Best large family SUVs for boot space

01. Toyota Kluger

You may not believe it but the Kluger has more space than big brother Prado. The spacious seven-seat cabin leaves you almost 200L (VDA) to play with when all three rows are in place. Not oodles of room but enough to carry the groceries and a couple of school bags.

Drop the third row and that space grows to 529L with that number reaching 1862L with the second row folded down too.

(image credit: Peter Anderson)

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(image credit: Peter Anderson)

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The shape of the boot is practical with streamlined walls, a large door opening and a lowish lip for loading and unloading. The third row seatbelts may hinder larger items but it is easy enough to tuck away with high-mounted cupholders for those in the third row slightly impeding on the space available.

02. Mazda CX-9

Mazda markets the CX-9 as a family choice for the discerning professional parent who embraces practicality but still has room for adventure. Standard features throughout this SUV underline that message with the boot doing its bit to complete the picture.

Official figures have the space at 230 litres (VDA) with seven seats in use, usefully superior to most competitors. With the third row folded you have access to 529L with that figure growing to a total cargo volume of 810L.

Official figures have the space at 230 litres (VDA) with seven seats in use.

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With the third row folded you have access to 529L with that figure growing to a total cargo volume of 810L.

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A low lip allows for easy loading and unloading but the space does narrow towards the roof limiting vertical storage solutions.

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The seats are easy to tumble over and fold flat while the cargo blind is positioned high enough over the second row to be advantageous. A low lip allows for easy loading and unloading but the space does narrow towards the roof limiting vertical storage solutions.

03. Nissan Pathfinder

This mover and shaker with a great attitude is a great asset for growing families. Nissan doesn’t use the VDA system but it is still hard to deny the obvious space offered by this SUV. 

There is 453L (SAE) with bums on all seats which changes to 1354L with the last row lowered and a total volume capacity of 2260L.

In the boot, Nissan reckons you'll have 453 litres with all seats up. (Image credit: Peter Anderson)

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There's a huge 2260 litres with all back seats put away. (Image credit: Peter Anderson)

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2017 Nissan Pathfinder (Ti variant shown)

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The boot opening and space is similarly shaped- narrower at the top - to the CX-9 with a sloping roof also affecting the size and shape of items you wish to carry. 

04. Volvo XC90

For the most part, the Swedish offering leads the pack here, surprising given that its slightly bulging bottom. Yet the load area manages a fairly conventional shape with no intrusion from the rear-wheel suspension. Even with all three rows in use, the XC90 manages 314L (VDA) which is good enough for a pram or a large suitcase.

That space expands to 651L with the third row easily lowered by a button in the boot and 1950L with all rear seats folded flat.

Even with all three rows in use, the XC90 manages 314L (VDA) which is good enough for a pram or a large suitcase.

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That space expands to 651L with the third row easily lowered by a button in the boot and 1950L with all rear seats folded flat.

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The boot is longer than most of the competition.

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If you have the optional air suspension you can lower the ride height to help when loading large items. The boot is longer than most of the competition too which means that you may not have to drop the second row to accommodate longish packages. An elastic load net allows you to secure smaller items, shopping fold flat so as to not hinder loading and unloading and there is underfloor storage too to keep valuables out of sight.

05. Audi Q7

Audi’s largest SUV is certainly boasts a spacious interior with room for adult shoulders and legs in all three rows. That translates advantageously to cargo room too with the wide boot opening and flat load area also adding their talents to the mix.

The third row folds flush with the floor courtesy of the one-touch button in the cargo space, increasing the 295L (VDA) of space to an extremely usable 770L. If you need even more room, the second row stows to give you a cavernous 1955L, enough to carry suitcases in every size and a couple of bicycles without taking the wheels off. You can fold down the rear seats individually too which allowing you to carry both packages and people at the same time.

You can fold down the rear seats individually too which allowing you to carry both packages and people at the same time.

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The third row folds flush with the floor courtesy of the one-touch button in the cargo space, increasing the 295L (VDA) of space to an extremely usable 770L.

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If you need even more room, the second row stows to give you a cavernous 1955L, enough to carry suitcases in every size and a couple of bicycles without taking the wheels off.

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The hybrid has to give up some space to accommodate the under-floor battery packs but you will still find enough room to service most families.

06. Land Rover Discovery

With its practical nature, improved road manners and well thought out inclusions list, the Land Rover Discovery is one of the cleverer buys around. Like the other SUVs in this segment, the cargo space is dependent on the number of seats in use and depending on the model you have, seats can folded using the smartphone app or touchscreen.

Being a Land Rover Discovery, Sport or not, you are not unreasonably expecting plenty of space for outdoor, windswept activities. (image: Peter Anderson)

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The boot space kicks off at 829 litres (LR quotes 981, I suspect that is packed floor to ceiling). (image: Peter Anderson)

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It has a maximum boot capacity of 1698 litres with all seats folded away. (image: Peter Anderson)

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The 228L that is available with all three rows in place increases to 1137L of available cargo space with the third row lowered and 2400L with just the driver and front passenger in attendance. Note that these are not VDA figures, however, and in reality it is a fair bit smaller than the XC90 or Q7.

07. Honourable mention – Kia Sorento

The Sorento may struggle with just 142L (VDA) with all three rows in position but that is wiped away by the 605L in five-seat mode and a total cargo volume of 1662L. There is a full-sized spare under the floor along with a compartment for your wet gear. Large third row cupholder stations over the wheel arches and the seat belts can be cumbersome if you are carrying larger items

The Sorento has 605L in five-seat mode and a total cargo volume of 1662L

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Large third row cupholder stations over the wheel arches and the seat belts can be cumbersome if you are carrying larger items.

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Large SUVs over the $70k mark offer both space and a touch of luxury but boot space here too is not as easy as it should be to decode.