Rental Car Categories In The Us
Economy
Bags: 2
Examples: Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai Accent, Mitsubishi Mirage
Highlights: Economy cars typically have low rates and great fuel efficiency, and are slightly smaller than compact cars.
Compact
Bags: 2
Examples: Ford Focus, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris
Highlights: Compact cars feature low rates and great fuel efficiency, with slightly more room than economy cars.
Intermediate / Mid-size / Standard
Bags: 3-4
Examples: Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Jetta
Highlights: Intermediate cars, also commonly known as mid-size or standard cars, are four-door sedans that are more spacious than compact cars while still being fuel-efficient. They can fit 3 or sometimes 4 bags depending on the model.
Full-size / Premium
Bags: 4
Examples: Nissan Maxima, Toyota Avalon, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Impala
Highlights: Full-size cars are four-door sedans that comfortably seat 5 passengers with luggage. Premium cars may come with more features.
Luxury
Bags: 4
Examples: Audi A4, Chrysler 300, BMW 5 series, Cadillac XTS, Lincoln Continental
Highlights: Luxury cars are typically four-door sedans with high-end performance engines and luxury interiors that comfortably seat 5 passengers with luggage. However, some rental companies will categorize luxury SUVs, sports sedans, and executive cars in the luxury cars category along with regular luxury sedans.
Convertible
Examples: Audi A5, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, BMW 4-series
Compact SUV
Full-size / Premium SUV
Standard Vs Full Size Car: What Should You Rent To Visit Iceland
At first glance, planning a trip to Iceland can seem like a lot. In between booking flights, picking out hotels, and deciding on which car to rent, the number of options can become overwhelming. Do I stay at a hostel, hotel, or Airbnb? And what about renting a standard vs full-size car in Iceland? Is there really a difference? In addition to all of the decisions you have to make about the logistics of your trip, you also need to figure out the best activities and things to do, the nicest restaurants to dine at, and which items are must-dos on your Iceland itinerary.
Before you get too stressed, just take a deep breath. Taking things one step at a time will make your life much easier. Lets focus on the topic of whether to rent a full size vs standard car. Theres a bit of confusion between full-size and standard vehicles as the distinction is not always immediately clear. In addition, some peoples definitions are different, so these categorizations are not always 100% accurate across the board. But in general, its good to know the difference in car rental sizes in order to have the most comfortable trip for your passengers as possible.
Compact Rental Car: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a compact and economy rental car?
If youre looking for a small car rental, its useful to understand the differences between compact and economy car rentals. The main difference between the two is size and storage space. Compact cars are usually a little more spacious than their economy counterparts, which often have just two doors. Compact cars also have more cargo space than economy vehicles, making them more suitable for road trips with family and groups of friends.
What is considered a compact rental car?
While compact cars may all look different, they generally have similar dimensions, room for 3-4 passengers and a few pieces of luggage. Some typical compact cars include Hyundai Accent, Nissan Versa and Ford Focus. For additional storage space, opt for a hatchback, such as Volkswagen Golf or Chevrolet Spark.
How much is a compact rental car?
Compact cars are generally quite affordable to rent if youre keeping a certain budget in mind. Compact car rental prices start at $37, and how much you pay will depend on the make, model and condition of the car.
How big is a compact rental car?
Compact cars are bigger than economy cars and smaller than mid-size cars. Compact cars are typically between 161 and 187 inches long and have between 100 and 109 cubic feet of passenger and cargo space.
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Economy Vs Compact Rental Car
If you’re wondering about the differences between economy and compact car rental options then you’ve come to the right place. In the short guide below we provide a quick comparison of an economy vs compact car. We hope this guide will help answer your questions about the passenger capacity, trunk space, gas mileage and more common questions to help you decide on renting an economy or compact car for your trip.
Here is a side-by-side comparison to help you choose the vehicle that’s right for you:
Rental Car Sizes Explained
When renting a car with us, it is understandable to be confused by the different sizing options we offer. If you click on the vehicles tab of our website, you will see that we offer cars, SUVs, vans, and special cars.
But under those categories, there are more nuanced specifications meant to better help you decide with your rental. We will look at each of these in turn.
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Economy Cars Vs Compact Cars
The term economy car has been synonymous with the compact segment for decades, but as industry trends change, so does the terminology. Nowadays, the mini-compact and subcompact segments have all but taken over, while most compact cars have grown too big and expensive for the category. Were going to look at what economy cars are and compare them to compact models in order to highlight their differences.
Compact Versus Economy Car: Spending Plan
The last point I would think about is your budget, if you intend to save cash than affordable rental cars would certainly be your best option.
Due to the dimension, it will certainly use less gas, and also the rental price is lower also.
Keep in mind not to only go by the rental rate when picking an auto, but have in mind the fuel usage as well. If you are posting likely to take long rides, it can be much more beneficial to have rental cars that drives longer with much less fuel than paying for a cheap car that doesnât make full use of the gas.
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Standard Compact Car In 2020 Nissan Versa
I selected the Nissan Versa as the most representative of the compact car category.
The EPA gives the Nissan Versa 2020 4 cylinder model automatic a mileage of 35 miles to the gallon and 32 mpg in city driving and it is performing almost to economy car standards. Again this is where the distinction between economy and compact can become confusing.
To confuse matters further, the manual Nissan Versa 2020 model has slightly less fuel economy which is more in keeping with the compact mileage expectations.
In all other respects, the Nissan Versa is representative of the compact category. But its not a hatchback . The Nissan Versa has an interior passenger capacity of 88.9 cubic feet and a luggage capacity of 14.7 cubic feet which is at the higher end of the compact scale.
Rental Car Economy Vs Compact Car: Miles To Cover
If you have planned your journey, you will certainly have a concept of the gas mileage that you require to cover for your trip. Gas effectiveness range models, however commonly, an economy car and truck will have a somewhat better MPG than the compacts, but there are various other factors that you require to consider to make sure that you have unwinded and comfy driving experience. You want to discover a version that is gas reliable so youâre not regularly stopping to fill with gas.
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Economy Vs Compact Comparison
When it comes to economy vs. compact rental cars, the main difference is the size. Therefore, you should consider the size of your group, the distance youll be traveling, the amount of luggage youll be taking, and the amount of time youll spend in the car. In terms of size, economy cars tend to be slightly smaller than compact cars.
Compact cars offer slightly more luggage space in the trunk, and can carry larger passengers. They are best suited to longer road trips, or for long drives outside of the city, where the roads may not be as smooth. Its therefore important to consider the passengers, luggage, location and distance you will be driving when you decide whether you will rent an economy vs compact car.
Affordability & Fuel Efficiency
Both economy and compact cars are quite affordable to rent and both are easy to drive. Both cars offer great fuel efficiency, although it varies by model. On an economy car, you can typically get about 30-50 miles per gallon, or better, while a compact will give you 25-30 miles per gallon or better.
Seating Capacity
Economy cars can comfortably accommodate up to four occupants. Its the ideal option for up to two adults and two small children.
Compact cars can easily seat up to five occupants, including adults and adolescents.
Luggage Room
Doors
Top Rentals
How To Pick Between An Economy And Compact Car
When deciding whether to rent an economy or compact car, you should always think about a few things.
First, think about who will be with you in the car.
Do you just need basic transportation where you and your passengers will have to sit close to each other, or would you rather have more space inside the car?
Also, think about how much stuff you might be carrying with you.
Even if you dont start out with a lot of luggage or other things, this could change as your trip goes on.
Think about how many miles you plan to drive in the rental car. If you want to save money on gas, you should get a car with a small engine. Choose a compact car if you only need it for a few short trips or dont mind having to fill up more often.
Lastly, consider how much it will cost you per day to rent your car. Economy cars are cheaper to rent than other types of cars because they are smaller and less popular.
Even though economy and compact cars are very similar in a lot of ways, there are some differences that need to be taken into account when you rent one. Think carefully about what you want in an economy or compact car, whether its getting good gas mileage, being comfortable behind the wheel, or having enough space for people and things.
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Standard Economy Car For 2020 Chevrolet Spark
An appraisal of the economic market in the US in 2020 suggests that some of the most popular economy models would include the following: the Chevrolet Sonic and/or Cruze, Ford Fiesta, Jeep Renegade, Honda Civic/Insight, Toyota Corolla/Camry/Prius, Subaru Impreza, and Hyundai Elantra/Ioniq, Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Micra and Kia Niro.
I felt that the Chevrolet Spark was a good choice
to represent the average economy car in the 2020 market. I also based my choice on a price range from $12,000 to $18,000.
Chevrolets Spark, which is their smallest car and the 2020 base model which retails at $14,095 includes a 7 inch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. It is worth upgrading to get the LT model for $15,295 to get the additional features. The automatic transmission model does include the continuously variable transmission which gives you a pleasant driving experience. Your 9-gallon fuel tank will get you around 29 miles per gallon 38 miles per gallon on the highways .
In terms of space, the four-door Chevy Spark has a passenger volume of 86 cubic feet and a luggage volume of 11 cubic feet.
As a commuter car, the Chevy Spark would be a solid choice to get a single person or a couple to and from work each day. You could even put a baby capsule in the back seat using their LATCH system , for child restraint seats.
What Are The Different Types Of Rental Cars
When youre thinking of renting a car, you probably have a good idea of the kind of car you want. Depending on your trip, you might even have an exact model in mind. The trouble is in the language that car rental companies use to classify cars, as they may use terms that youre not familiar with, or use different terms for the same thing. You might see the same car called intermediate, mid-size, or standard, depending on the company.
This guide will explain the most common different car rental categories in the US, the details of each category, and popular models in each. There are several other less common categories for people who are interested in high-performance or exotic cars that are not explained in detail in this guide.
Keep in mind that when you book a car in a particular category, you may not get the exact model you selected. Most car rental companies will show you a deal for a particular model or equivalent, or similar options, because theyre changing their fleets frequently and may not know if that exact model is available to book at the time of your departure.
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How Much Luggage Will You Have
Are you packing light for your upcoming trip? If you are, you may not need to rent a compact car. An economy vehicle can easily fit a medium suitcase and a few small bags.
Unfortunately, that wont be the case if you are bringing more luggage than that youd need a compact then. However, keep in mind that non-European compacts have a greater luggage capacity. That means that a US-made Ford Focus may fit your large suitcase, while Frances Citroen C4 might not.
Dont even assume you can put a car rack on the roof. Sure, that may let you take a few extra bags on the trip. However, most rental car companies wont allow the use of such accessories. Those that do will ask you to pay for this feature.
If these two vehicle categories are too small for your needs, upgrade to something bigger.
What Is An Compact Car
- 4 or even more doors.
- 5 or even more seats.
- fits 1 large traveling bag, 1 medium suitcase, and a few smaller sized bags.
- Fuel usage: Different from each car, but the average is 30-35 mpg.
Compact cars are the larger of both, it normally includes 5 or even more seats that make it feasible for you to bring the whole household. Depending upon the business you rent from the vans will remain in various rate variety or category, however, some car dealerships placed that under small cars also.
Each of compact cars has usually 4 or more doors. If I said to you to envision a household automobile, a portable automobile is what you would be assuming off.
If you are taking a trip are bringing a great deal of travel luggage then you should choose a small auto to get enough room. This depends upon the number of individuals as well as the area you desire in your automobile, but that is an option just you can take.
Typically you can fit one huge suitcase, one tool suitcase as well as numerous smaller bags in compact cars, which corresponds to concerning 12-14 feet of baggage room.
The price will certainly be somewhat greater than the economy climate auto too, along with higher gas use. You need to expect to make use of concerning 30-35 mpg with a compact auto. This is various from each design so you must ask your rental business for more detail about compact car rental.
You can also read how much does a smart car weigh here.
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What Is Your Budget
Renting an economy car is cheaper than renting a compact one. The difference is, indeed, almost minuscule. Still, its there.
But what if you have a limited budget and youre traveling with four passengers? Well, you can use a few tricks to reduce the cost of a spacious compact rental.
First, try to avoid airports as pick-up and drop-off locations. They tend to add a few dollars to the end price.
Second, book in advance. Although you can find good last-minute rental car deals, early birds enjoy lower rates.
Last but not least, dont opt for many extras and additional features. For instance, a car with a GPS will cost you $5$16 more a day. If you already have a car GPS, use it, and you may save about $70 per week.
Compact Car Vs Economy Car Differences
The most obvious difference between an economy and a compact car is the size. The economy lineup is going to be smaller than the compact car. It usually has fewer seats and less room for luggage. However, the economy car wont just cost less, but it can also be more fuel-efficient, for savings on the road as well.
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What Are Compact Cars
Compact cars are a segment of vehicle-size cars that can be classified between subcompact cars and mid-size cars. It is also called the small family car.
Compact cars are usually 160- 190 inches long and have a volume of around 100-110 cubic feet. The weight of compact cars can range somewhere between 2920 pounds.
Compact cars are between sedans and hatchbacks.
Compact cars are larger when compared to economy cars. Initially, compact cars were the smallest cars available in the market but now there are subcompact cars that are even smaller than compact cars.
Compact cars are ideal for in-town driving or short day trips and outings with family. These cars usually have 4 doors and are in the form of compact hatchbacks and wagons.
It allows seating for a maximum of 5 occupants. Some compact cars even have additional features like automatic transmission and others.
The luggage capacity in compact cars is moderate. It provides less than or equal to 14 cubic feet of space for luggage. One large and one medium suitcase with several small bags can be accommodated.
It also provides good mileage for city drives. The mileage is around 25-30 miles per gallon depending upon the engine of the car.
