Having previously owned a L322 FFRR which had an enormous boot and numerous little storage cubby holes, I'm a bit disappointed with the boot in my L494. The problem is that I have to carry around wellies, safety helmet, safety jacket etc etc for my work plus the usual stuff that we all carry in our boots. I put that lot in a box and the box takes up about 1/3rd of the boot space which makes it a bit embarassing when I have to transport people around and their luggage, the usual comment being such a big car, such a small boot

Anyway I was wondering whether, if I swapped the full size spare wheel for a space saver, that would release enough space in the spare wheel well to store some or all of my junk. Anyone on here with a spacesaver in their L494? How much spare space does it give you in the spare wheel well?

I guess you could ask yourself whether you would change a wheel anyway following a puncture? If the answer is possibly not, then perhaps consider the tyre inflation kit instead?

At a guess, a space saver would give you approx 1/3 of the space back. Tyre inflation kit pretty much most of it

Does the RRS2 have any space under the rear seats? I have the following under mine in my RRS1: Tyre inflator, tow ropes x2, tow strop + shackles, heavy duty jump leads, v. small folding spade, couple of small ratchet straps.

I keep my wellies, hard hat, high viz jackets, some spare coolant and screen wash in an Ikea blue bag. Easy to chuck in and out in one go then if I need the full boot space for something. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

That space under RRS1's rear seats was really useful as that was where I kept winter towing gear, waterproofs, a large flat first aid box and a spare 20m length from a broken Dyneema winch rope off my Def 90's winch as a long strong but very light towing rope. RRS2's seats don't fold like RRS1's did by tumbling forward only the seat back folds down onto the squab which also leaves the front occupants vulnerable to anything heavy sliding through into their backs. So basically no RRS2 doesn't have those useful spaces under the rear seat squabs like RRS1, retrograde move by LR I think. 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Last edited by Tim in Scotland on Fri Dec 18 2015 7:06pm. Edited 1 time in total

Ah. That's another negative point against the RRS2 then...still, at least all of the useful mood lighting and silly puddle light graphics etc. are available!  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Yes, the space under the rear seat is very useful, mine is also fully used up.

Regarding the spare wheel, my opinion, if you think you are going to put the wheels off road, even a light one, well I would keep the full size.

If your car is going to be on tarmac and in general main roads, probably a space saver might be ok.

I do not like the inflation kit, do not trust it will be useful in many occasions.

Personally, always full size in my car. '08 RRS TDV8
I converted my diesel RRS to run on an environmentally friendly mixture of caribou fat and baby seals oil

Agreed. The space under the rear seats was very useful and RRS2 is a step backwards in that respect. Interested in understanding the reason for this change as I'm sure it has not been taken away just for the sake of it. Perhaps DaveW can explain?

I can't share the nature of goods I stored there but let's just say the collections and deliveries got a lot riskier since I upgraded  Current: Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription Pro PHEV with some optionals on top
Gone: MY16 RRS2 3.0 SDV6 Autobiography Dynamic, Carpathian Grey & Santorini Black Sliding Pano/Ebony & Ivory 2 Tone
Gone: MY13 RRS 3.0 SDV6 HSE Black Edition, Orkney Grey/Ivory
Gone: MY09 RRS 2.7 TDV6 HSE, Santorini Black/Almond

It could be that with the different floor there is no useable space under the rear seat. 

Yes, the big space under the rear seats is lost, as the frameless aluminium construction needed this space as strongening factor.
But, 8-10 cm are still left under the seats, those would be enough for a nice storage, if the seats would fold up as before.
LR dosent get this accessable, because the mostly useless preparation for the 2 extra seats in the boot changed everything for the layout of the seats and folding mechanism.

This affects also the higher and less usable boot floor, as the height is needed to integrate the seats or the spare wheel.
I removed the spare wheel (use tire fit) and the useless bits around and got a big extra space, this is always in use.