How to choose the right size rental car?
At Europcar, our extensive fleet ranges from small cars ideal for driving and parking in the city up to SUVs and minibus to rent for a specific event, or large family.
We follow a professional classification (called the ACRISS codes) to group our rental cars, to simplify you will find some information below to help you pick the perfect car model for you next trip.
Find the rental car of your choice by selecting it by type, by brand or by seats depending on your need.
Rent a small car for fuel-efficiency
Classified as mini or economy cars, those vehicles are usually small, allowing for no more than four or five passengers and a couple of standard-size suitcases in the boot. Some of the most rented mini cars at Europcar include a Renault Twingo or Fiat 500, and in the economy category, you will find the Toyota Yaris, Citroen C3 or Opel Corsa.
One of these small cars are ideal if you are traveling alone or with one or two other people, if you need excellent fuel economy in the urban area, or if you are not comfortable behind the wheel of a larger car or to park in narrow parking spots.
Rent a sedan for more comfort
A sedan or a compact car will always come with four doors. It will offer you a little more leg room and storage space than an economy car to accommodate a small family. Popular models are Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur or Nissan Juke as compact models, or Citroen C5, Ford Kuga or Volkswagen Tiguan.
You can comfortably fit five people with some luggage in a full-size car, and usually get a better fuel consumption thanks to the bigger engine especially if you drive for several hours in the highways. You will get an upgrade in comfort with all vehicles being equipped with air-conditioning, perfect to handle longer journeys in summer.
Rent a family car or Multi-Purpose Vehicle to travel with a small group
Family cars provide extra space in the passenger compartment as well as in the boot and therefore extra leg room. The back seats can be folded down to make extra boot space if you require room for more than two suitcases.
Considered as a full-size rental cars, they are ideal for larger parties and big families, if you need the extra space ensures everyone’s comfort for instance to transport elderly passengers, or smaller groups travelling with extra luggage to go camping or skiing.
Examples of family cars available at Europcar are, Volkswagen Passat, Opel Insignia or Ford Mondeo.
Another type of family car are multi-purpose vehicles, or people carriers, is typically a large hatchback with seating for six or more. They are bigger and more practical than regular hatchbacks. Typical MPV models are Citroen C4-picasso, Renault Grand Scenic or Volkswagen Sharan.
Rent a SUV
When you need all the space you can get, you will want to rent a minivan or an SUV. These are great rentals for family outings, vacations with a large group or cross-country adventures where you will need maximum cargo space for luggage and gear.
Europcar offers a large choice of SUVs that might be a Volvo xc60, BMWx3 or a Mercedes GLC or a Citroen DS7. In terms of minivans, popular rental models are Peugeot Traveller, Toyota Proace or Mercedes Vito which can fit up to 9 passengers.