Why you don’t need to buy a bigger car to get more storage space

If you find yourself wanting more storage capacity in your vehicle, but you prefer owning smaller, reasonably-sized vehicles, you may be delighted to find out you can have both. Whether you don’t want to pay more for a larger vehicle, or simply enjoy driving a vehicle that doesn’t take up as much space on the road or in your garage, you still have plenty of options if you find cargo capacity important.

There was a time where compact and economy cars were just small, and there was no way around it. But with more focus on economy and many Americans looking to downsize their vehicles, automakers have responded by engineering smaller vehicles that offer more space for both passengers and cargo.

Today, drivers have plenty of options when it comes to cars with abundant storage space. While it used to be that vans, trucks and SUVs were kings when it came to storage, crossovers and even compacts now offer more space than ever.

Compacts

Through creative engineering, cars with small footprints are able to offer big storage space. Whether it’s accomplished through well-engineered trunk space, a versatile interior where the seats can fold down, or a well-designed hatchback, compacts can still offer a good amount of storage space.

Take for example the 2013 Kia Forte, which you can buy as a coupe, sedan or 5-door hatchback. Both the coupe and sedan offer a superior amount of cargo room, but the 5-door hatchback is a storage champion when it comes to small cars. Without touching a thing, you’ll have 19.4 cubic feet of cargo space, but when you fold the backseats down, it offers a whopping 44.2 cubic feet. With more cabin space and cargo space than most vehicles in its class, the Kia Forte is a great buy if you’re looking for a smaller vehicle that offers lots of room to breathe.

Crossovers

Compacts aren’t for everyone, so crossovers offer a great alternative for those who want a little larger vehicle with a lot of space. Some crossovers not only offer superior storage space, but also seating options that were once confined to only SUVs and minivans.

In addition to offering a cargo volume of 72.5 cubic feet, the 2014 Kia Sorento comes with the option of third-row seating. For families small and large, the Kia Sorento offers a great balance of seating and cargo capacity, while offering more maneuverability than larger family vehicles.

If you haven’t been car shopping in years, take some time to check out the options in all classes if you’re looking for a vehicle that offers ample storage space. You may be surprised at what today’s smaller vehicles have to offer.