Boot space: How much can Lexus SUVs hold?

As a practical, family oriented vehicle, the modern Lexus SUV is tasked with carrying all manner of items, from ferrying garden waste to the municipal tip, to a fortnight of glamping in the West Country.

In such circumstances, the luggage capacity of a vehicle can be of upmost importance. Which is perhaps why ‘Lexus SUV boot space’ is one of the most common terms typed into the search bar of this blog.

We hope the following table effectively answers that search term, while the second table will allow you to place these SUV figures within the broader context of our luxury hatchback, saloon and coupe models. In addition, why not continue to scroll down to understand how Lexus accurately yet realistically calculates its luggage capacities.

Boot space of Lexus SUVs

LEXUS SUV LUGGAGE AREA CAPACITY (VDA, litres) 
UX Boot, packed to tonneau cover 320 
Rear seats folded, packed to roof 1,231 
UX with E-Four Boot, to tonneau cover 283 
Rear seats folded, packed to roof 1,194 
NX Boot, packed to tonneau cover 475 
Rear seats folded, packed to roof 1,520 
RX Boot, packed to tonneau cover 453 
Rear seats folded, packed to top of front seats 924 
RX L Boot, packed to top of third row 176 
Third row folded, packed to top of second row 432 
All rear seats folded, packed to top of front seats 966 
All rear seats folded, packed to roof 1,656 

Boot space

Boot space of other Lexus models

LEXUS MODEL LUGGAGE AREA CAPACITY (VDA, litres) 
CT Boot, packed to tonneau cover 375 
Rear seats folded, packed to top of front seats 985 
IS Boot only 450 
ES Boot only 454 
RC Boot only 340 
RC F Boot only 366 
LC 500 Boot only 197 
LC 500h Boot only 172 
LS Boot only 430 

What is the VDA method of measuring boot space?

Have you noticed that some manufacturers measure their vehicle’s luggage capacity in terms of litres, while others, such as Lexus, measure it in litres VDA? Why is there a differentiation between the two? Surely a litre is a litre, however you measure it.

While it is true that there is no volumetric difference between the measurements, there can be a difference in the way the internal volume of a luggage area is calculated.

Boot space

One method calculates the litre capacity as if you had poured liquid into the space, where every nook and cranny is entirely filled. This is the correct method for ensuring that a carton of juice holds exactly one litre, but it significantly overstates the practical capacity of a vehicle’s boot as luggage is rarely packed in liquid form.

In contrast, Lexus calculates boot space using the VDA method. Developed by the German automobile industry association (Verband der Automobilindustrie, hence VDA), it is a more realistic, standardised measurement of volume based on the number of identical blocks that can fit inside a given space. Each block measures 200x50x100mm, the equivalent of one litre, and it is not possible for these to be moulded or manipulated around the sort of irregular shapes you normally find in the boot of a car.

So when we say that the Lexus NX has a boot capacity of 475 litres, it simply means that 475 VDA-specification blocks can fit in the boot.

Learn more: Lexus SUV sizes explained

8 comments

  1. Hi,

    Do you have floor dimensions of boot and fold down area

    I need to know if my golf clubs and trolley will fit it – lol – total litre no good for me.

    1. Hello Graham,
      Thank you for getting in touch with us.
      We don’t hold these dimensions as official measurements, but we can casually measure a press vehicle for you if you would like.
      Could you please confirm which of our models you are referring to?
      Alternatively, you can take your golf clubs to your nearest Lexus Centre to see if these will fit.
      Thanks.

  2. Hi, How much weight can I put in the boot of my RX450h, with OR without passengers? For example, could I carry a load of 160kg spread evenly across the boot space?

        1. Hello Craig,
          Unfortunately, we don’t have figures for the maximum weight you can carry in the boot.
          As long as it is within the gross vehicle weight it should be okay, however we do not have any official figures to support this.
          Thanks.

  3. These figures just don’t make sense. Can you confirm if the NX has a bigger boot space than the RX as the figures seem to suggest, to the cover? I would be looking to potentially trade my NX for an RX as I need more space but the figures just don’t make sense??

    1. Hello Chris, thanks for your question.

      As this mag article is from 2020, the information may be oudated. We will look at updating this.

      The boot size for the NX is 525L with the seats up and the RX is 612L seats up.

      Hope this helps.

      Thanks.

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