We take a look at the compact cars with the most interior room to help you find one that will offer you and your passengers comfort and space for long weekends away, road trips, and city trips.
Table of Contents
#1: Subaru Impreza
The compact car with the most interior room is the Subaru Impreza.
This sleek compact car carries a proud heritage for offering practicality, usability, and reliability in attractive shapes over the decades.
The latest generation brings maturity and stylishness to the list of plus points.
This Japanese model is popular in North America thanks to its 100.9 cubic feet of total passenger volume. It offers front passengers 43.1 inches of legroom and 39.8 inches of headroom, while rear occupants can enjoy 36.5 inches of legroom and 38 inches of headroom.
With a starting price of $20,815, it also offers shoppers high levels of value too.
At a glance:
- Passengers: 5
- Total Passenger Volume: 100.9 cubic feet
- Front Legroom: 43.1 inches
- Front Headroom: 39.8 inches
- Rear Legroom: 36.5 inches
- Rear Headroom: 38 inches
#2: Hyundai Elantra
Korea’s beautiful Hyundai Elantra model has come a long way over the decades it has been available in the United States.
The 2023 Hyundai Elantra has come of age and is no longer simply on people’s car buying shopping list because of its affordable pricing but because it is one of the best compact cars on the market today.
It is equipped with peppy engines, slick transmissions, a host of high tech, and a comfortable interior for 5 occupants.
As a sedan, it offers the second most interior space on this list of the top compact cars with the most interior room, with 99.4 cubic feet of total passenger volume.
That translates into 42.3 inches of front legroom, 38.7 inches of front headroom, 38 inches of rear legroom, and 37.3 inches of rear headroom. That’s spacious!
The 223 Hyundai Elantra has a starting retail price of $22,000.
At a glance:
- Passengers: 5
- Total Passenger Volume: 99.4 cubic feet
- Front Legroom: 42.3 inches
- Front Headroom: 38.7 inches
- Rear Legroom: 38 inches
- Rear Headroom: 37.3 inches
#3: Tesla Model 3
Is this the one all compact cars aspire to beat? The 2023 Tesla Model 3 has undoubtedly advanced the Electric Vehicle narrative with its fresh styling, long battery range, relative affordability, and roomy interior.
The guys and gals at Tesla sure know how to make a spacious car with a highly functional interior design. It boasts 97 cubic feet of total passenger volume, which isn’t much less than the class leader’s 100.9 cubic feet.
Front occupants have a generous 42.7 inches of legroom, while the rear passengers have 35.2 inches.
In terms of headroom, the front passengers get 40.3 inches, and the rear occupants get 37.7 inches.
With a starting price of $44,630, the 2023 Tesla Model 3 doesn’t come cheap – but it does come with premium luxury.
At a glance:
- Passengers: 5
- Total Passenger Volume: 97 cubic feet
- Front Legroom: 42.7 inches
- Front Headroom: 40.3 inches
- Rear Legroom: 35.2 inches
- Rear Headroom: 37.7 inches
#4: Honda Civic
The Honda Civic name must rank as one of the most iconic in the world of motoring – globally.
The 2023 Honda Civic ranks number 4 on our list of compact cars with the most interior room, thanks to its 96.6 cubic feet of total passenger volume.
Stylish, comfortable, feature-rich, practical, reliable, and fun to drive: it is easy to see why there are so many of these on our North American roads.
Inside, it boasts 42.3 inches of front legroom, and 37.6 inches of front headroom, while rear passengers have 37.1 inches of headroom and 37.4 inches of legroom.
The 2023 Honda Civic has a retail price starting at $24,545.
At a glance:
- Passengers: 5
- Total Passenger Volume: 96.6 cubic feet
- Front Legroom: 42.3 inches
- Front Headroom: 37.6 inches
- Rear Legroom: 37.4 inches
- Rear Headroom: 37.1 inches
#5: Kia Forte
The 2023 Kia Forte has a total passenger volume of 96 cubic feet, which translates into a spacious 42.2 inches of front legroom and 38.8 inches of front headroom. Rear occupants have 35.7 inches of legroom and 37.5 inches of headroom.
One of the most handsome compact cars on this list, it packs a lot of substance behind those shiny metal panels.
Advanced tech array, great driver aids, comfort, practicality, and quality finishes.
With a list price starting at $20,815, it doesn’t really get much better than this for the money.
At a glance:
- Passengers: 5
- Total Passenger Volume: 96 cubic feet
- Front Legroom: 42.2 inches
- Front Headroom: 38.8 inches
- Rear Legroom: 35.7 inches
- Rear Headroom: 37.5 inches
#6: Nissan Sentra
How the 2023 Nissan Sentra has matured: this compact car is a far cry from its earlier generations, but that’s not to say those models weren’t good either.
The 2023 Nissan Sentra builds on the legacy of the Sentra nameplate, offering more of everything: more space, more performance, more safety, more reliability, and more quality.
Inside the cabin, it boasts 96 cubic feet of total passenger volume, with 44 inches of front passenger legroom and 38.9 inches of front passenger headroom. Rear occupants can enjoy 34.7 inches of legroom and 36.7 inches of headroom.
The 2023 Nissan Sentra has a retail price starting at $21,045.
At a glance:
- Passengers: 5
- Total Passenger Volume: 96 cubic feet
- Front Legroom: 44 inches
- Front Headroom: 38.9 inches
- Rear Legroom: 34.7 inches
- Rear Headroom: 36.7 inches
#7: Volkswagen Jetta
As the only European model on this list, the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta has a lot riding on its shoulders. And it doesn’t disappoint.
94.7 cubic feet of total passenger volume mean it is spacious for occupants, seating 5 adults with ease. Front passengers will get 41.1 inches of legroom and 38.5 inches of headroom. Rear occupants can enjoy 37.4 inches of legroom and 37.2 inches of headroom.
That is added to the high-quality fit and finish this model has become synonymous with over the decades of its life.
It offers an excellent chassis, compelling trim lines to choose from, and a host of class-leading features – all with a list price starting at $21.750.
At a glance:
- Passengers: 5
- Total Passenger Volume: 94.7 cubic feet
- Front Legroom: 41.1 inches
- Front Headroom: 38.5 inches
- Rear Legroom: 37.4 inches
- Rear Headroom: 37.2 inches
#8: Mazda 3 Sedan
Easily the most highly acclaimed vehicle on this list, the 2023 Mazda 3 Sedan is also the most stylish.
Option it in the head-turning metallic red finish, and you’ll most certainly be proud of this vehicle on your driveway.
It has 92.8 cubic feet of total passenger volume. That is 42.3 inches of front legroom, 38 inches of front headroom, 35.1 inches of rear legroom, and 37.3 inches of rear headroom, which is relatively spacious as rear spaces go in this sector.
With finishes you’d expect on premium compact cars, the 2023 Mazda 3 Sedan punches above its weight and belies its $23,615 starting list price. A wonderful car.
At a glance:
- Passengers: 5
- Total Passenger Volume: 92.8 cubic feet
- Front Legroom: 42.3 inches
- Front Headroom: 38 inches
- Rear Legroom: 35.1 inches
- Rear Headroom: 37.3 inches
#9: Nissan Leaf
Is the Nissan Leaf one of the most underestimated cars? We think so. It offers incredible electric power, unique styling, a host of value-added features, and a high-quality fit and finish.
The 2023 Nissan Leaf is one of the best drives on this list but ranks as number 9 on our match-up of the compact cars with the most interior room.
Total passenger volume measures 92.4 cubic feet, which means that front passengers have 42.1 inches of legroom and 41.2 inches of headroom, while rear occupants get 33.5 inches of legroom and 37.3 inches of headroom.
The 2023 Nissan Leaf has a retail price starting at $29,135.
At a glance:
- Passengers: 5
- Total Passenger Volume: 92.4 cubic feet
- Front Legroom: 42.1 inches
- Front Headroom: 41.2 inches
- Rear Legroom: 33.5 inches
- Rear Headroom: 37.3 inches
#10: Toyota Prius
This Prius is a highly fuel-efficient compact car and takes the number 10 spot on our list.
The 2023 Toyota Prius is a 5-seater compact car with 91.2 cubic feet of total passenger volume – a roomy car for occupants!
Rear passengers are comfy thanks to 36.4 inches of headroom and 34.8 inches of legroom. Up front, occupants can enjoy 43.2 inches of legroom and 38 inches of headroom.
The Prius is a popular hybrid alternative to ICE-powered models. It is s equipped with high levels of tech for a satisfying and stylish interior design.
The 2023 Toyota Prius has a retail price starting at $28,545.
At a glance:
- Passengers: 5
- Total Passenger Volume: 91.2 cubic feet
- Front Legroom: 43.2 inches
- Front Headroom: 38 inches
- Rear Legroom: 34.8 inches
- Rear Headroom: 36.4 inches
#11: Toyota Corolla Sedan
The Toyota Corolla is one of the most bought vehicles in the world.
Their reliability and durability are legendary in the automotive sphere, while it has grown in size and risen in quality with each successive generation.
The 2023 Toyota Corolla is available as a hatchback and sedan, but for this list we’ll focus on the sedan model. It has an 88.6 cubic feet total passenger volume, meaning front passengers have 42 inches of legroom and 38.3 inches of headroom. Rear occupants have 37.1 inches of headroom and 34.8 inches of legroom.
While the 2023 Toyota Corolla occupies the 11th spot on our list, those figures still make for a comfortable and spacious compact car. It has a price starting at $22,645.
At a glance:
- Passengers: 5
- Total Passenger Volume: 88.6 cubic feet
- Front Legroom: 42 inches
- Front Headroom: 38.3 inches
- Rear Legroom: 34.8 inches
- Rear Headroom: 37.1 inches
Sources:
https://www.caranddriver.com/tesla/model-3/specs/2023/
https://www.caranddriver.com/nissan/leaf
https://www.caranddriver.com/toyota/prius/specs
https://www.caranddriver.com/volkswagen/jetta/specs
https://www.caranddriver.com/hyundai/elantra-2023/specs
https://www.caranddriver.com/nissan/sentra/specs
https://www.caranddriver.com/toyota/corolla/specs
https://www.caranddriver.com/honda/civic-2023/specs
https://www.caranddriver.com/subaru/impreza-2023/specs
https://www.caranddriver.com/mazda/mazda-3/specs
https://www.caranddriver.com/kia/forte/specs
