I have already demonstrated how helpful the Ford Lightning‘s frunk can also be for 100% novel/ridiculous makes use of. Now it is time to take a deeper dive into how helpful it may be for extra not unusual garage. In the beginning look, it kind of feels like a gaping house, however as I might uncover, it is no longer as helpful as its general quantity would suggest. That is not to take the rest clear of it — the Lightning frunk is a in point of fact game-changing function for the trunk. No want to soak up passenger house or purchase a tonneau duvet for secured mattress garage. 

Formally, the entrance trunk quantity is 14.1 cubic ft. That is the identical as a Hyundai Elantra compact sedan, so let’s use that automotive’s baggage take a look at as a comparability level. 

Here’s the frunk. Seems to be large, proper? On the very least, the get admission to is nuts and the large hood looming above it’s relatively the visible. 

Like many SUVs in this day and age, there’s under-floor garage. It is too shallow for any of my baggage, however the lid is detachable (extra on that lid later), which means its house is truthful sport for this take a look at. 

OK, let’s get to the luggage. As with each and every Baggage Take a look at, I take advantage of two midsize curler suitcases that may want to be checked in on the airport (26 inches lengthy, 16 broad, 11 deep), two roll-aboard suitcases that simply slightly are compatible within the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller roll-aboard that matches simply (23L x 15W x 10D). I additionally come with my spouse’s fancy in a single day bag simply to spruce issues up a bit of (21L x 12W x 12D).

Uh oh. That is all I may muster: one of the crucial larger baggage (blue) and the 2 medium baggage (black). Be aware that the massive blue bag is sitting within the underfloor garage smartly. It is too tall to suit in a different way.

Must you should use the underfloor space, although I am not certain how reasonable this is, I may simplest are compatible the 2 medium black baggage and the smaller blue curler. And, I assume, the smushed fancy bag someplace, no longer that that counts in keeping with Baggage Take a look at laws.

In contrast, this is the 14.2-cubic-foot trunk of an Elantra. All my baggage are compatible. 

So what is going on right here? It comes all the way down to all that leftover house across the baggage within the Lightning frunk. As I have proven time and time once more with those checks, the boxier a shipment space is, the extra helpful it’s. The Lightning’s frunk is sort of an oval, which means its general quantity is ill-suited for swallowing sq. items. Must you want to fill it with shrimp, or one thing, it is going to be a lot better.

In spite of everything, this as soon as once more proves that evaluating shipment volumes between frame types isn’t really useful, and that shipment volumes do not inform the entire tale.

Now, let’s flip to different frunk-related issues, as a result of there is nonetheless so much to speak about this house although its luggage-carrying leaves one thing to be desired.

The detachable surface piece is double sided. One is a grippy corrugated floor similar to the encompassing space. The turn aspect has recesses to stay issues in position and an imperial measuring tape. 

Here is a close-up of the measuring tape. In spite of it the usage of imperial devices, the frunk quantity is indexed in liters (400) fairly than cubic ft (14.1). The load restrict is in kilos. Hmm, I wonder whether Canadian-market Lightnings are all metric?

There are at hand pop-out hooks everywhere in the frunk lining, which might be helpful for striking Halloween lighting and pretend spider webs, or securing grocery baggage. 

Listed here are the frunk’s Professional Energy shops, together with 4 usual family plugs, a USB-A port and USB-C port. 

There are LED lighting within the frunk, which you’ll activate with this button.

You open and shut the frunk the usage of the important thing fob or by means of this little button situated the place the arrow is pointing. 

And after all, beware the large loop of steel that hangs down from the hood. I many times banged my head on it whilst doing this take a look at in addition to a couple of occasions after. I did not are aware of it till now, however you’ll in fact see the grease mark it left on my brow. I additionally clonked my son’s head on it when appearing him the Halloween decorations. Sorry Friend. 

True, I am 6-foot-3, however yeah … ouch.