Shopping for a compact car can be overwhelming due to the sheer amount of options available, many of which are very affordable and offer excellent features.
For those buyers needing an excellent compact car with the most trunk size, this list of vehicles deserves your attention.
Let’s dive right in to see the nine compact cars with the most trunk space.
Table of Contents
#1: 2023 Kia Forte (15.3 ft³)
The 2023 Kia Forte tops this list as the best compact car with the biggest trunk in the United States. It offers a whopping 15.3 cubic feet of trunk space.
This 5-seater, 4-door sedan can even extend its trunk space by folding the rear seats with a 60/40 split-folding configuration, ideal for carrying skis or extra luggage.
In terms of luggage, the 2023 Kia Forte can hold 7 carry-on luggage bags, which is one more than its rivals can manage.
What’s more, the 2023 Kia Forte is available with an optional power trunk that makes it even more convenient to use.
The 2023 Kia Forte has a retail price of $20,815 and is one of the best compact cars on the market.
#2: 2023 Honda Civic (14.8 ft³)
With a trunk size of 14.8 cubic feet, the 2023 Honda Civic snatches the number two spot on our list of compact cars with the most trunk space.
This ever-popular Japanese family sedan offers honest motoring, quality finishes, comfort, and – of course – large trunks.
With a wide lid opening, and rear seats that fold down, the 2023 Honda Civic can swallow 6 carry-on suitcases with ease thanks to minimal intrusion from its wheel wells and trunk lid hinges.
Retail pricing for the 2023 Honda Civic range starts at $27,545.
This is one of the most popular vehicles worldwide, and it is easy to see why.
#3: 2019 Chevrolet Cruze (14.8 ft³)
While the majority of the compact cars on this list featured are 2023 models, the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze still stacks up very well against them.
It has a trunk space of 14.8 cubic feet, exactly the same as the 2023 Honda Civic, and is good enough for third place on our list.
The Cruze was discontinued in 2019 across the US, but you can still find low mileage models on the used marketplace from $10,900.
That 14.8 cubic feet trunk space can hold 6 luggage bags with 5 occupants traveling in comfort.
Folding down the rear seats adds considerably more cargo space. The 60/40 split rear seats add to the versatility of this above-average compact car’s available cargo space.
#4: 2022 Nissan Sentra (14.3 ft³)
The 2022 Nissan Sentra has a trunk size of 14.3 cubic feet, and with its standard 60/40 splitting rear seat, that trunk space can expand for more oversized cargo, such as skis. The trunk can carry 5 large luggage bags with ease.
This 5-seater, 4-door sedan is a handsome option and offers an array of comfort features, but for this list, it ranks as number four for compact cars with the most trunk space.
Retail prices on the 2022 Nissan Sentra start from $22,125.
This is an often-overlooked Nissan model that deserves more recognition than it gets.
#5: 2023 Hyundai Elantra (14.2 ft³)
The second Korean brand entry on the list, the 2023 Hyundai Elantra, takes the fifth spot on our list of compact cars with the most trunk space.
It features 14.2 cubic feet of trunk space, just 0.1 less than the 2023 Nissan Sentra and 0.1 more than the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta.
That means this compact sedan’s trunk can hold 5 luggage bags with ease, and it can even carry two golf bags when the 60/40 split-folding rear seats are folded down.
When those rear seats are folded down, it offers a flat surface with the trunk to offer a deep and wide space for oversized cargo.
The 2023 Hyundai Elantra retails from $23,015. It offers a spacious trunk, large amounts of interior and occupant comfort, and a comprehensive warranty plan.
#6: 2023 Volkswagen Jetta (14.1 ft³)
The German automaker Volkswagen’s Jetta model has been a mainstay in the US since its introduction decades ago, winning many loyal fans.
The 2023 VW Jetta continues its legacy of offering quality family sedans with great trunk space, with 14.1 cubic feet in this model.
For a vehicle with a retail price starting at $21,750, that is undoubtedly a great deal of value – and space.
It can carry 5 large luggage bags with room to spare.
The 60/40 rear split-fold seats don’t lie flat, which does impact the overall space and cargo-carrying capability of this sedan.
The wheel wells and trunk lid hinges are tucked away and don’t intrude into the trunk space.
#7: 2023 Mazda3 Sedan (13.1 ft³)
With a useful 13.1 cubic feet of trunk space, the 2023 Mazda3 sedan is a whole cubic foot smaller than the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta, but you’d be fooled by looking at the Mazda’s trunk space to think it was the same size or even bigger.
With the rear seat folded flat, the 2023 Mazda3 offers 17.1 cubic feet of space, which is more than enough for a monthly grocery run or a long weekend’s camping essentials.
The 2023 Mazda3’s retail pricing starts from $23,615. Striking as its looks and interior design are, the price of this sedan makes it fantastic value for money.
#8: 2023 Toyota Corolla (13.1 ft³)
The stylish 2023 Toyota Corolla’s trunk space has not grown at the same relative pace as its rivals, as it holds an average 13.1 cubic feet of trunk space.
While that’s not low, it is surprising that the Corolla would be nearly 2 cubic feet smaller than its Japanese rival, the 2023 Honda Civic.
The trunk space is adequate for families on the move, but not as headline-grabbing as that of the 2023 Kia Forte or 2023 Honda Civic.
It can swallow three large carry-on suitcases at a push, or one golf bag with room for your kit bag and other smaller items.
The retail price of the 2023 Toyota Corolla starts at $22,645, making it a fantastic family sedan for an affordable price.
#9: 2023 Subaru Impreza (12.3 ft³)
When matched up against this list of compact cars with the most trunk space, the 2023 Subaru Impreza’s 12.3 cubic feet seems tiny.
It can carry 2 large carry-on suitcases and a small kit bag.
It does have 60/40 split-folding rear seats to boost that luggage space, and a power trunk lid makes using the trunk more convenient.
This 2023 Subaru Impreza 4-door model might be the last entry on our list, but it is far from the bottom of compact cars.
This 5-seater, 4-door sedan is a classy vehicle for $20,815.
Interestingly, the Impreza has the same retail price as the 2023 Kia Forte, which has the most trunk space. Still, the Impreza impresses with its Japanese quality.
Related: 9 Subcompact Cars With the Most Trunk Space (With Pictures)
