How much food fits in the CCUK12W?

It is a compact upright, sized for a small household or as overflow storage. Expect it to hold several bags of frozen goods and a few shelves of boxed items, not a full family stock-up.

Does it need to be defrosted?

Yes. It is a manual-defrost freezer, so ice builds up over time and you need to empty it and thaw it periodically. Frost-free rivals avoid that chore but cost more and use more energy.

Can it go in a garage?

It is freestanding and UL listed, so it can run outside the kitchen as long as the space stays within the operating temperatures in the manual. Very cold or very hot garages can affect performance.

It is about 19.7 inches wide and 19.3 inches deep, so it fits through standard doorways and into narrow gaps. Leave clearance around it for the door swing and airflow.

Is it better than a chest freezer?

An upright like this is easier to organize and reach into. A chest freezer of similar footprint usually holds more and loses less cold air when opened, but food gets buried.