The Toyota RAV4 is a compact SUV that has a cargo volume of 37.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded and stowed. Starting at $26,525, the RAV4 is an affordable vehicle with higher trims ranging from $28,000 to $35,000. An efficient and practical choice for drivers, Car and Driver gave the RAV4 an 8.5/10 rating.

Trunk space can be a major deciding factor when you’re looking to buy an SUV. From family camping trips to moving your friend to a new city, you want to have a vehicle that can fit your luggage, gear, furniture, and more.

Although car manufacturers provide a cubic measurement of cargo space in an SUV, that number doesn’t tell the whole story.

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Toyota RAV4 car insurance costs

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How is trunk space measured?

Although measuring trunk space may seem straightforward, there are factors to keep in mind when comparing cubic measurements for different SUVs. A manufacturer’s measurement can give you an idea of how much space is in the cargo hold, but it won’t give you a full picture.

What does “69.8 cubic feet” really mean? For most SUVs, the cargo area isn’t separated from the cabin of the vehicle. Manufacturers provide two measurements based on the position of the rear seats:

Cargo space with the seats up: measures available space starting behind the rear seats

Cargo space with the seats down: measures available space starting behind the front seats

The measurement provided on an SUV’s specs sheet takes the width, height, and depth of free space into account—which includes the area up by the roof down to the lowest point in the floor. The RAV4 has a low floor and a lower roof than the average SUV, making it easy to load but cutting down on available packing space.

It’s important to keep in mind that the cargo area of any vehicle is not a uniform space—there are curves and irregularities in the wall and floor surfaces, including doors, wheel wells, separated storage areas, and the folded-down seats themselves. These irregularities can make it harder to stow certain items and may affect how much you can actually fit inside the cargo area.

The number of passengers is also a factor worth considering—if you’re always driving with a full vehicle, you’ll only have the area behind the rear seats for stowing your bags or gear.

Taking all these factors into consideration, it’s best to always have a look at the actual cargo area of a vehicle you’re thinking of buying before you go ahead with your purchase.

Key Takeaway The manufacturer’s measurement of available cargo space doesn’t always give the big picture. It’s important to consider structural irregularities, how many passengers you usually have, and the luggage and gear you usually keep in the cargo hold.

Toyota RAV4 trunk space

Number of seats: 5

Cargo volume with rear seats up: 37.5 cubic feet

Cargo volume with rear seats down: 69.8 cubic feet

The Toyota RAV4 is a practical compact SUV with five seats. With the seats up, there is 37.5 cubic feet of space in the cargo area. You should be able to fit 10 carry-on suitcases into the cargo area.

The RAV4’s rear seats fold into a nearly flat position and are easily stowed to maximize the storage area. If the seats are down and stowed, you’ll have 69.8 cubic feet of available space. With this configuration, you should be able to fit 22 suitcases in the cargo hold.

How does the Toyota RAV4’s trunk space compare to other SUVs?

Toyota RAV4s have more cargo space than your average compact SUV. If you decide the RAV4 is too roomy, you can downsize your cargo capacity by buying a

Kia Sportage

or a Ford Bronco. If you’re looking for a higher carrying capacity, you may want to consider a Hyundai Tuscon or a

Honda CR-V

MORE:

How to protect, clean, and organize your trunk

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How to check trunk space

It’s always a good idea to see the cargo space in person before you go ahead with your purchase. There are a few easy ways to evaluate if a Toyota RAV4’s cargo hold is a good fit for you:

Bring a tape measure to the dealership with you.

It’s also helpful to fold down the seats so you can see what the maximum amount of cargo space looks like.

Take a moment to visualize your gear, suitcases, or other cargo in the back of the vehicle to get an idea of how much will fit.

You can also bring a bag, suitcase, or box to try out the cargo area.

Take a picture of an item in the cargo hold to give you a reference for later.

These suggestions can help you make an informed choice when you’re deciding which SUV is best for you.

How to save money on car insurance

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