Australia’s small car segment has a lot going for it in terms of practicality, with products in this category often punching above their weight in terms of cargo space.
We compared each option in the $40,000+ small car category on the VFACTS sales rankings to see which has the most trunk space to justify their premium price.
Figures quoted are manufacturer specifications and only the highest power model variant is included as some trim levels or powertrain options may vary in size.
Click on the links below to jump to your chosen vehicle or check out the story.
Peugeot 308
The clear leader in this segment is the Peugeot 308, with a 608L boot in wagon configuration.
Both the GT and GT Premium SW variants of the 308 – which is the Peugeot for wagons – have the biggest boot, with a massive 1634L folding seat volume that rivals the space of the largest mid-size SUV, the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro .
Opting for the 308 PHEV hatchback variant will see boot space reduced to 361L with the rear seats folded up and 1271L when folded, one of the smallest in this segment.
The 308 PHEV hatchback is priced at $64,990 before on-road costs, while the GT hatchback starts at $43,990 before on-road costs.
| Peugeot 308 | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 608L |
| Lower the seat | 1634L |
| seat sharing | 40/20/40 |
| Spare wheel | ARE NOT |
BUY: Contact dealer about Peugeot 308 car
THAN: Everything Peugeot 308
Honda Civic
The first of three Japanese cars on this list, the Honda Civic offers an above-average 449L trunk in the base VTi-LX trim.
With the rear seats folded, that figure increases to 1212L, while the e:HEV LX hybrid variant sees a slight decrease in storage space in both configurations.
For $72,600 excluding running costs, you can buy the upgraded Type R, which comes with a 235kW turbocharged engine but a smaller 410L trunk.
All Civic versions come with a 5-year, unlimited kilometer warranty and support wireless Apple CarPlay.
| Honda Civic | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 449L |
| Lower the seat | 1212L |
| seat sharing | 60/40 |
| Spare wheel | ARE NOT |
BUY: Contact a dealer about Honda Civic cars
THAN: Everything Honda Civic
BMW 2 series
The BMW 2 Series is available in two body types and the four-door Gran Coupe variants have a larger 430L boot.
The 220i M Sport starts at $65,200 and the M235i xDrive at $83,800 before on-road costs.
A tire repair kit is standard on the 2 Series and BMW offers a five-year, unlimited kilometer warranty.
| BMW 2 series | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 430L (Gran Coupe) |
| Lower the seat | do not apply |
| seat sharing | 40/20/40 |
| Spare wheel | ARE NOT |
BUY: Contact your BMW 2 Series dealer
THAN: Everything BMW 2 Series
Audi A3
The A3 is one of two cars on this list that comes in both hatchback and sedan variants, and this sedan has a 425L boot.
Audi’s 35 TFSI has the largest boot in the A3 range for both sedan and hatchback variants, and is priced at $53,100 for the sedan and $50,600 for the hatchback before on-road costs.
The hatch has a standard 380L boot that can be expanded to 1200L, while the rear seats have a unique European 40/20/40 split.
The A3 includes wireless Apple CarPlay and is backed by a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.
| Audi A3 | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 425L (Sedan) |
| Lower the seat | 1200L (Hatching) |
| seat sharing | 40/20/40 (Bloom) |
| Spare wheel | ARE NOT |
BUY: Contact dealer about Audi A3 car
THAN: Everything Audi A3
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Like Audi, Mercedes-Benz offers hatchback and sedan variants across the A-Class range, although the A35 AMG sedan has the largest boot.
-
Sedan A250 4MATIC
At 420L and $89,400 before on-road costs, the A35 AMG sedan’s boot is 35L larger than its A200 and A250 siblings… but costs around $15,000 more.
All A-Class hatches have a standard 370L boot that can be expanded to 1210L with the rear seats folded, but the range-topping A45 AMG S is the most expensive car on this list at $119,900. before running on the road.
Run-flat tires and repair kits are standard on the A-Class and Mercedes-Benz offers a five-year, unlimited kilometer warranty.
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 420L (Sedan) |
| Lower the seat | 1210L (Hatching) |
| seat sharing | 40/20/40 (Bloom) |
| Spare wheel | ARE NOT |
BUY: Contact the dealer about Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars
THAN: Everything Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Subaru WRX
Subaru’s base WRX sedan has the largest trunk in its lineup, with a capacity of 414L.
-
Subaru WRX RS
The WRX range starts at $47,490 before on-road costs and features a 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission.
This is the first car on this list to feature a space-saving spare wheel and wireless connectivity for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but without any electric or hybrid options.
The WRX is one of the best-selling models in this segment in 2023 and comes with a 5-year, unlimited km warranty from Subaru.
| Subaru WRX | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 414L |
| Lower the seat | do not apply |
| seat sharing | 60/40 |
| Spare wheel | Save space |
BUY: Contact your dealer about the Subaru WRX
THAN: Everything Subaru WRX
Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is the first of the four electric cars on this list and has a 405L trunk in standard configuration.
Despite having an expandable capacity of up to 1176L and a space-saving spare wheel, the Leaf is the most expensive non-European car in the category and starts at $50,990 before on-roads.
The Leaf includes wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and comes with a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.
| Nissan Leaf | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 405L |
| Lower the seat | 1176L |
| seat sharing | 60/40 |
| Spare wheel | Save space |
BUY: Contact a dealer about the Nissan Leaf
THAN: Everything Nissan Leaf
Cupra was born
The Cupra Born is the Volkswagen Group’s first mainstream electric car sold in Australia and has a 385L boot.
Cupra offers start at $59,990 before on-road costs and have sold almost 900 units in 2023, but you’ll miss out on any spare wheel and tech like phone mirroring wireless.
The Born is supported by a 5-year, unlimited km warranty according to segment standards.
| Cupra was born | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 385L |
| Lower the seat | do not apply |
| seat sharing | 60/40 |
| Spare wheel | ARE NOT |
BUY: Contact dealer about Cupra Born
THAN: Everything Cupra born
Cupra Leon
With the Golf frame, Cupra Leon has a 380L trunk that can be expanded to 1301L when folding the rear seats.
Available in both petrol and plug-in hybrid variants, the Leon V offers the largest boot in the range and retains the space-saving spare wheel.
Boot space in the VZe plug-in hybrid variant is reduced to just 270L in standard configuration, but you’ll get significantly improved fuel economy of 1.8L/100km.
The Leon features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and comes with a five-year, unlimited kilometer warranty.
| Cupra Leon | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 380L |
| Lower the seat | 1301L |
| seat sharing | 60/40 |
| Spare wheel | Save space |
BUY: Contact dealer about Cupra Leon
THAN: Everything Cupra Leon
BMW 1 series
All three 1 Series variants match Audi’s A3 hatch for boot space, which is quoted at 380L with the rear seats folded and 1200L at full capacity.
A front-wheel drive Golf rival, the 1 Series starts at $54,800 before on-road costs and tops out at $76,600 before on-road costs for the M135i xDrive.
There’s no mirrored cordless phone across the range, but BMW’s five-year, unlimited kilometer warranty comes as standard.
| BMW 1 series | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 380L |
| Lower the seat | 1200L |
| seat sharing | 60/40 |
| Spare wheel | ARE NOT |
BUY: Contact dealer about BMW 1 Series cars
THAN: Everything BMW 1 Series
Golf Golf
The Golf is one of the cheapest cars on this list at $39,190 before on-road costs, but it has one of the smallest trunk spaces.
All Golf variants offer a standard 374L boot that can be expanded to 1230L with the rear seats folded, while a repair kit is supplied in place of a spare wheel.
The Golf costs more than $70,000 before on-roads with the performance-oriented R trim, but you’ll get features like wireless phone mirroring and a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Golf Golf | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 374L |
| Lower the seat | 1230L |
| seat sharing | 60/40 |
| Spare wheel | ARE NOT |
BUY: Contact a dealer about Volkswagen Golf cars
THAN: Everything Volkswagen Golf
MG 4
As MG’s base electric-only model, the MG 4 has a slightly smaller boot than the Volkswagen Golf at 363L.
That figure is represented in the Excite 51 and Excite 64 variants, and it expands to 1177L with the rear seats folded.
Starting at $39,990 drive away, the MG 4 is cheaper than the Golf and comes with a long seven-year, unlimited kilometer warranty, like other MG models.
| MG 4 | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 363L |
| Lower the seat | 1177L |
| seat sharing | 60/40 |
| Spare wheel | ARE NOT |
BUY: Contact dealer about MG 4
THAN: Everything MG 4
GWM Ora
The electric GWM Ora comes last on this list – its 228L boot is more than 130L smaller than the MG 4.
Its small boot expands to 858L with the rear seats folded, but it’s less than the previous MG with a drive-away price of $35,990 for the base Standard Range variant. However, the former is more expensive, which is why it is in this VFACTS category.
The range tops out at $46,990 drive-away for the GT variant, which has a 400km driving range and panoramic sunroof.
GWM includes a seven-year, unlimited kilometer warranty across the Ora range.
| GWM Ora | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 228L |
| Lower the seat | 858L |
| seat sharing | 60/40 |
| Spare wheel | ARE NOT |
BUY: Contact your dealer about GWM Ora
THAN: Everything GWM Ora
