In-depth reviews

Toyota Prius (2016-2021) boot space & seating

A big boot, roomy interior and good visibility mean the Toyota Prius has huge practicality to match its efficiency

Overall rating

4.5 out of 5

Boot space, seating & practicality rating

4.5 out of 5

LengthWidthHeightBoot volume (seats up)
4,540mm1,760mm1,470mm412-457 litres

The Prius’ platform was designed with hybrid powertrains in mind, so packaging the battery pack and electric motor has resulted in very little compromise when it comes to luggage space and passenger room compared to a petrol or diesel car. The Toyota is a versatile family hatchback that should prove very easy to live with.

Toyota Prius interior space, storage & comfort

When it comes to practicality we’ll start in the front, where the Prius offers plenty of room and great visibility. This stems from the dashboard, as with the low-line design and centrally mounted instruments, your view forward is great.

On top of this, the centre console isn’t bulky and offers good storage, with two cup-holders, a dedicated slot for wireless phone charging (if fitted), big door bins and a central cubby for phones, wallets and other items. The footwells are deep, so you can stretch your legs out as a passenger and find a good seating position as a driver.

In the rear, access is good as those doors open wide. The high tail design also means the roof doesn’t taper too aggressively, so headroom is good. There’s also a good level of legroom and rear passengers will find they can tuck their feet underneath the seats in front thanks to the raised up seating position front occupants benefit from.

Boot space

The Prius offers 457 litres of luggage space with the rear seats in place, which is more than enough to rival most conventional family hatchbacks. Fold those rear seats down (an easy operation thanks to levers on the seats) and this figure rises to 1,558 litres.

It's worth remembering that the all-wheel-drive version of the Prius has a slightly smaller boot, with only 412 litres to play with due to that model's extra electric motor. It's not a huge compromise, but potential customers will want to think carefully about whether the Prius AWD's smoother traction is worth the sacrifice.

Thanks to its big boot opening, the Prius is easy to load up even if you’re carrying bulky items. The rear bumper is higher than we'd like, but at least there’s not much of a loading lip, so you can set items down into the boot fairly easily.

The boot space figures quoted for the front-wheel-drive car above are for vehicles fitted with a tyre repair kit – if you go for a space-saver spare wheel, then these figures drop to 297 and 1,512 litres with the seats up and down respectively. Maximum boot height is 715mm, while maximum boot width is 936mm.

Most Popular

First contact: facelifted Kia EV6 will look even more like a UFO
Kia EV6 facelift
News

First contact: facelifted Kia EV6 will look even more like a UFO

Kia is readying an update for the EV6 crossover, which is set to include a new face and tech from the larger EV9
27 Nov 2023
New Fisker Ocean Sport washes up in the UK: £36k for a 288-mile range
Fisker Ocean Sport
News

New Fisker Ocean Sport washes up in the UK: £36k for a 288-mile range

American EV startup Fisker has just launched its entry-level Ocean SUV in the UK, with a range of up to 288 miles
22 Nov 2023
New Vauxhall Vivaro Electric is cheaper, yet has more range and tech
Vauxhall Vivaro Electric - header
News

New Vauxhall Vivaro Electric is cheaper, yet has more range and tech

Vauxhall has given its Vivaro Electric panel van a mid-life refresh with a new face and some of the latest tech
16 Nov 2023