Cars with The Greatest Available Interior to Exterior Ratio

kracken on 04/03/2019 - 23:21
Last edited 04/03/2019 - 23:37

Sorry for the odd subject title.
I'm trying to short list cars that have very large interiors relative to their exterior.
Every car has exterior measurements, but I haven't found any car specs that detail the interior measurements, otherwise I think I could figure out a basic interior volume : exterior volume ratio.

I think if the ratios for different cars were arranged over a basic graph, maybe exterior space (less at the bottom, more at the top) could be on the Y axis, and interior space (less on the left, more on the right) could be on the X axis.

  • So something like a Ford Transit, with a very large exterior and very large interior, would be toward the upper right corner.
  • A Nissan Navara (I drove a 2014 4x4ST once) has a large exterior and small interior (passenger cabin), would be in the upper left corner.
  • A Mazda MX5 has a small exterior and tiny interior, so it would be in the lower left corner…
  • But what would go in the lower right corner..?

What has a relatively large interior and small exterior?

I was thinking maybe things like the Nissan Cube and Kia Soul… but is there anything a bit better looking? Even if it costs a more?

But regardless of looks and price, does anyone have any other cars to list?

PS; by interior space I mean the enclosed cabin space for passengers, not the back of a ute etc
PPS; I always thought a Ford Territory would be great, cos they don't look as bad as a Nissan Cube and the interior must be huge. But then the exterior is huge as well. I don't mind the Honda Jazz, which is small on the outside and cheap to run. But the interior is too small. So I think an ideal car would be as small as a Jazz on the outside, and as large as a Territory on the inside…

Automotive Car

Comments

  • freakatronic on 04/03/2019 - 23:35
    +1

    I used my Lancer hatch to move from Melbourne to Perth and then back again. Sure, it couldn't fit a whole house inside. But it sure carried a lot!

  • spackbace on 04/03/2019 - 23:59
    +11

    Wtf is the point of this post? 😂 Defying physics?

    • pegaxs on 05/03/2019 - 09:30
      +4

      OP needs a tardis on wheels…

  • [Deactivated] on 05/03/2019 - 00:06
    +1

    I think the only solution is to list the cars you like the exterior of that you think will meet your needs.

    Take the whole family, backpacks, pram, portacot etc to some dealerships of above said vehicles and hop in the car and test.

    And finally butt out that joint.

  • fantombloo on 05/03/2019 - 00:09
    +1

    Not just sheer volume but seat and other configuration comes to play here. The Peugeot 308 Touring station wagon is a compact 7 seater but with five removable seats it can haul massive loads.

    Are you looking for comfort or load carrying ability?

    • [Deactivated] on 05/03/2019 - 00:10
      +2

      But where on the x axis does the Peugeot sit?

      • fantombloo on 05/03/2019 - 00:13
        +2

        Not sure, depends on units and scale (log or lin?) but I believe it's a positive value.

    • brendanm on 05/03/2019 - 18:33
      +1

      The only issue will be that it can't move much at all when it's at the mechanics

      • pegaxs on 06/03/2019 - 00:24

        Peugeot… not so much a car as it is a paperweight. :D

  • altomic on 05/03/2019 - 00:13
    +11

    tardis?

    • fantombloo on 05/03/2019 - 00:21
      +1

      A rectangular prism is good but a sphere will give ultimate internal volume for minimum external surface area, hence Death Star.

  • THICKnSLOW on 05/03/2019 - 00:20
    +4

    So you want a car with as little crumple zones possible in the event of a crash?

  • Dwight Schrute on 05/03/2019 - 00:41
    +9

    motorbike

  • justaperson on 05/03/2019 - 01:08
    +3

    I'm an importer currently complying one of the very first of a car that you speak of with that exact sort of criteria. Its called the Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid. Bags of room (almost physics defying) in a package no bigger than a C segment hatch, I really don't know how Honda as done it, since the regular Jazz/Fit is already pretty well packaged as it is.

    • RandomNinja on 05/03/2019 - 10:27
      +2

      Nice, hadn't heard of this before. Looks like a smaller Carnival!

      • justaperson on 05/03/2019 - 16:56
        +1

        I hadn't heard of one either until I went to Japan to track down some parts and I saw it there. I instantly thought "I love it, I HAVE to bring this to market"

  • [Deactivated] on 05/03/2019 - 07:27
    +1

    Broomstick's were on special at target recently.

    Seriously your post is pretty silly IMHO. Just buy as safe and ugly and big and reliable a car as you can afford to run.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/03/2019 - 07:32
    +2

    The proper technical answer to this is a large passenger bus, or pantech truck. Possibly even a road train. You mentioned a Transit van, so why not keep going ratio-wise?

  • 2jzzzz on 05/03/2019 - 07:50
    +1

    Toyota Yaris hatch felt very big inside for a small car. Fold back seats down and there was heaps of room.

  • brad1-8tsi on 05/03/2019 - 08:00
    +1

    Skoda Superb

  • askme69 on 05/03/2019 - 08:34
    +1

    The original mini
    Daihatsu Mira

    • Euphemistic on 05/03/2019 - 19:53

      With a bit of work you can get one if these in AWD too.

  • pegaxs on 05/03/2019 - 09:35
    +2

    Toyota Rukus/Scion xB. (Similar to Cube and Soul, just made by Toyota and bigger engine.)

    I owned one of these and the interior space is amazing. I almost ended up buying a cat just to swing it around inside the car there was that much space.

    Hyundai iLoad. We use these for work. It’s a box with wheels on it. I guess any van would be good for space.

    Mitsubishi MiniCab, Suzuki Carry, Daihatsu Hi-Jet… if you wanted small and van…

  • boomramada on 05/03/2019 - 12:57
    +2

    Wheelbarrow, definitely have very large interiors relative to their exterior?

  • altomic on 05/03/2019 - 15:38
    +1

    nissan cube. japan import. usually quite inexpensive with low Kms.

  • kracken on 05/03/2019 - 18:07

    Hey thanks everyone for helping to build a list of cars that can go in the lower left corner of the graph, with a large interior to a relatively small exterior:

    Toyota Rukus/Scion
    nissan cube

    Skoda Superb
    Peugeot 308 Touring station wagon

    Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid
    Toyota Yaris hatch
    Daihatsu Mira

    original mini

    Hyundai iLoad
    Mitsubishi MiniCab
    Suzuki Carry
    Daihatsu Hi-Jet

    I know the last PPS got a bit odd.
    Just some late-night-creative-thinking-out-loud.

    Thanks again everyone!

  • [Deactivated] on 05/03/2019 - 18:54
    +1

    Honda Jazz is the answer, literally 100% of the time. I have fit so many things in our old Jazz. THey are super cheap, super reliable, and actually pretty fun once you get on it. Seats fold in a million different ways so you can fit all sorts of things in.

  • Euphemistic on 05/03/2019 - 19:54
    +1

    I don’t think a mustang will have the right ratio for you.

  • Pumpkin_rrr on 05/03/2019 - 20:14
    +1

    I agree with @2jzzzz - Many years ago my cousin picked us up for the airport, and I couldnt believe she drove that car!
    Anhow, it fits the three of us, plus our 2 big and 2 small suitcases.
    Granted I was slimmer then, but I still find it truly amazing.

    Fast forward to 2019 today, doing my car-hunting, I wish I can add this matrix to my spreadsheet.
    Just like houses, one just cant rely on the square meter printed. It's very much depends on the layout etc.

    Pity your list @kracken doesnt include the brands I wanted.

    • kracken on 06/03/2019 - 01:07

      which brands are you looking for?
      I'm just looking for any car with a lot of space inside, without taking much room outside, regardless of brand.
      It's been interesting reading through everyone's contributions so far :)

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