Boot space comparison: Range Rover vs. Audi Q8
Most car brochures list boot space in litres, but you cannot pack a suitcase full of water. On 14 November, we took our tape measures and a stack of Samsonite hard-shells into the Cardiff garage to find out how these cars actually handle a real trip to the airport.
Why the total litre count is often a lie
Brochure numbers usually count every tiny nook and cranny under the floorboards or behind the wheel arches. For example, the Audi Q8 claims 605 litres of space, while the Range Rover sits around 725 litres. On paper, that looks like a huge win for the Rover. In reality, that extra space is often too high up or too narrow to be useful for a rigid 75cm suitcase. If you stack bags above the window line, you lose your rear-view mirror, which is something our drivers never do for safety reasons.
We tested this with 3 large suitcases and 2 smaller carry-on bags. In the Audi, we had to tilt the carry-ons on their sides to get the tailgate to close without hitting the glass. The Range Rover took the same load with about 14cm of width to spare on the left side. The square shape of the Range Rover's rear end makes it much easier to slide gear in without playing Tetris. If you are heading to a 09:00 flight at Heathrow, the last thing you want is a driver struggling with a boot that won't shut.
You cannot pack a suitcase full of water, so stop trusting the litre count on car websites.
The Range Rover split tailgate advantage
The Range Rover features a two-piece tailgate that we find very handy for heavy gear. The bottom section drops down like a bench, sitting about 45cm off the ground. This means our drivers can rest a 23kg bag on the ledge before sliding it into the main cabin. It prevents scratches on the paintwork and saves the driver's back. During a rainy run to Bristol Airport last Tuesday, this allowed us to load 4 bags in under 85 seconds, keeping the upholstery dry.
Inside, the floor is almost perfectly flat. We measured the width between the wheel arches at 110cm. This is wide enough for two large hard-shell cases to sit side-by-side. Many of our corporate clients from the Greyfriars Road offices choose the Rover specifically because it fits two sets of golf clubs horizontally. You don't have to fold any seats down, which means you can still carry 4 passengers in total comfort without luggage encroaching on their shoulder room.
Where the Audi Q8 falls short on height
The Audi Q8 is a fantastic car for a quiet ride, but the roof curves down sharply at the back. This 'coupe' styling looks sharp on the road, but it cuts into your vertical storage. If you have 3 sets of clubs, they have to be angled diagonally. We found that this leaves very little room for anything else. If you are a solo traveller or a couple with just two bags, the Q8 is plenty of car. But for a group of three colleagues, it gets tight very quickly.
We measured the vertical clearance from the boot floor to the privacy cover at 42cm in the Audi. Compare that to 51cm in the Range Rover. That 9cm difference is exactly the height of a laptop bag or a thick winter coat. (By the way, we always suggest removing the parcel shelf entirely if you have more than 2 large bags). In the Q8, the loading lip is also slightly higher, which makes lifting heavy suitcases a bit more of a chore if you are doing a self-drive hire.
Real-world test: The four-bag challenge
Last month, we had a booking for 4 passengers going to a conference in Birmingham. They had 4 large suitcases and 4 laptop bags. We tried to fit them into the Q8 first as a test. It was impossible without folding the middle seat down, which meant one passenger would have been very cramped. We moved the booking to a Range Rover Vogue. Everything fit below the window line with 3cm to spare, ensuring the driver had a clear view out the back window for the entire 2-hour journey.
Our fleet team now uses a simple rule: if you have more than 3 large bags, we recommend the Range Rover. For 1 or 2 people with standard luggage, the Audi Q8 is a smoother, more car-like experience on the motorway. We keep 6 of these SUVs in our Cardiff fleet, and we check the tyre pressures and boot seals every Monday morning. Being upfront about these sizes saves everyone a headache on the morning of a big trip. Nobody wants to be left standing on their driveway at 04:30 with a bag that won't fit.
If you have more than three large bags, don't even look at the Audi's boot.
