Why boot height matters
Whether you’re loading your shopping, mobility equipment or your holiday suitcase, a high boot can make things trickier. Especially if it’s a big, heavy item.
It’s far easier to lift items into a low boot. You never need to lift as high, and you can let go sooner. It makes regularly transporting mobility aids or medical equipment more manageable.
When you’re comparing cars, look on the results page for the height between the boot sill and the ground. This will show in millimetres.
Look for ‘Boot sill height to ground’ when you’re searching. Not ‘Sill height to ground’, as this means the sill you step in and out of, at the base of your car door.
What to look for in an accessible boot
A great boot is not just about sill height. There are other practical things to consider:
5 Motability Scheme cars with low boot heights
These five cars combine a low loading height with practical boot space, to give you peace of mind that your mobility equipment will fit.
Volkswagen Golf
Boot sill height to ground: 620mm to 650mm
Advance Payment: from £1249
PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
The Golf has one of the lowest loading lips. In some models, you can adjust the height of the boot floor. When you set this to the highest position, it becomes completely flush with the lip, so you can slide items straight in.
Honda Jazz
Boot sill height to ground: 640mm to 660mm
Advance Payment: from £749
PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
This is a tall car, but its boot lip is quite low to the ground. The Jazz performs really well and is a favourite with older drivers and wheelchair users.
Toyota Yaris Cross
Boot sill height to ground: 673mm to 770mm
Advance Payment: from £1,195
PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
The typical boot sill height for the Yaris Cross is 770mm, but it can sit as low as 673mm, depending on the trim you choose. This boot floor is not flush, so you’ll need to lift items over the noticeable lip.
Kia Sportage
Boot sill height to ground: 710mm to 776mm
Advance Payment: from £399
PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
This has a practical, low loading lip. You can adjust the boot floor so it sits flush with the opening, which saves you having to lift items over a ridge.
Ford Puma
Boot sill height to ground: 754mm to 765mm
Advance Payment: from £0
PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
The Puma has a practical boot, with an almost non-existent loading lip. This means you can slide large items straight in, without having to lift them over a bumper.
Make sure you check the boot sill height of the exact model you’re interested in on RIDC(opens in a new window) first
How to compare cars
The Research Institute for Disabled Consumers(opens in a new window) has a handy car search. Use their boot filter(opens in a new window) to narrow car down to the loading height that suits you. Just:
- Drag the ‘Boot sill height to ground’ bar to the maximum height you’re looking for
- Browse the results
Once you’ve found a few cars you like, check if you can lease the same vehicles on the Scheme. Just filter by ‘Make’ to narrow your results down quickly. After you’ve checked those, you’ll likely have a car or two that ticks both boxes. That’s the one you should test drive, at your local dealer. They can help you compare cars. They’ll also talk to you about adaptations.
Try the car boot yourself
The right car for you depends on:
- What you need to carry with you when you’re out and about
- How you load your items into your vehicle
Check the measurements carefully and try the boot in person, before you choose a car.
Once you have your Scheme car, you’ll be confident before every journey, knowing you can load your vehicle simply.
Quick answers to your car boot access questions
How do I get my mobility scooter into my car boot?
Foldable scooters are easier to get into a car, as they’re designed to be compact and transportable. If you choose a pavement or road-legal scooter, you’ll need an adaptation installed first. This could be a car boot hoist, which does the heavy lifting for you.
What’s the best vehicle to carry a mobility scooter?
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVWheelchair Accessible Vehicles) are the best for carrying your scooter, as they have lots of room for storage. You can choose between a ramp or a lift. Both will make it simpler to get your scooter in and out of your WAVWheelchair Accessible Vehicle.
How is boot space measured in the UK?
UK manufacturers measure this in boot volume, using litres, to help you compare models easily. They fill boots with small, one-litre blocks, then count how many fit inside.
