Car makers publish boot space in litres, which tells you very little about a pram. A pram is a rigid box, so what matters is whether its three sides fit the boot's three. You need a tape measure and five minutes. Measure with the rear seats up and the parcel shelf in place, because that's how you'll drive.
What to measure
- Floor length. From the back of the rear seats to the inside of the tailgate seal, along the floor.
- Width between the wheel arches. The narrowest point across the floor. This decides most pram verdicts, because long folds have to lie across the boot.
- Height. From the boot floor to the underside of the parcel shelf.
- Opening height. From the load lip to the top of the tailgate opening. On saloons this is often the real limit.
- Opening width. Across the narrowest part of the tailgate opening.
Then measure the pram
Fold it the way you'll fold it every day, usually with the seat attached, and measure its length, width and height. Compare the longest side with the longer of floor length and arch width, and the shortest side with the lower of boot height and opening height. Leave at least 3 cm spare. You'll be lifting it in with one hand, often in the rain.
The three things that catch people out
The parcel shelf. Most tight fits on our site are down to the shelf. If a pram only fits with it out, you'll be driving without it.
A saloon opening. The boot can be huge and the slot into it narrow. Measure the opening, not just the space.
The everyday fold. Brands often quote the smallest fold, with wheels or seat off. If you won't do that every trip, measure the fold you will do.
Or skip the tape: pick your car and pram and we'll do the comparison. Measured a car we don't have yet? Email us and we'll add it.