How much luggage can fit in this car? or any other car?

[Maddle]

I thought I would post in transportation because it is a general car rental question....My actual scenario is for a cruise transfer from Orlando to Port Canaveral, if that gives you any ideas for other suggestions.

Requirements: Four women renting a car. Assume four full size suitcases, and four carry-on bags, and four good size purses.

Two women are full-sized people (okay, generously sized.)
Two women are skinny young adults.

If necessary, we will put some luggage in the back seat with skinnies.​

Currently I have a Chevy Impala reserved. I think it's going to be tight. I can rent a Ford Escape for a little more. (My son has one, and he says it would hold a lot, but I don't think it would hold as much as we need.)

Once we get bigger than that it might be easier to just hire a car service for their mini-van or other larger vehicle....than they do the driving, etc.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks,
Maddle

 

[DebbieB]

I thought I would post in transportation because it is a general car rental question....My actual scenario is for a cruise transfer from Orlando to Port Canaveral, if that gives you any ideas for other suggestions.

Requirements: Four women renting a car. Assume four full size suitcases, and four carry-on bags, and four good size purses.

Two women are full-sized people (okay, generously sized.)
Two women are skinny young adults.

If necessary, we will put some luggage in the back seat with skinnies.​

Currently I have a Chevy Impala reserved. I think it's going to be tight. I can rent a Ford Escape for a little more. (My son has one, and he says it would hold a lot, but I don't think it would hold as much as we need.)

Once we get bigger than that it might be easier to just hire a car service for their mini-van or other larger vehicle....than they do the driving, etc.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks,
Maddle

We had a Grand Prix one time with 4 women, which is about the same size as the Impala. We could only get 3 full size suitcases in the trunk. One had to go in the back seat. I don't know that a SUV gives you much more luggage space. I was on a business trip recently and we had a SUV (can't remember the model) and could not fit more than 3 full size suitcases in the back. We had 4 people so it was really tight.

 

[Jestocost]

The only cars that are going to be able to handle that much luggage in the trunk are the Lincoln Town Car, whatever the big Cadillac sedan is and ones that size. Even then it can be touch and go. I'd recommend an SUV, crossover or minivan.

 

[Maddle]

I'm thinking mini-van myself because with the third row we have some flexibility....but there isn't usually a lot of room BEHIND the third row.

I'm also thinking my nieces (the skinny ones in the back seat) will have to move down to duffle bags - that makes it much easier to squish things into the nooks and crannies of the trunk.

 

[Maddle]

Is a Mercury Marquis similar in size to the Lincoln Town Car? That's another option, but I am not sure how it compares.

 

[Order66]

I have an 09 Sportage, with 26 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up.

I fit 1 very large, 2 large and 3 20" carry on size, plus 2 regular backpacks in mine....and had room to spare and could see out the back window. Easily could have added 2 more bags, but would have obstructed the view.

I think the newer Escapes have about 5 cubic feet more than what I have. Should be able to fit all of what you need in one if obstructing your rear view wouldn't bother you. My husband can drive with mirrors only......I can't.

regards

 

[dwwlmw]

My family of 5 rented an Impala last summer for a 14 day trip. We had 3 large suitcases, one medium suitcase, plus 3 stuffed back packs and my husbands computer backpack. They all fit in the trunk with a little room to spare. Even with the 3 kids sitting in the back we could have fit some smaller stuff there if we had needed to.

 

[Maddle]

Wow! That's a lot of stuff. I seem to remember fitting a lot into an Impala trunk years ago, but most of my SIL's luggage was soft like duffle bags...and she had young boys. I also remember someone posting years ago, "the Impala trunk is a cave," but that was at least five years ago or more.

 

[dwwlmw]

My family of 5 rented an Impala last summer for a 14 day trip. We had 3 large suitcases, one medium suitcase, plus 3 stuffed back packs and my husbands computer backpack. They all fit in the trunk with a little room to spare. Even with the 3 kids sitting in the back we could have fit some smaller stuff there if we had needed to.

Just to clarify, what I think of as large are 25 - 27in. suitcases.

 

[NotUrsula]

You could put the bodies of two full-grown men into the trunk of an Impala; four 25" bags should be fine.

 

[mhconley]

Impala: 18.6 cubic feet ("quirky shape")
Escape: 31.4 cubic feet behind second row
Marquis: 20.6 cubic feet ("cavernous")

The Impala would have me nervous. The Escape and Marquis will fit everything easily.

Martin

 

[Maddle]

Latest iteration - I now have a Ford Taurus on hold....with an upgrade coupon to the Grand Marquis "based on availablility." Think the Taurus would do it?

My personal vehicle here at home is a Ford Five Hundred - that trunk is enormous. A couple years ago it was rebadged to Taurus, but some mods were made. I don't know if the trunk might be a little smaller.

I know I am overthinking this...but I don't want to be standing in the airport garage struggling with luggage. That's a bad way to start what should be a fun trip. As I have told members of my family, the rental car is ALWAYS the wild card. Thanks for your input.

Maddle

 

[uva185]

The rental car company will usually post how much luggage will fit in the car class. What does it list?

 

[Maddle]

Well, honestly, they list something like two plus. It's not very helpful.

4-5 Passengers
2 Large Suitcases, 1 Medium Suitcase , 2 Small Suitcases​

So, is that because of the shape, which Martin described as "quirky?" And that doesn't account for extra passenger space that could be used for a suitcase/backpack/roll aboard.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I would be very paranoid of the Taurus. The Impala would probably just fit ( I drive one for work and the amount of crap I have in the trunk is amazing). I can't remember what I drove after our cruise in 2009. Budget upgraded us when the car I reserved wasn't available. It fit 4 large suitcases (2x 28" and 2x 25") plus 4 carryon and 2 extra carryon. Oh and 4 adults. It was a Ford SUV of some kind. I'll try to find the paperwork to see exactly what it was.