Quick answer
Among 157 sedans and coupes with a similar-sized cabin, the average is 12 cu ft, so the 318i sits below it.
What actually fits in a 318i
The trunk shrank from 12 cu ft in 1991 to 10 cu ft in 1998. The biggest single change came in 1993: −2 cu ft against the 1991 car.
| What you are loading | How many fit | Each item |
|---|---|---|
| Checked suitcases | 1 | 27 × 21 × 14″ — 4.6 cu ft |
| Carry-on cases | 5 | 22 × 14 × 9″ — 1.6 cu ft |
| Grocery bags | 8 | about 1 cu ft each |
| Golf bags | 1 | full set, about 5 cu ft |
| Folded stroller | Fits | about 6 cu ft |
ROWS 5·SOURCE ForCar, computed from EPA cargo volume
Cabin or cargo — where the space went
| Space | Volume | Share of total |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger cabin | 86 cu ft | |
| Cargo area | 10 cu ft | |
| Total interior | 96 cu ft |
ROWS 3·SOURCE EPA interior volume
Against cars with a similar cabin
| Measure | This car | 157 sedans and coupes with a similar cabin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo volume | 10 cu ft | 12 cu ft | -2.0 cu ft |
| In checked suitcases | 1 | 2 | -1 |
ROWS 2·SOURCE ForCar, computed across cars of similar cabin size
Cars with the same room
| Car | Trunk volume | vs BMW 318i | Checked suitcases | Measured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi 80 | 0 cu ft | 1 | 1992 | |
| BMW 840Ci | 0 cu ft | 1 | 1997 | |
| BMW 850CSi | 0 cu ft | 1 | 1995 | |
| Daihatsu Charade | 0 cu ft | 1 | 1992 | |
| Volkswagen FOX | 0 cu ft | 1 | 1993 | |
| Infiniti J30 | 0 cu ft | 1 | 1997 |
ROWS 6·SOURCE EPA interior volume + ForCar
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Frequently asked questions
How much cargo space does the BMW 318i have?
10 cu ft in the trunk in the 1998 model, with 86 cu ft of passenger space. The average for 157 sedans and coupes with a similar cabin is 12 cu ft.
Has the 318i's trunk got bigger over the years?
No, it shrank: from 12 cu ft in 1991 to 10 cu ft in 1998.
Which cars have the same cargo room as the 318i?
The closest by volume in the same body family are the Audi 80 (10 cu ft), BMW 840Ci (10 cu ft) and BMW 850CSi (10 cu ft), against 10 cu ft for the 318i.
Cargo and passenger volumes from EPA interior-volume records, measured 1998 for the BMW 318i, seats up. Luggage capacity computed by ForCar at 80% usable volume against airline-standard case sizes (how we count). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.
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