Here are some figures from Which? car showing their (not the manufacturer's) measurements of boot capacity in litres for estate models.

Which? measure boot capacity up to the window line, both with rear seats in place (the min value) and with them folded (the max value)

bmw 5 series 560 min, ? min

ford mondeo 530 min, 950 max

skoda superb 475 min, 810 max

volkswagon passat 475 min, ? max

skoda octavia ? min, 925 max

toyota avensis 455 min, ? max

volvo S/V60 440 min, ? max

honda accord 450 min, 685 max

volkswagon golf 435 min, 840 max

renault laguna 395 min, 740 max

audi a4 375 min, 710 max

vauxhall insignia 365 min, 755 max

Any one else find it strange that the Octavia max capacity (925L) is bigger than the Superb (810L) ?

Very odd. Having had both the Modeo and Toyota estates to test drive for a weekend, they were both much smaller than the Superb which is why I went for it.

Did Which say how they measured it, for example using boxes of all the same dimension?

Most of the stuff from Which? Is crap.

I've come from an Octavia Estate to a Superb Estate and i can assure you the boot in the Superb is considerably bigger. I know this from the amount of space left over when all of my tools are put in the boot compared to when my gear was in the Octavia.

They must have used the tried and tested Which? 'any old figures will do' method.

What BMW car are notorious for errors like that. Look at the comparison tables (where up to 3 cars can be compared for performance, economy, size etc)

I compared the sizes of the Superb estate to the Volvo xc70 I've got at the moment. What car reckoned the Volvo had a lot more rear leg room. Oh no it hasn't!

Very often it's just 'no data available'

Good for a laugh though, just to see the gushing praise for the 3 and 5 series in every multi car test to the detriment of all else.

I wonder how many people have bought BMW's on the back of their recommendation and wondered why they go nowhere on snow and ice? :wonder:

Mark.

Here are some figures from Which? car showing their (not the manufacturer's) measurements of boot capacity in litres for estate models.

Which? measure boot capacity up to the window line, both with rear seats in place (the min value) and with them folded (the max value)

bmw 5 series 560 min, ? min

ford mondeo 530 min, 950 max

skoda superb 475 min, 810 max

volkswagon passat 475 min, ? max

skoda octavia ? min, 925 max

toyota avensis 455 min, ? max

volvo S/V60 440 min, ? max

honda accord 450 min, 685 max

volkswagon golf 435 min, 840 max

renault laguna 395 min, 740 max

audi a4 375 min, 710 max

vauxhall insignia 365 min, 755 max

Any one else find it strange that the Octavia max capacity (925L) is bigger than the Superb (810L) ?

It's not the first time that 'Which' have produced peculiar results from their own studies of cars. eg. It was suggested some time ago that Skoda cars are very unreliable. That has certainly not been my experience, and I don't see any significant evidence of that on this site.

It's quite idiotic to only measure the boot capacity of an estate car to the window line, if that is indeed what they do. Any car with a low window line will suffer, and any car with a high window line will benefit. If in the real world you are only going to load a car to the window line why would you buy an estate car? A saloon or hatch would suffice to allow loading to approximately that line. What do they think the higher roof line on an estate is for, to enclose more fresh air?

It's quite idiotic to only measure the boot capacity of an estate car to the window line, if that is indeed what they do. Any car with a low window line will suffer, and any car with a high window line will benefit. If in the real world you are only going to load a car to the window line why would you buy an estate car? A saloon or hatch would suffice to allow loading to approximately that line. What do they think the higher roof line on an estate is for, to enclose more fresh air?

I disagree to some extent. With a load of smaller objects then it would be unsafe to have a load higher than the seat back (which is usually ~ the level of the window line), so for a capacity measurement then Which's method seem sensible. Esates usually have a deeper boot (front to back) than the equiavalent hatchback and so will normally have a higher capacity when measured this way (perhaps not the Octavia). However they should also quote the maximum square dimensions of a single item that can sensibly be fitted in the boot, since this will take into account the higher roof line in the boot of an estate.

Of course if Which did this they would still manage to get the numbers wrong

I disagree to some extent. With a load of smaller objects then it would be unsafe to have a load higher than the seat back (which is usually ~ the level of the window line), so for a capacity measurement then Which's method seem sensible. Esates usually have a deeper boot (front to back) than the equiavalent hatchback and so will normally have a higher capacity when measured this way (perhaps not the Octavia). However they should also quote the maximum square dimensions of a single item that can sensibly be fitted in the boot, since this will take into account the higher roof line in the boot of an estate.

Of course if Which did this they would still manage to get the numbers wrong

You are just making excuses for 'Which'. If you are carrying a lot of small objects then it is up to you to make it safe. That does not affect the space available to carry goods. The capacity of an estate car measured to the window line will be little more than the capacity of the equivant saloon/hatch. If that was all the space that you could use, why would anyone buy an estate car?

Capacity is capacity, it is the space available to load objects. Though I do realise it can be measured in absolute terms or in terms of the number of particular sized boxes or cases that can be accomodated. Manufacturers usually compare the total volume of the load space available, and that makes more sense than just measuring to the window or seat line. After all you can always get a guard to stop small objects flying forward if that really is a problem..

I trust they used the new BMW 5 series. We looked at the recently replaced one and the boot was ridiculously small for a car in that bracket. I can't imagine the new on is bigger than the Superb.

In addition, did they also mention the legroom in the back seats?

You are just making excuses for 'Which'. If you are carrying a lot of small objects then it is up to you to make it safe. That does not affect the space available to carry goods. The capacity of an estate car measured to the window line will be little more than the capacity of the equivant saloon/hatch. If that was all the space that you could use, why would anyone buy an estate car?

Capacity is capacity, it is the space available to load objects. Though I do realise it can be measured in absolute terms or in terms of the number of particular sized boxes or cases that can be accomodated. Manufacturers usually compare the total volume of the load space available, and that makes more sense than just measuring to the window or seat line. After all you can always get a guard to stop small objects flying forward if that really is a problem..

Which? state that they measure boot capacity in this way for safety reasons i.e. filling your boot to the roof impairs visibility and is dangerous if you need to brake suddenly.

I agree with you that it is unfair to estates because there is all that usable space above the window line leftover.

Going back to my original point, even if we use the Which? "capacity to window line" method, I find it strange that the Octavia Estate beats the Superb Combi.

Unless of course, Which? measured incorrectly......

Very odd. Having had both the Modeo and Toyota estates to test drive for a weekend, they were both much smaller than the Superb which is why I went for it.

Did Which say how they measured it, for example using boxes of all the same dimension?

No. I presume they used what is called the VDA method whereby they fill the boot with 1 litre volume blocks.

Why is it unfair, I for instance am only interested in flat floor area to a great extent, ie how many dogs can I get in. When we looked at the superb it did appear to look quite long and narrow bellow the window line due to the wheel arches being squared off for the full length, handy for storage, useless for greyhounds.

I trust they used the new BMW 5 series. We looked at the recently replaced one and the boot was ridiculously small for a car in that bracket. I can't imagine the new on is bigger than the Superb.

In addition, did they also mention the legroom in the back seats?

Yup, it's the 5 series available from March 2010. There are no legroom measurements in Which?.

Why is it unfair, I for instance am only interested in flat floor area to a great extent, ie how many dogs can I get in. When we looked at the superb it did appear to look quite long and narrow bellow the window line due to the wheel arches being squared off for the full length, handy for storage, useless for greyhounds.

I am sure that 99.9% of people buy estate cars to carry greyhounds and only 0.1% buy them to carry larger or taller objects than can be carried in a saloon or hatch boot! I still say if you are only going to load to the window line what is the point of buying an estate car. I have carried big dogs in my hatch with the shelf removed and they were quite comfortable, so that doesn't especially need an estate car, though admittedly they would have a bit more space. What is the point of artificially restricting the stated carrying capacity of a vehicle by setting an arbitrary load line which depends more on how high the window line is rather than how high an object will actually go in.

Just to add, I too look at the whole load space area of the boot, ie. upto the roofline! And of course I always use a luggage restraint when loading objects that could move / fly around!

What I would like to see is that load space is shown upto the window line AND upto the roof! & as always with the seats folded flat.

Re. the figures quoted.... I reckon there must be a lot of typos or the measurements are wrong for a number of the cars!

Stef

I am sure that 99.9% of people buy estate cars to carry greyhounds and only 0.1% buy them to carry larger or taller objects than can be carried in a saloon or hatch boot!

never mind dear Caspian, the floor area also dictates the size of the object that can be carried, regardless of wether it rises above the glass line. I would also imagine quite a few estate car buyers would be interested in the volume under the load cover, ie what can be carried in the estate without being visible to prying eyes, which I suspect is the reason behind the measurement in the first place.

One of the reasons I bought my current Avensis estate rather than the hatch was the estate was three inches longer and most of this is between the wheel arch and the back seats. This meant my daughters cello fits in the estate in its solid case, but not in the hatch (albeit diagonally across the floor). As far as I can see the Superb estate and twindoor have the same floorplan and the same dimensions, so the window space is the only advantage of the estate for Superb. I though long and hard about this- the only time I have the estate anything like full is going away on holiday with the family, but even then I cant fully utilise the window space as I need safety space to open the rear door during stops, and have ventilation space above electric coolbox etc.

GIven the larger capacity of the superb boot to Avensis I decided that the premium for the Superb estate couldnt be justufied for three or four journeys a year (especially when I also have a roofbox I could use), and the adaptors for the Superb twindoor will cost £25

As mentioned it is the usable space under the cover and fully laden tha matter- If I do need to move a wardrobe, I will just spend £25 on a 4 hour van hire

What nonsense! Of course you buy an estate car because sometimes you will want to load it to the gunwhales, going on holiday with a family or transporting furniture or other large objects, for instance. And large dogs can also need a travelling box higher than the window line. This is one clear reason (among many) why 'Which' is thoroughly unreliable and unrepresentative. And by the way, I would also rather have any Skoda any day than any BMW.

I often load my estate car above the window line, its pretty much why I bought the damned thing. I had a mk2 Octavia Combi before and that had a big boot.

The Superb's boot is simply enormous and can easily accommodate all of my tools and equipment.

Which? = nonsense. I've never liked any of their publications.

Boot space (min ltr) Seats up:

Superb Combi - 633

Octavia Estate - 605

Ford Mondeo Estate - 542

BMW 5 Series Touring (new) - 560

VW Passat Estate (new) - 603

Boot space (max ltr) Seats down :

Superb Combi - 1865

Octavia Estate -1655

Ford Mondeo Estate - 1733

BMW 5 Series Touring (new) - 1670

VW Passat Estate (new) - 1731

I can confirm these after spending some time finding this info out for myself prior to a new purchase.

Edited 20 December, 201015 yr by wilkopilko

Better send these details to the chimps that work at Which.

Edited 20 December, 201015 yr by Tankdave

Boot space (min ltr) Seats up:

Superb Combi - 633

Octavia Estate - 605

Ford Mondeo Estate - 542

BMW 5 Series Touring (new) - 560

VW Passat Estate (new) - 603

Boot space (max ltr) Seats down :

Superb Combi - 1865

Octavia Estate -1655

Ford Mondeo Estate - 1733

BMW 5 Series Touring (new) - 1670

VW Passat Estate (new) - 1731

I can confirm these after spending some time finding this info out for myself prior to a new purchase.

Interesting figures wilkopilko. How did you measure the capacity?

you can add the fabia estate which has a bigger boot than many medium to large family cars such as the honda accord estate