes:
- Baggage compartment cover prevents objects from flying forward and causing injuries during emergency braking, for instance.
- Illuminated trunk: Keeps everything in view, even in poor lighting conditions, and prevents even the little teddy bear from getting lost.
- Lower loading sill: It makes it easier to load and unload heavy objects, such as drink crates or strollers.
- Lashing options for fixing the load, for instance, for the dog crate.
- Through-loading option for long items: to stow skis or a surfboard.
How do they measure trunk volume?
The trunk volume of a vehicle is usually specified with a range of liters. For instance: from 380 to 1,600 liters. It means that with upright rear seats, a car has a trunk volume of 380 liters. But if the rear seats are folded down, the load area increases to 1,600 liters.
So, suppose you’re traveling with children on the back seat bench, and the rear seat backrest is positioned vertically. In that case, you naturally can’t use the full 1,600 liters, but only the 380 liters, like in this example.
Car with a large trunk for baby carriages
An essential requirement for many looking for a family car is the ability to accommodate the stroller as efficiently as possible. In addition, space should be available for additional, small luggage in addition to the stroller. A car must have the following criteria for guidance on precisely these requirements:
- The inner width of the trunk: At least 95 centimeters.
- Trunk opening height: minimum 62 centimeters
- Luggage compartment volume, roof high: minimum 600 liters
- Loading sill height: 70 centimeters maximum
Trunk space for dogs – this is what’s important
Even the beloved four-legged friends should be safe on the road. Lashing options should be available if dogs are placed in a transport box in the trunk. This will prevent the box from moving back and forth during the journey.
With larger dogs with correspondingly larger boxes, high-roof station wagons have proven practical, for example, the Citroën Berlingo XL, Peugeot Rifter or Dacia Dokker. Just as important: The trunk should not be separated from the rest of the interior. That way, you’ll know immediately if the animal is not feeling well during the journey and makes itself heard, for example, by whimpering.
Station wagon, SUV or van? What type of vehicle should it be?
If you’re looking solely at the size of the trunk, then both station wagons and SUVs come into question. Sometimes it’s the station wagon, and sometimes it’s the SUV that comes out on top when it comes to cargo volume, according to the model.
However, other factors come into play when choosing a vehicle, particularly for families: Station wagons are generally cheaper to maintain and insure. SUVs offer a higher seating position and all-round visibility. In addition, the massive construction also offers safety advantages, for instance, in the event of a crash.
The van is the best choice for large families with three or more children. It offers plenty of space and a very versatile interior. Many models, for instance, have a third row of seats, making it possible to take more children and dogs along.
Movable, folding and expandable seats thus make different types of transport possible – from transporting a group of children to loading the surfboard, from skiing trips including equipment to a weekend vacation with five suitcases.
7 family cars with large trunks
Now that we have much more information about what makes a good family car, in the following, we will take a look at 7 of the best family cars with large trunks currently on the market.
Nissan X-Trail – SUV feeling plus space comfort
Seven seats and a load volume of up to 1,996 liters mean it won’t be cramped inside. Nissan X-Trail is based on the same platform as the Qashqai, but it is 30 centimeters longer, making a total of 4.69 meters. The backrests can be folded down asymmetrically, allowing you to vary the cargo space.
You can store small luggage under the variable load floor, where you can use around 115 liters of volume. The Japanese car also has lashing eyes for securing larger cargo such as the dog box. Next year, Nissan’s fourth-generation X-Trail will be launched in the summer of 2022.
Ford Galaxy: the large-capacity sedan
Ford’s classic. The American brand’s family car with the largest trunk is the Ford Galaxy. This van swallows 2,339 liters when all rows of seats are folded down. At 1.92 meters wide, 1.75 meters high and with a wheelbase of 2.85 meters, the Galaxy has room for up to 7 people.
The rear seat can be folded down at the touch of a button. Useful in everyday life: thanks to “Easy Entry” seats in the second row, you can get to the third row more easily. Again, just press a button – and the front seats move forward, and the backrests tilt.
VW Touran: The popular compact van
The luggage compartment measures up to 1,980 liters, with the third row of seats available as an option. The box-shaped body allows enough space for five people. The rear seats can be moved, a plus for variability. For the trunk, Volkswagen has developed a “luggage compartment management package”.
The trunk can be designed individually and according to your needs thanks to a rail system in the side trim and an elastic net that you can also use as a trunk bag with the help of the Velcro fasteners on the sides. This depends on whether you want to store a stroller or several crates of drinks.
BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer – big brother of the 2 Series Active Tourer
There’s room for three child seats side by side in the Grand Tourer, plus you can unlock and fold them down asymmetrically at the touch of a button in the trunk. As an option, you can open the tailgate at the touch of a button or even by a sensor under the rear bumper. This seven-seater offers 560 to 1,820 liters of cargo space.
The loading opening is high and wide enough to accommodate bulky items such as children’s bicycles in the trunk. In addition, BMW’s 2 Series Grand Tourer impresses with extensive safety features – but the overall package from the Bavarians also comes at a price.
Citroën Berlingo XL – the high roof station wagon
Handy for all those who not only have small children but a big dog as well. When the dog needs to be stored in the transport box in the trunk, there’s plenty of room in the Citroën Berlingo XL. Up front, there’s still room for up to seven people – courtesy of a vehicle length of 4.75 meters. For example, you can also easily remove the two seats in the third row to store a bicycle.
The convenient space and the fair price make the French car an exciting option for practical-minded families. Trunk volume with five seats varies between 850 and 1,050 liters.
Opel Zafira – the practical family friend
The cargo space in the Zafira five-seater is barely larger at 1,860 liters than in the seven-seater, which offers up to 1,792 liters. The cargo area is over a meter wide, with the lower end at a pleasantly low 65 centimeters above the floor. A large tailgate ensures a convenient opening, allowing you to easily stow even bulky items. The single seats on the rear bench can be folded down separately, for instance, in the Opel Zafira 2.0 CDTI ecoFlex. A significant gain in variability.
Skoda Superb Combi – intelligent comfort
This Czech offers a respectable trunk volume of 660 to 1,950 liters. The low loading sill of 62 centimeters and various lashing hooks and lashing eyes are pleasing for moms and dads. The optional convenience opening means you only have to move your foot under the bumper – to open the trunk.
This is ideal when you have the child in one arm and the shopping bag in the other. In addition, Skoda Superb Combi has two lights in the tailgate and a removable lamp in the side trim. Ingenious details for day and night.
Other family cars with large trunks
Besides the models presented here, depending on individual requirements and preferences, there are also several other reasonable cars with plenty of cargo space for families with children and dogs.
For instance, Kia Ceed SW, Peugeot 508 SW, VW Passat Variant or Renault Espace. From the station wagon to the SUV to the electric van. Here’s our tip for the new family car: simply test-drive one of the models you’re interested in and experience the space and driving feel in person.
