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Top 10 Hybrids and Electric Vehicles With the Most Cargo Capacity for 2012

The bad news is that hybrids and electric vehicles come up short in the cargo-capacity department, relative to their gas-only equivalents. The reason has to do with the presence of their battery packs, which can steal as much as 3 to 5 cubic feet of room.

Am I Ready for an EV?

  • EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.
  • If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.
  • Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

The good news is that despite this handicap, there are plenty of hybrids and EVs on the market that are pretty well endowed when it comes to luggage capacity. The picks listed below are proof; these are the 10 hybrids and electric vehicles with the most cargo capacity for 2012.

Not surprisingly, most of the choices are crossovers, but there's also a roomy hatchback or two in the mix, as well as Tesla's spacious electric sedan. All measurements shown are in cubic feet.


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Cargo capacity: 40

Cargo capacity: 34.3

Cargo capacity: 32.1

Cargo capacity: 27.8

Cargo capacity: 26.3

Cargo capacity: 25.1

Cargo capacity: 21.6

Cargo capacity: 21.6

Cargo capacity: 20.5

Cargo capacity: 17.1