EV Boot Space Australia 2026: Which Electric Cars Actually Carry the Most?

EV boot space in Australia ranges from just over 300 litres in a city hatch to well over 500 litres in a mid-size SUV, and the brochure figures are less comparable than they look. The Tesla Model Y claims the biggest boot at 854 litres. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 claims 520. Load them with the same boxes and the Ioniq 5 fits slightly more.

That gap exists because carmakers measure differently. Some stop at the parcel shelf, some go to the roof, some count the underfloor well, and Tesla adds the front boot to the headline number for the Model 3. If you shop on litres alone, you can end up with a smaller boot than the car you’re replacing.

This guide lines up AU-sourced boot figures for 32 electric cars on sale in Australia as of October 2026, explains how to read them, and picks the best boots at each price point. The demand is real: the Electric Vehicle Council’s State of EVs 2026 report found electric cars took 25.8 percent of new car sales in the first half of 2026. Many of those buyers are families moving from a petrol SUV and wondering if the pram will still fit.

EV boot space in Australia: 32 models compared

The table below uses figures from Australian reviews and spec sheets, mostly CarExpert, checked against brand data where available. Litres are rear boot with seats up, then with rear seats folded, then the front boot (frunk).

Model	Boot, seats up (L)	Seats folded (L)	Frunk (L)
Tesla Model Y	854*	2,022–2,158	117
Tesla Model 3	594*	n/a	88
Skoda Enyaq	585	1,710	None
MG S6 EV (RWD)	581	1,690	86
Xpeng G6	571	1,374	None
VW ID.4	543	1,575	None
Zeekr 7X	539	1,978	62 (RWD)
Hyundai Ioniq 5	520	1,580	57 (RWD)
Kia EV5	513	1,714	67
BYD Sealion 7	500	n/a	58
BYD Atto 3 Evo Premium	490	1,340–1,360	101
Kia EV6 (RWD)	490	1,260	52
Skoda Elroq 85	470	1,580	None
Nissan Ariya (FWD)	466	1,350	None
Geely EX5	461	1,877	Yes, size not stated
Kia EV3	460*	1,251	25
MG S5 EV	453	1,441	None
BYD Atto 3 Evo Dynamic	434	n/a	None
Leapmotor B10	430	1,457	25
Toyota bZ4X (2WD)	421	n/a	None
Hyundai Kona Electric	407	1,241	27
BYD Seal	400	n/a	53
Jaecoo J5 EV	384 (480 to roof)	n/a	35
MG4 Urban	382	1,266	None
BYD Atto 2	380	1,320	None
Geely EX2	375	1,320	70
GWM Ora 5	362	n/a	None
MG4	350	1,165	None
BYD Dolphin	345	1,310	n/a
Mazda 6e	337	1,074 (to roof)	72
Volvo EX30	318	1,000	7
BYD Atto 1	308	1,037	None
Hyundai Inster	280–351 (sliding seat)	n/a	n/a

*Includes an underfloor well. Tesla figures are Tesla’s own and aren’t directly comparable with VDA figures. n/a means no AU figure was published.

Sources: CarExpert reviews (2024 to 2026), ZECAR (BYD Sealion 7), EV Central (Leapmotor B10), WhichCar (Mazda 6e). Figures as published by Australian outlets as of October 2026.

Two things jump out. The mid-size SUVs cluster tightly between 500 and 585 litres, so the differences inside that group matter less than how the space is shaped. And the cheapest cars aren’t always the smallest. The Atto 2 and MG4 Urban both beat the regular MG4, which costs more.

Why boot space figures mislead

Boot litres are only comparable when they’re measured the same way, and in Australia they often aren’t. Four things inflate or shrink the number.

Different measuring methods. VDA, the German standard most European brands use, fills the boot with one-litre blocks up to the top of the rear seatback. Other methods calculate from dimensions or fill to the roof. CarExpert notes that MG doesn’t use the VDA standard, and Toyota and Nissan figures follow their own methods too. Two cars with the same real capacity can be 100 litres apart on paper.

Measured to the roof. The Jaecoo J5 EV shows how big this gap gets. Reviews quote 384 litres to the cargo cover, while CarExpert’s figure of 480 litres is measured to the roof. Same car, same boot, a 25 percent difference. The Mazda 6e’s folded figure jumps from 678 litres to the cargo cover to 1,074 litres to the roof.

Underfloor wells counted in. The Kia EV3’s 460 litres includes a two-level floor. The Model 3’s 594 litres includes a deep cubby under the boot floor. Useful space, but you can’t stack a suitcase into it.

Combined boot and frunk. Tesla advertises 682 litres for the Model 3. That’s the rear boot plus the 88-litre frunk added together. Most rivals list them separately, which makes Tesla look bigger in a straight comparison.

One more quirk: the Ioniq 5, EV3 and Inster have sliding rear seats. Their best figures assume the seat is pushed forward, which is fine with a child seat but not with adults in the back. If a brand quotes a range, like the Inster’s 280 to 351 litres, assume the lower number for a five-person load.

The banana box test: a fairer comparison

The banana box test counts how many identical cardboard boxes fit in a boot, and it often reorders the litre rankings. Norwegian EV reviewer Bjørn Nyland has run it on hundreds of cars. Owners in Australian EV forums increasingly point to his results when someone asks which EV fits the most.

His tests use European-spec cars, which share bodies with Australian models but can differ in trim and floor liners. He also removes boot floor panels and slides adjustable rear seats fully forward, which flatters some cars. Treat the counts as a relative guide, not a spec.

Model	Boot (boxes)	Rear seats folded (boxes)
Hyundai Ioniq 5	11	25
Kia EV5	11	27
Skoda Enyaq 80	10	25
Tesla Model Y	9 + 1 in frunk	26
MG S6	9	30
Xpeng G6	9	27
BYD Sealion 7	9	25
Kia EV3	8	22
Hyundai Inster	8	19
Leapmotor B10	8	24
BYD Atto 3 Evo	7 + 1 in frunk	23
MG4	6	20
BYD Seal	4	19

Source: Bjørn Nyland banana box tests, as compiled in a public community spreadsheet, accessed October 2026.

The surprises are instructive. The Model Y’s 854 litres doesn’t translate into the most boxes, because much of that volume sits in a deep, narrow well. The tiny Hyundai Inster matches the Kia EV3 thanks to its tall, square tail. And the BYD Seal’s sedan opening limits it to four boxes, the fewest in this group despite its 400-litre claim.

None of this tells you whether a pram, golf bag or airline suitcase fits. For that, take the thing you carry most to the dealer. Every salesperson will let you try it.

Best EV boot space at each price point

These picks favour usable rear boot space with all seats in use, then frunk and folded space. Prices are as of October 2026.

Best under $40,000: Leapmotor B10

The Leapmotor B10 offers 430 litres seats-up and 1,457 litres folded, plus a small 25-litre frunk, from $37,888 before on-road costs for the Style. That’s 50 litres more than a BYD Atto 2 and 80 more than an MG4, in a car that costs less than the MG4. It fit eight banana boxes in testing, the same as the Kia EV3.

Verdict: The roomiest boot you can buy under $40,000.

Best under $50,000: MG S6 EV

The MG S6 Essence RWD costs $49,990 drive-away and offers 581 litres seats-up, 1,690 litres folded and an 86-litre frunk. That’s more than a Kia EV5 or Hyundai Ioniq 5 in claimed litres, and its folded space fit 30 banana boxes, more than any other car in the box-test table above. The catch: no spare tyre, and MG doesn’t use the VDA standard, so allow for some measurement generosity.

Verdict: The biggest family boot under $50,000, by a clear margin.

Best small SUV with a frunk: BYD Atto 3 Evo Premium

The Atto 3 Evo Premium pairs a 490-litre boot with a 101-litre frunk for 591 litres of total storage, from $46,990 before on-road costs. That frunk is the biggest of any small SUV in our table and swallows charging cables, a soft bag or a camping table. The cheaper Evo Dynamic drops the frunk and has 434 litres.

Verdict: The best all-round storage in a small SUV.

Best mid-size family SUV: Kia EV5

The Kia EV5 lists 513 litres seats-up, 1,714 litres folded and a 67-litre frunk, per CarExpert. Its square load area fit 11 banana boxes, tied for most in the test with the Ioniq 5, ahead of the Model Y. The Air Long Range starts at about $57,590. Note there’s no spare tyre, though there’s room for one.

Verdict: The most practical shape among mid-size electric SUVs.

Most total storage: Tesla Model Y

The Model Y’s combination of deep rear well, 117-litre frunk and over 2,000 litres folded gives it the largest total storage of any mainstream EV in Australia. From $58,900 before on-road costs for the RWD. The headline 854 litres overstates what you can stack, but nothing else matches its folded capacity for bulky loads like flat-pack furniture.

Verdict: Best for occasional big hauls, less dominant for everyday luggage.

Best city car boot: Hyundai Inster

The Hyundai Inster quotes only 280 to 351 litres, depending on where you slide the rear seat, but its upright shape fit eight banana boxes. That matches cars a size larger. It’s the best choice if you need a small car that still handles a weekly shop and a stroller.

Verdict: Small outside, surprisingly useful inside.

Frunks, spare tyres and where the charging cable goes

Boot space isn’t only about litres. Three practical details catch new EV owners out.

Frunks vary wildly. A frunk is a front boot under the bonnet where a petrol engine would sit. The Atto 3 Evo Premium’s 101 litres is properly useful. The Kia EV3’s 25 litres has a 10 kg load limit, and the Volvo EX30’s 7 litres barely fits a cable. Several popular models, including the Skoda Enyaq, VW ID.4, Xpeng G6 and BYD Atto 2, have no frunk at all.

Most EVs have no spare tyre. As of October 2026, the GWM Ora 5 and Hyundai Kona Electric are among the few EVs sold in Australia with a space-saver spare. The Model Y ships with no spare and no repair kit. If you drive regional roads, budget for a space-saver or a full-size spare that fits in the boot, and check your roadside assistance cover. Our new EV owner tips cover what else to sort out in the first month.

Cables need a home. A portable charger and a Type 2 public cable take up more room than you’d expect. Cars with underfloor boot wells, such as the MG4 Urban with its 98-litre bin, the Zeekr 7X and the Toyota bZ4X, keep cables out of the main load area. Others store them in the frunk. If your car has neither, they’ll live loose in the boot. Read our guide to EV charging cables to work out which ones you actually need to carry.

How we chose

We started with every electric car on sale in Australia under about $60,000, plus popular family models just above it. Boot figures came from Australian reviews and spec sheets, mostly CarExpert, with ZECAR, EV Central and WhichCar where CarExpert had no figure. Where an Australian and an overseas figure disagreed, as with the BYD Sealion 7, Kia EV5 and Hyundai Kona Electric, we used the Australian one.

We left out cars where the only boot figure came from overseas, and we flagged figures that include underfloor wells or are measured to the roof. Picks weighed seats-up space first, because that’s the configuration families use daily, then frunk and folded space. Prices are as quoted by Australian outlets or brands in September and October 2026. Check the official Green Vehicle Guide for each model’s energy consumption and emissions data once you’ve shortlisted on size.

What to look for in an EV boot

Measure your actual load, not the litres. Here’s what matters more than the headline figure.

Opening height and width. A wide, square aperture fits more boxes than a deep but narrow well. Sedans like the BYD Seal and Model 3 have smaller openings than hatchbacks and SUVs of similar length.

Load lip. The BYD Dolphin has a high load lip, which makes lifting heavy bags awkward. Look for a floor that sits level with the bumper.

Flat folded floor. If you move bikes or furniture, check that the rear seats fold flat and that there’s no step between the boot floor and seatbacks.

Child seats and prams. The Australian market is SUV-heavy for a reason. FCAI VFACTS data shows SUVs made up 60.7 percent of new vehicle sales in 2025, up from 56.9 percent in 2024. If you’re running two child seats and a pram, the mid-size SUVs in the 500-plus litre group are the safe bet. A small SUV under 400 litres will handle one pram, but not much else alongside it.

Towing and roof loads. If the boot still isn’t enough, check the braked towing capacity and roof rack rating. Our EV towing guide covers what electric SUVs can pull and how much range you’ll lose.

If you’re still deciding between body sizes, our best family electric SUVs and best small electric cars guides go deeper on range, price and safety. You can also put any two models side by side in our EV compare tool, or browse every model in our electric vehicles hub.