The more expensive side of the mid-sized car segment is one of the most competitive corners of the Australian new car market, with plenty of options to choose from from multiple manufacturers.
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It's quite a European-dominated segment too, but there are are few Asian offerings sprinkled in too.
With the amount of money some of these manufacturers are asking for their mid-sized cars, how can you know which will be the most practical to live with and offer the most room in the boot?
To find out, we've taken the cars in the medium for more than $60,000 category on the VFACTS sales charts and compared them based on their quoted boot space figures.
We've only listed the variant of each car with the most boot space with the rear seats upright, as this is the configuration we anticipate buyers would use most to transport cargo in day-to-day driving.
Most of these cars have the capacity to fold the rear seats down for a bit more cargo space, but capacity figures in that configuration are typically only quoted for wagons and hatches.
As such, you'll see that metric is blank for most cars that are offered only as sedans, largely due to their oddly shaped load areas when the seats are flat. That means the standard seats up number is much more consistent across different body types.
Click on a car's name above to jump directly to its information on the page, or continue scrolling for the full list.
Tesla Model 3
Heading this list is the Tesla Model 3, which with the rear row in place offers 594 litres of boot space.
While it's the largest in its standard configuration, the Model 3's maximum quoted capacity is actually expanded further when you consider underfloor storage and the front boot – or frunk, in Tesla speak.
Tesla's specifications quote 682 litres of space for "maximum total cargo volume with five passengers". Should you need more space than what is offered in the boot alone, the rear seats fold down with a 60/40 split.
There's no spare tyre which means you'll have to make do with a repair kit instead, and it's the only car here to be offered with a four-year, 80,000km warranty instead of a five-year, unlimited-kilometre setup.
The Model 3 range starts at $54,900 before on-road costs for the base RWD and extends to $80,900 before on-roads for the Performance AWD.
MORE: Everything Tesla Model 3
Peugeot 508
The first in a series of European cars on this list is the Peugeot 508, which offers a standard capacity of 530 litres in its largest variant.
That variant is the GT PHEV Sportswagon, which in its seats-down configuration offers a segment-leading 1780 litres of boot space. It's priced from $82,915 before on-roads.
For a cheaper $81,610 before on-roads you can opt for the GT PHEV Fastback, which offers 487 litres of space and can expand to a maximum of 1537 litres.
Both variants offer a tyre repair kit as standard, and like the rest of the cars to follow are covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Volvo V60 Cross Country
There's one Volvo V60 Cross Country variant available, and with the seats up it offers 529 litres of boot space.
The Ultimate B5 Bright is priced from $74,990 before on-roads, and with the rear seats folded you'll get a maximum boot capacity of 1449 litres.
Those rear seats split with a 60/40 ratio, while the V60 Cross Country packs in the first space saver spare on this list for that extra bit of insurance on long drives.
If you're going to be putting the Volvo to work on the road, you'll also benefit from its 1800kg braked towing capacity – among the higher towing capacities in this segment.
BMW 3 Series
Moving to Germany brings the BMW 3 Series, which in its wagon guise offers a square 500 litres of boot space with the rear seats in place.
The wagon wears the 330i M Sport Touring badge and is priced from $98,900 before on-roads. With three-way folding rear seats out of the way, boot space expands to a maximum 1510 litres.
Completing the lineup are the 330i M Sport and M340i xDrive sedans, which are priced at $94,700 and $106,200 before on-roads respectively. They both offer 480 litres of boot space.
The range is fitted with run-flat tyres as standard, which is paired with a tyre repair kit in lieu of a physical spare wheel.
Audi A4
There are four A4 variants available and it's the two wagons with the most boot space, offering a 495 litre capacity with the rear seats up.
Those two wagons are the A4 Allroad 40 TDI quattro and the A4 Avant 45 TFSI S Line quattro, which are priced at $84,300 and $85,700 before on-roads respectively. With the rear seats folded boot capacity expands to 1495 litres.
If you're after a sedan instead, you'll only get 460 litres of standard boot space. Your two options are the A4 35 TFSI S Line and the A4 45 TFSI S Line quattro, and they'll set you back $71,900 and $83,200 before on-roads respectively.
A space saver spare is included as standard, and you get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Alfa Romeo Giulia
The Giulia is the filling between the two Audis on this list, and it offers a standard boot capacity of 480 litres.
It's the first car here to be sold only as a sedan, which means there's no quoted maximum boot space figure with the second row folded.
If you need a bit more cargo space, the rear seats split three ways. There's no spare wheel though, as Alfa Romeo has instead opted for run-flat tyres and a repair kit.
The Giulia range starts at $69,950 before on-roads for the based Ti, and extends to more than $150,000 for the Quadrifoglio.
Audi A5 Sportback
The second and final Audi here is the A5 Sportback, which is only offered in one variant that matches the Giulia's capacity at 480 litres.
With its unique body shape that blends a sedan and a wagon, Audi doesn't quote a boot space figure for the A5 Sportback with the second row folded. Its one variant is the 45 TFSI S Line quattro, which is priced from $91,900 before on-roads.
Like its A4 stablemate it offers a three-way rear seat split and retains a space saver spare, while also being covered by Audi's five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. It includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
Staying in Germany brings this list to the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, which offers a standard boot capacity of 470 litres.
There are two variants available, however both have the same quoted boot capacities. With the rear seats folded, you'll get a maximum 1290 litres of boot space in both.
Those two variants are the 430i M Sport and the M440i xDrive, which are priced from $93,700 and $129,000 before on-roads respectively.
As with a lot of the previous cars on this list, BMW has fitted the 4 Series Gran Coupe with run-flat tyres and a repair kit as standard. The rear seats are similarly split 40/20/40 for added storage flexibility.
BMW i4
The final BMW on this list is the all-electric i4, which shares its body with the 4 Series Gran Coupe. As such, it has the same boot space figure of 470 litres in its standard configuration.
It also has the same expanded capacity of 1290 litres, and there are three variants making up the range. The lineup starts at $85,900 before on-roads for the base eDrive35 and extends to $133,900 before on-roads for the top-spec M50.
Much like the 4 Series Gran Coupe, you get only a repair kit in lieu of any spare wheel. You do still get wireless smartphone mirroring and a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Additionally, BMW offers a high-voltage battery warranty for eight years or 160,000km – whichever comes first.
Genesis G70
The first Korean car on this list comes from Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis, whose G70 offers 465 litres of boot space in its largest variant.
That variant is the Shooting Brake Sport Line Luxury, which is priced from $81,000 before on-roads. Genesis doesn't quote a maximum boot capacity for any G70 model, though the rear seats split 60/40 if you need a bit of extra room.
For $88,000 before on-roads you can purchase the Sport Luxury sedan, which offers a boot with 330 litres of space. It's one of the smallest cargo areas for the segment, larger than only one other car here.
You do benefit from the inclusion of a space saver spare, though the G70 does miss out on wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
Next up is the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, which is offered in four variants. Two of those have a slightly larger boot capacity at 460 litres.
They're the performance CLA 35 AMG 4Matic and CLA 45 AMG S 4Matic+ sedans, which are priced at $99,000 and $126,500 before on-roads respectively.
If that's too much, the regular Benz CLA 200 and CLA 250 4Matic sedans are also an option, though their boot capacities are slightly reduced at 440 litres.
Those two are priced at $76,900 and $85,900 before on-roads respectively. The whole range does miss out on a spare wheel and wireless smartphone mirroring though, but the rear row splits three ways for a bit of added cargo space.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Following closely behind its stablemate is the C-Class, which is sold in five variants with a 455 litre boot capacity in all but one.
The C-Class is a sedan only. The C 200 Night Edition, C 200, C 300, and performance C 43 AMG 4Matic offer that boot space figure.
Those four models are priced between $86,900 and $138,900 before on-roads. Should you want the best C-Class money can buy, the model of choice is the C 63 AMG S E Performance for $187,900 before on-roads.
That top-spec AMG cuts boot space down to just 280 litres, which is the smallest quoted capacity on this list. A tyre repair kit is included as standard across the range.
Lexus ES
The only Japanese car on this list is the Lexus ES, which offers a boot with 454 litres of space.
It's sold in five variants ranging in price from $62,140 to $80,170 before on-roads, and all share the same boot space figure. They're only sedan bodies, and even the inclusion of hybrid drivetrains doesn't affect the quoted capacity.
Additionally, you get a space saver spare as standard.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Hyundai's all-electric Ioniq 6 is next on the list, and four of its six variants offer a boot capacity of 446 litres.
It's only the rear-wheel drive models offering that boot capacity figure, which are priced between $66,500 and $82,000 before on-roads. That lineup consists of the Standard Range, Extended Range, Dynamiq RWD, and Epiq RWD.
Opting for the Dynamiq AWD and Epiq AWD brings a reduced boot capacity of 416 litres, alongside a higher price tag. These two models cost $83,000 and $86,500 before on-roads respectively.
Hyundai doesn't include a spare wheel as standard and instead replaces it with a tyre repair kit, while the rear row can split 60/40 if need be.
Volvo S60
The second Volvo on this list is the S60, which is sold in two variants and offers a boot capacity of 427 litres in both.
It's available as either the Ultimate B5 Bright or the Recharge T8 Black Edition, and there's a difference of more than $20,000 between the two.
Opting for the cheaper Ultimate B5 Bright will set you back $69,990 before on-roads, but you do gain a space saver spare and a braked towing capacity of 1800kg.
The plug-in hybrid Recharge T8 is priced at $88,990 before on-roads, but it loses the spare wheel for a tyre repair kit. It does have the benefit of the highest braked towing capacity in this segment and is rated at two tonnes.
Polestar 2
Towards the end of the list is the Polestar 2, which with an almost-SUV frame fits 405 litres of boot space with the rear seats up.
With the rear seats folded that figure expands to 1095 litres.
There are three variants in the Polestar 2 range, starting with Standard and Long Range single motor options and the Long Range Dual Motor. They range in price from $67,400 to $76,400 before on-roads.
The second row features a standard 60/40 split, but there's no spare wheel. You'll have to make do with a tyre repair kit if you pull the trigger on a Polestar 2.
Jaguar XE
Bringing up the rear is the Jaguar XE, which is the only car to fall under 400 litres of boot space. It has 394 litres, to be exact.
It was also the lowest-selling car on this list for 2023 at just 58 units sold, and it's available in a sole 300 Sport variant. It's priced at $80,450 before on-roads.
Being a sedan there's no quoted seats-down boot capacity figure, but you do get a folding rear row that splits three ways for a bit of added space.
You also still get a space saver.
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
