Rental SUV

[stormer]

What is the difference between a Standard SUV and an Intermediate SUV? When I go to rent one it says what kind you get with each one, but I am not familiar with the names? Is one bigger than the other?

 

[Euby]

Not sure which company you are using, but a good rule of thumb is that the more expensive the SUV, the larger it is.

 

[FCDub]

Google the names of the similar models and check them out. That's ultimately the best way to figure out which will be large enough for your needs.

 

[Carly2]

I was wondering the same thing so I googled the cars. Alamo says that the Hyundai Santa Fe is a standard suv and seats 5 but it appears that it actually seats 7. Anyone know about this suv.

I would also assume that the higher priced one is bigger.

 

[tobikaye]

It might be the Santa Fe Sport that Alamo has. That is only a 5 passenger SUV.

 

[Carriemel]

The higher price does not always indicate bigger. I rented a Ford Expedition for 271.00 for a week, where the Nissan Altima was about 429 for the same time. This is thru Enterprise.

 

[JimMIA]

What I usually do is go to one of the travel sites (e.g. Expedia) and search for vehicles from all vendors. On those sites, there is usually an option to display the typical type of vehicle in each class.

I have VERY OFTEN found that the same exact vehicle will be one class with one company and a different class with a completely different price with another company. In other words, the same car being a Mid-size with one company and a Full-size with a competitor for $20 per day more...SAME CAR!

So my advice is not to pay much attention to the categories. Search all vehicles, find what you want, and then rent it from the least expensive source...regardless of what name any company puts on it.

 

[stormer]

Thanks all. I have to squeeze five of us in and my boys aren't small so I want to be comfortable. I will try to do a little more research.

 

[Wild4Walt]

The Standard SUV, which is a Hyundai or similar will comfortably fit 5. The Intermediate SUV, a Rav 4, will hold 4 adults comfortably, unless they are thinner and then 5 wouldn't be bad. The Standard is a bit wider and the set up is sleeker. The Rav 4 is boxier.

 

[loveswdw]

I was wondering the same thing so I googled the cars. Alamo says that the Hyundai Santa Fe is a standard suv and seats 5 but it appears that it actually seats 7. Anyone know about this suv.

I would also assume that the higher priced one is bigger.

We rented a Santa Fe Sport from Enterprise a few weeks back for a drive from KY to FL and back. We LOVED it! So much so, that I'm currently looking at buying one. The Sport only seats 5 so we are looking at going up a trim level to get the 3rd row seat. The back seat was plenty roomy for 3. My 6 foot husband and my almost 6 foot DS sat in the back seat much of the trip (not at the same time) and had no problems with leg room or head room. And the back seats recline, so for him that was a plus.

 

[Carly2]

We rented a Santa Fe Sport from Enterprise a few weeks back for a drive from KY to FL and back. We LOVED it! So much so, that I'm currently looking at buying one. The Sport only seats 5 so we are looking at going up a trim level to get the 3rd row seat. The back seat was plenty roomy for 3. My 6 foot husband and my almost 6 foot DS sat in the back seat much of the trip (not at the same time) and had no problems with leg room or head room. And the back seats recline, so for him that was a plus.

Thanks so much for the info! Do you remember how much trunk space there was?

 

[loveswdw]

Thanks so much for the info! Do you remember how much trunk space there was?

Let’s see, we had 2 full size suitcases, an electric cooler, a case of water, miscellaneous bags...it was fairly large.

 

[loveswdw]

Not my photo but here’s a look at the cargo area.

 

[maxiesmom]

Last October I rented the intermediate SUV from Alamo. We were a party of 4 adults with luggage, and it was a very tight squeeze. As in, after our grocery stop we had bags by our feet, in the middle of the back seat, and the driver couldn't see out the back window.