Ford SUV Cargo Comparison

October 15th, 2026 by

Sturgis Ford

Ford Explorer cargo space is the number most people mean. Behind the third row seats, with those seats in place, Ford lists 16.3 cubic feet of cargo room. Fold everything and the maximum is 85.8 cubic feet on Active and ST-Line, or 85.3 on the other 2026 models.

Those Ford Explorer cargo space figures are from Ford.com Explorer, Expedition, and Bronco Sport pages, checked October 15, 2026. Cargo room changes when a moonroof, a spare, or a package eats into the hold. The class ladder for the other SUVs lives on our Ford SUVs by size page. This one is about the hole behind the seats.

If you are in Sturgis, open the liftgate on a live truck. Start with Explorer inventory, then Expedition and Bronco Sport.

A white Ford Explorer with the liftgate open, the cargo floor flat behind the second row, and the third row still upright
Cargo with the third row still up. Pictures for illustration purposes only. This is the smaller hold, not the fully folded maximum.

Start here

Cargo at a glance

Explorer

16.3 cu ft behind the third row. Up to 85.8 cu ft maximum.

Expedition

22.9 cu ft behind the third row. 108.5 cu ft behind the first row.

Expedition MAX

37.4 cu ft behind the third row. 123.1 cu ft behind the first row.

Bronco Sport

Up to 32.5 cu ft behind the second row. Up to 65.2 cu ft maximum.

Ford Explorer cargo space

The 16.3 cubic feet behind the third row seats is the everyday Ford Explorer cargo space. That is the cargo room left when all the seats are up and you still need a suitcase or groceries. It is not a cargo van. Families who keep the third row seats in use should pack for that smaller hole, not for the folded figure.

Maximum cargo capacity is 85.8 cubic feet on Active 100A, Active, and ST-Line. Ford lists 85.3 cubic feet on the other 2026 Explorer models. Seating is up to seven, or six on some layouts, with a second-row bench available where Ford offers it. Towing on the Explorer page is 5,000 pounds. Cargo room and tow rating are separate jobs.

Bring the stroller, the dog crate, or the hockey bag. A cubic-foot rating does not tell you if the handle sticks out past the bumper. The Explorer inventory page is where you test that.

Expedition and Expedition MAX

Ford lists the 2026 Expedition this way. Behind the third row: 22.9 cubic feet. Behind the second row: 69.9 cubic feet. Behind the first row: 108.5 cubic feet. That third-row number is already larger than the Explorer’s 16.3, and the folded figures jump again.

Expedition MAX stretches the body. Ford lists 37.4 cubic feet behind the third row, 84.5 behind the second row, and 123.1 behind the first row. Ford describes the MAX as nearly a foot longer in cargo length than the standard wheelbase, with up to 11.8 inches of extra cargo length on MAX Active. Shop both on the Expedition inventory page and read which body is on the sticker.

Bronco Sport is a different shape

Bronco Sport has two rows, not three. Ford’s cargo figures move with the engine and the Sasquatch package. Behind the second row, the 1.5L is 32.5 cubic feet. The 1.5L with Sasquatch and the 2.0L are 29.4. The 2.0L with Sasquatch is 29.1.

Maximum cargo, behind the first row, is 65.2 cubic feet on the 1.5L, 60.6 on the 1.5L with Sasquatch or the 2.0L, and 60.2 on the 2.0L with Sasquatch. That is useful space. It is not Explorer space with a third row. See Bronco Sport inventory if the smaller footprint is the point.

Open the liftgate in Sturgis

Cubic feet get you in the right class. The liftgate tells you if your gear fits. Compare new stock, or look at used SUVs in Sturgis if a prior-year body is what you need.

Common questions

How much cargo space does a 2026 Ford Explorer have?

Ford lists 16.3 cubic feet behind the third row with the seats in place. Maximum cargo is 85.8 cubic feet on Active and ST-Line, and 85.3 cubic feet on the other 2026 models.

Is the Expedition bigger than the Explorer?

Yes, on Ford’s cargo figures. A 2026 Expedition has 22.9 cubic feet behind the third row and 108.5 behind the first row. Expedition MAX goes to 37.4 and 123.1. The Explorer maximum is 85.8 cubic feet.

How much cargo space does a Bronco Sport have?

Ford lists up to 32.5 cubic feet behind the second row on the 1.5L, and up to 65.2 cubic feet behind the first row. Sasquatch and the 2.0L use smaller figures. There is no third row.

Where can I compare these in Sturgis?

Sturgis Ford lists Explorer, Expedition, and Bronco Sport on their inventory pages. The SUVs by size page is the class ladder. Open the liftgate before you decide.

Posted in SUVs