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An InsideEVs report describes a common comfort trade-off in low electric sedans: battery packs beneath the cabin can raise rear footwells, leaving passengers’ feet high and thighs poorly supported. Some automakers have created space by recessing or relocating battery modules, but those approaches can affect battery capacity or vehicle packaging.
An InsideEVs report describes a rear-seat comfort problem in low electric sedans: floor-mounted batteries can raise the area where passengers place their feet, leaving their knees high and thighs without support. The issue reflects a packaging trade-off between fitting a battery beneath the cabin and preserving a low roofline and comfortable seating position.
The report’s author says passengers may have adequate distance from the front seat and headroom yet still feel awkwardly folded in the back. When the battery enclosure and associated hardware raise the rear footwell, passengers’ feet sit higher, lifting their thighs from the seat cushion. The result can be a seating position that feels uncomfortable even when the cabin appears spacious.
Battery packs are commonly placed beneath the cabin because the layout keeps heavy components low and avoids taking as much space from the trunk or passenger compartment. But in a low sedan, raising the rear seat to compensate can push passengers closer to the roof. Raising the roof instead can change the car’s proportions and reduce some of the aerodynamic and styling advantages associated with a low body.
The report points to several engineering responses. Porsche said the Taycan uses recessed areas in the battery, called “foot garages,” to give rear passengers room for their feet; the Audi E-Tron GT uses the same approach, according to the report. Lucid’s Air Pure and Touring place fewer battery modules beneath the rear footwell, while Jaguar’s Type-01 moves a row of modules to the front. These choices show ways to address the issue, not evidence that every electric sedan has the same problem or that any one solution suits every vehicle.
Rear Comfort Shapes Sedan Choices
Rear-seat comfort can affect whether a sedan works for people who regularly carry adult passengers. A car may look roomy on paper, but footwell height and thigh support can make a substantial difference during a longer ride. For buyers comparing an electric sedan with a crossover, this is a practical point to test rather than assume from exterior size or published legroom figures.
The design choices also involve trade-offs for manufacturers. Making more room beneath passengers’ feet can mean moving or removing battery modules from that area, while the InsideEVs report notes that leaving space in the pack layout can reduce overall battery capacity. Buyers may therefore need to weigh rear-seat comfort, range-related battery capacity, and body shape according to how they will use the car. The source does not provide comparative range figures or standardized comfort measurements for the vehicles discussed.
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How Battery Packaging Raises Floors
The common “skateboard” layout places the battery beneath the vehicle’s cabin. The report says this keeps the heavy pack low, supporting stability and handling, and packages it without using as much trunk or cabin volume. The same placement, however, adds thickness beneath the floor, including the battery cells, enclosure, protection and cooling hardware.
That extra height can be easier to accommodate in a crossover or SUV, where a taller body gives designers more room to raise seats. In a low sedan, doing so can reduce headroom. The report says some electric sedans take a taller form than combustion cars, while others seek a lower profile by changing where battery modules sit. In 2019, Porsche design chief Michael Mauer described recessed rear footwells as the Taycan team’s answer to the conflict between a low roof and a large battery.
““We solved this with so-called ‘foot garages’.””
— Michael Mauer, Porsche design chief during the Taycan’s development, as quoted in the InsideEVs report
Comfort Varies by Model
The report does not provide standardized measurements comparing rear-seat footwell height, thigh support, or long-distance comfort across the vehicles discussed. Its descriptions combine the author’s experience with examples of manufacturer design choices, so they should not be read as a controlled comparison of every electric sedan.
It also remains unclear how much battery capacity or driving range each footwell-focused design gives up, if any, compared with a pack layout that places more modules beneath the rear seats. Volvo says its SPA3 platform can leave cells out beneath passengers’ feet, according to the report, but the source says the company has not committed to building a low electric wagon using that approach.
Check the Rear Seat Before Buying
The report does not identify a scheduled industry decision or a single upcoming fix. For shoppers, its immediate advice is practical: adjust the driver’s seat to the position they would use, then sit in the back and check whether the cushion supports the thighs and the feet can rest comfortably. People who often carry adults should assess that position in person rather than relying only on cabin dimensions.
Future models and platform announcements may show whether more manufacturers use recessed footwells, relocate battery modules, or adopt thinner packs. Until then, the trade-offs between battery packaging, cabin proportions and rear-seat comfort will vary by vehicle, and published details may not establish how comfortable a car feels to each passenger.
Key Questions
Why can an electric sedan’s rear seat feel uncomfortable?
A battery pack beneath the cabin can raise the rear footwell. Passengers’ feet then sit higher, which can lift the thighs off the cushion and leave the knees elevated.
Do all electric sedans have this problem?
No. The InsideEVs report describes a packaging challenge, not a uniform condition. It identifies vehicles with design measures intended to provide more rear foot space, including recessed footwells or relocated battery modules.
What are Porsche’s “foot garages”?
They are recessed areas in the Taycan’s battery layout that provide space for rear passengers’ feet. The report says the Audi E-Tron GT uses the same arrangement.
Can improving rear foot space affect battery capacity?
It can involve a trade-off. The report says leaving more space beneath passengers’ feet can reduce overall battery-pack capacity, though it gives no comparative capacity or range figures for the models discussed.
What should buyers check during a test drive?
Set the front seat to the usual driving position, sit in the rear and check whether your feet rest naturally and the seat supports your thighs. The report recommends checking the actual seating position, especially for buyers who regularly carry adults.
Source: insideevs.com
