Another What Car “award”

[maffyou]

Just came across this on my news feed:

 

https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/the-19-cars-with-the-biggest-boots-our-unique-test-reveals-the-real-answer/n18791

 

The Octavia (and Superb) came top of What Car’s biggest boot list. Only matched by the huge Kia Sorento and a Tesla Model S, and that has 2 boots!

 

Both the Octavia and Superb managed to take 11 carry on suitcases - more than the Karoq or Kodiaq - and the Octavia was also the cheapest car in the list and only family hatch. 

 

But we slready knew knew it had a huge and well-shaped boot!

Edited 29 January, 2019 by maffyou

[wyx087]

15 hours ago, maffyou said:

Both the Octavia and Superb managed to take 11 carry on suitcases - more than the Karoq or Kodiaq - and the Octavia was also the cheapest car in the list and only family hatch. 

I keep saying it, small to mid SUV's are just jacked up hatchbacks. They don't offer the boot space and often not the rear legroom.

 

But people don't listen, many people insist their SUV choice is for interior space.

[Guest]

Of all the poinless tests - WhatCar! obviously short of stories this month.

 

1: Who carries 9 suitcases or is the article aimed for taxi drivers only?

 

2: I don't read anywhere if it's load capacity under the toneau cover or over it. To suggest an SUV is smaller or any less practical than a saloon - jeez. Try sticking a couple of kids bikes in that A6 saloon or your mother-in-law's zimmer. 

 

3: According to magazine, Kodiaq and Karoq both carry 9 suitcases so they're both the same size? yeh, enough said about the uselfulness of this article then.

 

4:  Size and practicality is based on an individual's use, not simply how many suitcases it can carry.

 

As for wyx087's assumption that people insist their SUV choice is for interior space?  I'm one of them. Yes my Ateca is a jacked up LEON. Yet it has more headroom, loads more legroom, and no LEON hatch I know of can carry two sets of golf clubs, two electric carts etc and still have the ability to carry 5 passengers. I could of course have bought a LEON estate, but then I'd have to build a bigger garage.  OK, money where your mouth is time - give us an example of an SUV that doesn't offer more boot space or legroom than the hatch it's based on?  

 

 

 

 

Edited 30 January, 2019 by Guest

[ahenners]

42 minutes ago, Scot5 said:

1: Who carries 9 suitcases or is the article aimed for taxi drivers only?

 

I think you are taking this point too literally. Obviously no one does, but it's a relatable and semi-objective way of portraying the space available and it's usefulness, as opposed to just quoting numbers of litres.

[wyx087]

48 minutes ago, Scot5 said:

As for wyx087's assumption that people insist their SUV choice is for interior space?  I'm one of them. Yes my Ateca is a jacked up LEON. Yet it has more headroom, loads more legroom, and no LEON hatch I know of can carry two sets of golf clubs, two electric carts etc and still have the ability to carry 5 passengers. I could of course have bought a LEON estate, but then I'd have to build a bigger garage.  OK, money where your mouth is time - give us an example of an SUV that doesn't offer more boot space or legroom than the hatch it's based on?  

Is it really more leg room though? Have you measured the distance between front seat and rear seat? Are you sure it isn't just because you sit more upright so it feels more spacious?

 

I stand corrected on boot space. I did a few quick searches (eg. Q3 to A3) you do indeed get more boot space. But if it's boot space you are after, surely an A3 saloon works better. Or in our forum's case, an Octavia  

 

I hear people say those things as justification for spending more on small SUV. But if those qualities are really important, then a specialised vehicle can be had for cheaper (eg. Octavia).  I was looking at Outlander PHEV as possible replacement for diesel Octavia and disappointed by its interior space compared to Octavia, even though it's a bigger car on the outside.

[maffyou]

I think @wyx087 has a good point. My Qashqai has pretty rubbish interior space, passenger and boot. It’s probably my single biggest disappointment with the car, yet I’ve read loads of people talking about the great room it has. Well only if you’ve only ever sat in a city car. 

 

@ahenners is spot on about the point of using carry ins as a measure. If I told my wife my boot had 468 litres it would mean literally nothing to her, she’d have no concept of fitting anything in it. But tell her I can fit 7 carry one in it and she’d immediately get an idea if it’s size. And the litres is somewhat meaningless because you’ll generally struggle to use a good proportion of that space because of shape of the boot (unless you plan to carry a boot full of water). 

[Ootohere]

It sometimes takes a good few decades on in life before those that get in and out of low cars easily and need boot space realise how important getting in and out vehicles easily is to many car buyers that can not do it in low cars, be that for driver or passengers. 

Then all round visibility & ease of parking. 

Lots of people carry very little in cars and just maybe need seats and space for some shopping, picnic stuff to have in lay-bys, and occasionally some travel luggage.

 

There are plenty Airport Transport / Taxi / Dogging sized vehicles to choose from if that is your need or want.

 

The SEAT Alhambra / VW Sharan are current models not yet discontinued and WLTP Approved and in 5 seat mode take a lot of cases.

Edited 30 January, 2019 by Skoffski

[MorrisOx]

19 minutes ago, Skoffski said:

It sometimes takes a good few decades on in life before those that get in and out of low cars easily and need boot space realise how important getting in and out vehicles easily is to many car buyers that can not do it in low cars, be that for driver or passengers. 

Then all round visibility & ease of parking. 

 

Wise observations (and a little less heated than one of the earlier posts  ).

 

Well worth remembering that there are plenty of people out there (especially older folk) for whom your average hatch is a real trial to get into/out of.

 

My parents fall into exacty that category and are looking to replace their ageing C-Max with something shorter but just as accessible. They really are struggling to find anything, but worry that an SUV would be far too cumbersome.

 

[Ootohere]

I like high seating floor to seat base, foot space and not daft high or awkward sills. Not sills taking up foot space. (No stupid '/ sharp / dirty /Stylee trim, sill covers on the outside, plastic tack.)

With the comfy ergonomics with pushed Seat back and steering wheel back, the gear stick / shifter needs to be in the right place, and being right hand drive the switches 'e-brake etc needs to be usable,  and  then a easy to get to seat belt to pull from the door pillar then plug in with the seat back and some central armrest / storage box,,

and the door that opens wide enough to get in without fully open and that is not needing park far apart from other cars to be able to get out and in.

 

Salespeople think you are some kind of idiot if you just want to open the door get in the drivers seat and see if the car is right.

& if you get in and straight out and say no use and go try another model.

Or you open the hatch and see how much space and how easy the seats drop and just walk on.

 

Well younger salespeople do, those maybe on in years know what you are doing, and often those have been selling cars for many years.

Those even more mature but just started in cars sales are maybe still learning.

Edited 30 January, 2019 by Skoffski

[maffyou]

@Skoffski I completely agree that generally SUVs or similar are much easier to get into and out of, and is an entirely valid reason for wanting to buy one, but it’s a separate issue to luggage space and/or passenger space. 

 

I genuinely think some people are tricked into thinking there is more room in them because they look bigger - or at least are higher up and have styling that makes them look massive. 

 

Having said all that, I also think ride height and better visibility are the single biggest things I will miss when the Qashqai goes in a couple of months, which are another reason I can see why buyers like them. But that’s still different to space. 

 

Horses for courses - there’s all sorts of reasons why people favour one type of car over another and generally you compromise things one way or another, but you find the best fit for you and your needs (and your budget). If this guide helps people see the other options, then it seems like a decent idea to my mind. 

[Ootohere]

Its often the case that people would like a few more inches.

[gRoberts]

21 hours ago, Scot5 said:

OK, money where your mouth is time - give us an example of an SUV that doesn't offer more boot space or legroom than the hatch it's based on?  

 

Is the Dacia Sandero and Sandero Stepway a viable contender? Not sure if it's still classed as a hatchback or an SUV but they're pretty much the same inside and the boot space can just about fit a decent shop in.

[ian_feel_keepin_it_reel]

On 30/01/2019 at 13:22, Skoffski said:

Salespeople think you are some kind of idiot if you just want to open the door get in the drivers seat and see if the car is right.

I wouldn't worry about what a sales person thinks of you.

Sales people and anyone with the word "agent" in their job title should be assumed a ****wit until they prove themselves otherwise. 

 

No offence to anyone who reads this and falls into that category, it's just my experience on matter. 

[Mr Statto]

We were planning on upgrading our Roomster to a Yeti (or Karoq as it turned out); however although the boot volume was bigger than the Octavia (I think), the boot area (a much more useful measure) of the Octavia was much bigger.

[themanwithnoaim]

22 hours ago, Skoffski said:

Its often the case that people would like a few more inches.

People or women ?

[Ootohere]

Socially inclusive,  the difference between Ooo & Ahaaa!

[maffyou]

40 minutes ago, themanwithnoaim said:

People or women ?

Women say they want it, men pretend they have it. 

[CCTaylor]

The sill dimensions are determined by the need meet side impact tests.  The same applies to increased size of door pillars which restrict view at junctions.

[Ootohere]

& a Volvo of the same length and maybe even heavier might well have sill dimensions that do not make getting in or out as awkward as some other manufacturers cars.

Just as well there are choices.