Size of Budget Full Size Car? Hyundai Sonata?

[nuzmom]

I've reserved a "class E" full size car from Budget. When looking at the car class description, it says Ford Taurus or similar. However, when finalizing my reservation the car description says Hyundai Sonata or similar.

My impression is that the Sonata is smaller than the Taurus. Any experience in the car you receive for a class E/full size rental?

Is it possible that a Sonata and Taurus are both full size cars?

Anyone have experience in getting a Sonata?

We have 3 adults and 2 children and have rented a Taurus before and were satisfied with it.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Budget has yet to upgrade their car class information for the 2006 model year. A fullsize will probibly be a Ford Tarus or Ford Five Hundred. Another possibility would be a Chevrolet Impala or import of similar size (Huyndai Sonata, which I beilieve is quite a bit smaller then the huge Ford Five Hundred)....

 

[nuzmom]

disneyjosh229 - thanks for the info. So you're saying that I shouldn't be worried that my printout says "Hyundai Sonata or similiar" since it says "car class E"?

I thought the sonata was smaller too, the taurus or 500 would be great.

When I go online to check what a "car class E" is, it shows a taurus "or similar". I don't think a sonata is similar, but maybe it is?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Yes, a Hyundai Sonata is 1.3 inches narrower and 10.7 inches shorter than a Taurus.

However, if Budget (or any other rental car company) wants to classify both the Taurus and the Sonata as a "full-size" car, they can do so. If your reservation says, "Hyundai Sonata or similar," then a Hyundai Sonata is a real possibility

By traditional definitions, the Ford Crown Victoria and the Mercury Grand Marquis are fullsize, but that's not how the rental car companies see things. Rental companies see the Crown Victoria and the Grand Marquis as class G "premium" cars.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Yes, a Hyundai Sonata is 1.3 inches narrower and 10.7 inches shorter than a Taurus.

However, if Budget (or any other rental car company) wants to classify both the Taurus and the Sonata as a "full-size" car, they can do so. If your reservation says, "Hyundai Sonata or similar," then a Hyundai Sonata is a real possibility

By traditional definitions, the Ford Crown Victoria and the Mercury Grand Marquis are fullsize, but that's not how the rental car companies see things. Rental companies see the Crown Victoria and the Grand Marquis as class G "premium" cars.

True, a real "fullsize" car would be something like a Crown Vic. Budget primarily buys their vehicles from Ford, but it all depends on the best deal. Im sure that the Hyundai is their because they are dirt cheap and the rental companies will keep them for 20k miles and dump them at the auction....Although, my last few visits to Budget, ive seen many Taurus' and Five Hundreds...

 

[dvc guy]

We rent full size from National often and I have never seen a Hyundai Sonata or a Hyundai anything on the full size ailse. We have gotten a Chev Impala the last 3 times. Nice big trunk and lots of space

 

[Disneyjosh229]

We rent full size from National often and I have never seen a Hyundai Sonata or a Hyundai anything on the full size ailse. We have gotten a Chev Impala the last 3 times. Nice big trunk and lots of space

This thread is involving Budget Rental Car...

 

[nuzmom]

Yes, a Hyundai Sonata is 1.3 inches narrower and 10.7 inches shorter than a Taurus.

However, if Budget (or any other rental car company) wants to classify both the Taurus and the Sonata as a "full-size" car, they can do so. If your reservation says, "Hyundai Sonata or similar," then a Hyundai Sonata is a real possibility

So what do you think? I'm not familiar with the Sonata - would you say it's "or similar" to a Taurus? 10.7 inches shorter seems much smaller to me and I don't think I want one!!!!

I found this on Budget's page...
While the majority of cars at corporate-owned locations are made by Ford and Lincoln Mercury, after you select your car in the reservation process, look in your rental summary to see which make and model car that you are likely to get in your selected car class at your chosen location.

That kind of scares me. When I was making the reservation it was a Ford Taurus or similar, but when I finished the reservation it has a Hyundai Sonata. I'm "ok" with this if it really is SIMILAR to a Taurus. We're mostly worried about the trunk size. But, for some reason I feel like we're getting ripped off.

Disneyjosh229 - So you've seen mostly Taurus's and 500's at Budget - Orlando airport? We're arriving around 11:00 am, so would one option be to request a 500/Taurus when we check in? Or, we're fastbreak members, so we should be able to get ANY class E car, right? As long as a 500/Taurus is on the lot, we could get in a go?

By the way, Budget lists the "intermediate" sized cars as a Chrysler Sebring or similar. My mom has the Sebring and we thought it would probably be ok, but for about $10 more, we thought the Taurus would give us more room. That's how this whole question came up - we're paying a bit more to get a tad more room than the Sebring and if a Sonata is actually SMALLER, then why pay more?

So I guess that another question - how does a Sonata compare to a Sebring?

I bet you guys didn't know that you're now Budget/car experts!
Seriously, thanks for your help.

 

[loveFL]

From what I could find on Edmunds, this is how they compare:

2006 Chrysler Sebring 4dr Base Sedan
Length: 190.7 in
Width: 70.6 in
Luggage Capacity: 16 cu ft

2006 Hyundai Sonata GL 4dr Sedan
Length: 188.9 in
Width: 72.1 in
Luggage Capacity: 16.3 cu ft

 

[nuzmom]

loveFL - you made my day

(ok, I just realized you compared the Sebring to the Sonata - yes, that was my last question) However, I took your lead and went to Edmunds. The Sonata seems more "similiar" to the Sebring (low price class) than the Taurus. Ugggghhhh.

After looking at Edmunds, I really have a hard time thinking that the five hundred would be "full size" and "similar" to a Taurus. It seems MUCH bigger and more like premium car.

Still have no clue what to do. I may end up calling Budget and trying to get an explaination.

Thanks!!!

 

[loveFL]

I would call the Budget MCO location and ask them. They are the only ones than can tell you for sure.

 

[nuzmom]

Ok, here's the scoop from Budget for anyone who cares

Their full size cars are the Hyundai Sonata, Ford Taurus, Chevy Impala, and Ford Five Hundred.

They made a note on our reservation that we preferred the Ford Five Hundred. Now, we'll just see what happens.

I'm not sweating it anymore - it is, what it is and we could always upgrade if needed.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Ok, here's the scoop from Budget for anyone who cares

Their full size cars are the Hyundai Sonata, Ford Taurus, Chevy Impala, and Ford Five Hundred.

They made a note on our reservation that we preferred the Ford Five Hundred. Now, we'll just see what happens.

I'm not sweating it anymore - it is, what it is and we could always upgrade if needed.

Yep, the Five Hundred is much larger then the past years Tarus. If you have a chance to get one, tell us what you think. When they designed the vehicle, Ford basically made it an Autobahn cruser to match up with some of the entry level BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW german imports. Quite a step up from the Turaus of the past