The small car segment dominated Australian passenger car sales in 2023, recording around 36,000 more deliveries than the second-ranked midsize car segment.
You can buy a small car to save money while still maintaining everyday usability, so what is the practicality of these smaller, more affordable cars?
To find out, we compared the options listed in the small cars under $40,000 category on the VFACTS sales rankings to see which offers the most trunk space.
Many of these cars come in a variety of trim levels, body styles, and powertrain options, so we’ve only listed the variants that accommodate the most in their standard seating configurations.
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Kia Cerato
The Kia Cerato is one of the cheaper options on this list and its sedan variant has a sizeable 502L trunk.
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Cerato S Sedan
Its hatch option sees boot space with increased seating reduced to 428L, but each body type is priced the same across the Cerato range.
The range starts from $27,060 before on-road costs for the base Cerato S and is backed by Kia’s seven-year, unlimited kilometer warranty.
| Kia Cerato | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 502L (Sedan), 428L (Hatch) |
| Lower the seat | do not apply |
| seat sharing | 60/40 (Bloom) |
| Spare wheel | Save space |
BUY: Contact the dealer about Kia Cerato cars
THAN: Everything Kia Cerato
Hyundai i30
The I30 is the first and only car on this list to be equipped with a full-sized alloy spare wheel in some of its variants, and its sedan options lead the way with 474L of boot space.
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i30 N Line Sedan
Like the Cerato, the i30 hatchback has a smaller trunk with a capacity of 395L but can be expanded to 1301L when folding the rear seats.
The base hatchback is also $5000 cheaper than the base sedan, starting at $24,000 before on-road costs.
From $46,200 before on-roads you can buy high-performance i30 N variants, but both the sedan and hatchback offer a slightly smaller boot and only include a space-saver.
| Hyundai i30 | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 474L (Sedan), 395L (Hatch) |
| Lower the seat | 1031L (Hatch) |
| seat sharing | 60/40 (Bloom) |
| Spare wheel | Full size alloy |
BUY: Contact dealer about Hyundai i30 car
THAN: Everything Hyundai i30
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla is the best-selling car in this segment in 2023 and comes with a 470L boot in all its sedan variants.
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ZR hybrid sedan
The Corolla is one of the only cars in this category to be available with hybrid options and its range starts at $29,270 before on-road costs for the base Ascent Sport sedan.
As for the Corolla hatchback, the range-topping ZR Hybrid has the largest boot – quoted at 333L with the rear seats folded up.
The GR Corolla hot hatchback is also available for $62,300 before on-roads, but it has a small 213L boot and lacks the space-saving spare tire repair kit.
| Toyota Corolla | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 470L (Sedan), 333L (Hatch) |
| Lower the seat | do not apply |
| seat sharing | 60/40 (Bloom) |
| Spare wheel | Save space |
BUY: Contact a Toyota Corolla dealer
THAN: Everything Toyota Corolla
Skoda Scala
Skoda is the only European manufacturer on this list and the Scala has a reasonable 467L boot with the rear seats folded up.
With the seats folded, that figure increases to 1410L and both the 85TSI Ambition and 110TSI Signature variants have the same quoted boot space figures.
The two variants are priced at $33,950 and $42,090 before on-roads, respectively, but you only get wireless Apple CarPlay in the range-topping 110TSI.
The Scala range is backed by Skoda’s seven-year, unlimited kilometer warranty.
| Skoda Scala | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 467L |
| Lower the seat | 1410L |
| seat sharing | 60/40 |
| Spare wheel | Save space |
BUY: Contact your dealer about the Skoda Scala
THAN: Everything Skoda Scala
Mazda 3
The Mazda 3 sedan offers a 444L trunk, however its hatchback sibling has the smallest trunk in this segment.
At 295L, the Mazda 3 hatchback has more space than just two cars on this list, but every variant in the range has the same boot space figures.
Prices for the two Mazda 3 body types are also identical and the range starts from $30,470 before on-road costs for the base Pure.
| Mazda 3 | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 444L (Sedan), 295L (Hatch) |
| Lower the seat | do not apply |
| seat sharing | 60/40 (Bloom) |
| Spare wheel | Save space |
BUY: Contact a Mazda 3 dealer
THAN: Everything Mazda3
MG 5
The MG 5 is Australia’s cheapest sedan but can still hold 401L.
Its two variants are priced at $24,990 and $28,990 drive-away, respectively, and come with a seven-year, unlimited kilometer warranty.
For this price, you also get wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it lacks some of the more advanced safety features.
| MG 5 | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 401L |
| Lower the seat | do not apply |
| seat sharing | One-piece backrest |
| Spare wheel | Save space |
BUY: Contact dealer about MG 5
THAN: Everything MG 5
BYD Dolphin
The only all-electric car on this list, the BYD Dolphin has a 345L trunk – slightly larger than the largest Corolla.
At full capacity, the Dolphin’s trunk expands to 1310L, ranking second in the segment with folded rear seats just behind the Scala.
BYD’s two-vehicle Dolphin range starts at $38,890 before on-roads and comes standard with a six-year, unlimited kilometer warranty.
| BYD Dolphin | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 345L |
| Lower the seat | 1310L |
| seat sharing | 60/40 |
| Spare wheel | ARE NOT |
BUY: Contact your dealer for BYD Dolphin
THAN: Everything BYD Dolphin
Subaru Impreza
The smallest trunk on the list belongs to the Subaru Impreza with a space of only 291L in the standard layout.
The Impreza is the only car in this segment equipped with standard 4-wheel drive, but even with the rear seats folded, trunk volume is limited to 883L.
All three Impreza variants come standard with both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with prices starting at $31,490 before on-road costs.
The Impreza range also includes space-saving accessories and a five-year, unlimited kilometer warranty.
| Subaru Impreza | |
|---|---|
| Chair up | 291L |
| Lower the seat | 883L |
| seat sharing | 60/40 |
| Spare wheel | Save space |
BUY: Contact a Subaru Impreza dealer
THAN: Everything Subaru Impreza
