Convertibles have a reputation for forcing you to pack light. Fold the top down and you’d expect the trunk to shrink to almost nothing, right? That reputation isn’t as accurate as it used to be. A handful of today’s convertibles have been engineered specifically to hold onto real, usable cargo space, top up or top down, without asking you to leave your luggage at home.
Here’s a look at five convertibles, spanning everyday sports coupes to six-figure roadsters, and how much room they actually offer. We’ve converted every figure to litres, the standard measurement for cargo space in Canada, so you can compare them apples to apples.
The BMW 4 Series Convertible ties for the top spot on this list, with 385 litres of luggage compartment space. BMW also built in a foldable rear seat, so longer items can pass through from the cabin into the trunk when needed, even though the opening itself is on the narrow side. For a small luxury convertible built around driving dynamics, that’s a genuinely versatile amount of room for weekend trips, grocery runs, or a set of golf clubs.
The CLE Cabriolet ties the BMW at the top of this list, with cargo capacity ranging from 295 to 385 litres depending on configuration. That range also helped it earn recognition as a top performer among convertibles in an independent luggage capacity test. Despite its compact rear-drive proportions, the CLE Cabriolet has proven it can carry a genuinely usable amount of gear for a weekend away, all while keeping the folding fabric roof tucked out of sight when it’s down. Seating for four rounds out the package, giving it a bit more everyday usability than a strict two-seat roadster.
The mid-engine layout of the Corvette Stingray means cargo space is split between a rear trunk and a front trunk, adding up to a combined total of 357 litres, more than either the Mustang or the SL 63 on this list. The rear trunk holds two sets of golf clubs, and the front trunk fits an airline-size carry-on bag and a laptop bag. Splitting the storage this way also helps balance the car’s weight between the front and rear axles, which matters for a car built around handling. For a two-seat performance car, that’s a notable amount of usable storage tucked into two separate compartments.
The Mustang Convertible holds 323 litres of trunk space, and here’s the detail that stands out: multiple reviewers have noted that number doesn’t change much whether the top is up or down. Unlike most drop-tops, the Mustang’s folding roof doesn’t eat heavily into the trunk when it’s stowed, so you get close to the same cargo room no matter how you’re driving it. The trunk opening is a bit narrow, but the space itself is deep enough to comfortably hold a couple of suitcases or a set of golf clubs, and the rear seats are there as a backup for extra gear even if they’re not built for adult passengers.
The SL 63 offers 213 litres of cargo capacity, the smallest figure on this list. Context matters here: reviewers have still noted it holds more than some rivals in the same class, making it a solid showing for a car built first and foremost around performance rather than practicality. The SL also includes small rear seats, best suited to extra bags or a jacket rather than passengers, which adds a bit of flexibility beyond the trunk itself.
|
Convertible |
Cargo Space |
Notable Detail |
|
BMW 4 Series Convertible |
385 L |
Rear seats fold for longer items |
|
Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet |
295 to 385 L |
Rated a top convertible luggage performer |
|
Corvette Stingray Convertible |
357 L |
Split between front and rear trunks |
|
Ford Mustang Convertible |
323 L |
Capacity holds steady top up or down |
|
Mercedes-AMG SL 63 |
213 L |
Smallest here, but competitive for its class |
Trunk space only tells half the story. How your head fits once you’re behind the wheel matters just as much, especially on a longer drive.
Front headroom is strong across the board. The BMW 4 Series Convertible measures roughly 1,030 millimetres, the most of this group, with the Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet close behind at 1,022 millimetres. The Corvette Stingray Convertible and Mercedes-AMG SL 63 land in similar territory at 962 and 958 millimetres, and the Ford Mustang Convertible rounds out the group at 955 millimetres. All five offer genuinely usable headroom up front, even with the top up.
One more thing worth knowing: on every convertible in this group except the two-seat Corvette, the rear seats are noticeably tighter than the front row. They’re best treated as extra storage space or an occasional seat for a shorter trip rather than a place for adult passengers on a longer one.
|
Convertible |
Headroom (Front) |
|
BMW 4 Series Convertible |
1,030 mm |
|
Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet |
1,022 mm |
|
Corvette Stingray Convertible |
962 mm |
|
Mercedes-AMG SL 63 |
958 mm |
|
Ford Mustang Convertible |
955 mm |
Several of these convertibles are part of the lineup across Humberview Group’s dealerships. Visit our team right here in Ontario to sit inside one, load up the trunk yourself, and see how much room these convertibles really offer.
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