FORCAR
Go Pro

BMW 535i Trunk Space

The 2017 BMW 535i has 10 cu ft of trunk space: room for 1 checked suitcase or 5 carry-ons.

EPA interior volume · 10 cu ft trunk · 112 cu ft cabin · measured 2017 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

Among 95 sedans and coupes with a similar-sized cabin, the average is 15.7 cu ft, so the 535i carries less than 95% of them. It gives 8.2% of its interior to luggage, one of the smallest shares we measure.

What actually fits in a 535i

The trunk shrank from 13 cu ft in 1989 to 10 cu ft in 2017. The biggest single change came in 2017: −4 cu ft against the 2016 car.

FIG.01·BMW 535i — what fits in the trunk
What you are loadingHow many fitEach item
Checked suitcases127 × 21 × 14″ — 4.6 cu ft
Carry-on cases522 × 14 × 9″ — 1.6 cu ft
Grocery bags8about 1 cu ft each
Golf bags1full set, about 5 cu ft
Folded strollerFitsabout 6 cu ft
ROWS 5·SOURCE ForCar, computed from EPA cargo volume

Cabin or cargo — where the space went

FIG.02·BMW 535i — cabin versus cargo
SpaceVolumeShare of total
Passenger cabin112 cu ft91.8%
Cargo area10 cu ft8.2%
Total interior122 cu ft100%
ROWS 3·SOURCE EPA interior volume

Against cars with a similar cabin

FIG.03·BMW 535i against similar cars
MeasureThis car95 sedans and coupes with a similar cabinDifference
Cargo volume10 cu ft15.7 cu ft-5.7 cu ft
In checked suitcases12-1
ROWS 2·SOURCE ForCar, computed across cars of similar cabin size

Cars with the same room

Against its closest rivals: the Cadillac CTS has 13 cu ft, the Ford Fusion 16 cu ft and the Buick LaCrosse 16 cu ft, next to 10 cu ft for the 535i. That makes the 535i the tightest of the four.

FIG.04·BMW 535i — cars with the same cargo room
CarTrunk volumevs BMW 535iChecked suitcasesMeasured
BMW 550i10 cu ft0 cu ft12017
Infiniti M35h11 cu ft+1 cu ft12013
Bentley Mulsanne11 cu ft+1 cu ft12020
BMW 328i13 cu ft+3 cu ft22016
Audi A8 L13 cu ft+3 cu ft22023
BMW ActiveHybrid 713 cu ft+3 cu ft22012
ROWS 6·SOURCE EPA interior volume + ForCar
Upgrade to Pro

Trunk space is one number. Buying is a longer list.

  • Check a VIN for recalls, complaints and its exact build
  • Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
  • The original window sticker and factory options
  • Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
  • No ads, on every page
  • No ads, no tracking — and much more
See plans → Start free →
Free plan available — no credit card needed
Everything on the BMW 535i
Recalls39 campaignsFuel economy24 mpg bestReliability4.5/5Common problems440 complaintsCheck a VINAgainst this exact buildDimensionsSize, weight, generationsUsed prices791 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car1985–2017

Frequently asked questions

How much cargo space does the BMW 535i have?

10 cu ft in the trunk in the 2017 model, with 112 cu ft of passenger space. The average for 95 sedans and coupes with a similar cabin is 15.7 cu ft.

Does the 535i have more cargo space than the Cadillac CTS?

No: 10 cu ft against 13 cu ft for the 2019 Cadillac CTS, about 3 cu ft less.

Has the 535i's trunk got bigger over the years?

No, it shrank: from 13 cu ft in 1989 to 10 cu ft in 2017.

Which cars have the same cargo room as the 535i?

The closest by volume in the same body family are the BMW 550i (10 cu ft), Infiniti M35h (11 cu ft) and Bentley Mulsanne (11 cu ft), against 10 cu ft for the 535i.

Cargo and passenger volumes from EPA interior-volume records, measured 2017 for the BMW 535i, 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 , founder of ForCar.
Found this useful?

Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.

Prefer ForCar →