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Electric cars with big boots
You shouldn't have to trade in practicality to have a cleaner, more environmentally friendly car. But our research shows that electric cars typically have less boot space than their fuel-guzzling counterparts.
In fact, no electric car we've tested beats the best in its class for load space.
However, if your heart's still set on going electric, then don't despair. As part of our independent lab tests we measure the actual usable space in a car's boot and ignore useless nooks and crannies - unlike the official figures.
We've found the electric cars that come as close to or exceed the average size for boots in their class. That way you should be able to do your bit for the environment and still have enough room for your bits and bobs.
But remember, extra room doesn't guarantee reliability or a smooth ride. Click through to read our electric car reviews before you buy.
The electric cars with the biggest boots
The last thing you want after spending thousands of pounds on an electric car is realising that you can't fit a big shop or your holiday suitcases in the back. Avoid the hassle with these EVs.
All our measurements are based on our own independent testing, not official figures.
Renault Zoe (2013-2019), £19,242
- Car class: small
- Boot capacity: 310 litres
- Best-in-class for boot size:Seat Ibiza ST(2010-2017), 405 litres
The teeny but bold electric Zoe sports a surprisingly ample 310 litres of boot space - that's nearly the same capacity as two bathtubs.
In fact, it's only 95 litres shy of the Seat Ibiza ST, which has been crowned best in class.
If there are only two of you in the Zoe, you can also drop the back seats to get an additional 690 litres. This gives you a pretty spacious 1,040 litres to work with.
Last updated in 2017, the Zoe also has a travelling range that can rival many petrol hatchbacks. But can it compete with models such as the Ford Fiesta in other areas?
Read our expert Renault Zoe review to find out.
Nissan Leaf (2018-), £30,879
- Car class: medium
- Boot capacity: 390 litres
- Best-in-class for boot size:Skoda Rapid (2012-2018), 505 litres
Although the Nissan Leaf is a fair bit bigger than the Zoe, you wouldn't know it by looking at its boot capacity.
At just 390 litres, it is above the average for the medium-car class (334 litres), but it's also a hefty 115 litres less than the current Skoda Rapid and only 70 litres more than the Zoe.
This proves that just because a car is in a larger class, it doesn't mean it will have a roomier boot. Always check our car reviews before you buy.
But is this well-known electric car so good that its boot size doesn't matter?
Our independent Nissan Leaf review reveals all.
Kia Soul EV (2019-), £33,795
- Car class: small SUV
- Boot capacity: 310 litres
- Best in class for boot size:Dacia Duster (2018-), 410 litres
SUVs are renowned for their practicality, and this is proven with the new Kia Soul EV load space - but only if you put the back seats down.
Offering a reasonable 1,205 litres of load space from the back of the car up to the roof will mean you should be able to get a few large suitcases in without any trouble.
However, if you regularly have backseat passengers, you'll probably be a little underwhelmed. When the back seats are up you'll get around 310 litres - the same as the small electric Zoe.
The new Kia Soul EV - with its bigger boot - will be available to buy later this year. We'll be putting it through our expert lab and road tests, so our full review will be coming very soon.
Find out what we thought of its predecessor by reading our Kia Soul EV (2014-2019) review.
Jaguar I-pace (2018-), £64,096
- Car class: medium/large SUV
- Boot capacity: 370 litres
- Best-in-class for boot size:Honda CR-V (2012-2018), 500 litres
One of the first full-sized luxury all-electric SUVs after Tesla, the I-pace claims to offer enough to tempt people out of their conventional SUVs - but does it have the boot size you need?
With the back seats up, you've got a 370-litre capacity up to the parcel shelf. That's a little below the average for this class and a notable 130 litres less than the previous-generation Honda CR-V (2012-2018).
It's also only 70 litres more than the Zoe, which sits in the small car category.
This is fine if you just want to use it for shopping and the odd holdall when you go away for the weekend. But if you're expecting a substantial back-end to go with your large saloon, you'll be disappointed.
Does its driving prowess make up for its dinky boot? Read our full Jaguar I-pace review to find out.
Other electric cars with big boots
If none of the cars above suit you, then here are the rest of the electric cars we've tested that topped their class for boot size:
- Volkswagen e-Up (2014-) 195 litres
- Tesla Model S (2013-) 435 litres
- Tesla Model X (2017-) 660 litres
All our reviews include the measured boot capacity up to the parcel shelf, or rear window if no parcel shelf is present. So if you don't spot the one you're looking for here, head straight to our car reviews.
The biggest and smallest electric car boot size
We've pulled out the biggest and the smallest EVs for boot size from all the cars we've tested to show the stark difference.
Take a look at how both cars performed in our tests:
Or head straight to our round-up of the best electric cars for 2020.
