Find the perfect car hire

Learn about the dozen plus car hire categories with different features and characteristics to suit your hiring needs.

Car categories

People Carrier Hire

FAQs

Car classification codes

Hybrid & electric car hire

What are the different types of hire cars?

When you’re thinking of hiring a car, you probably have a good idea of what it is you want. Depending on your trip, you might even have an exact model in mind. Often, the trouble is in the language used by car hire companies to classify cars and, depending on the company, you might even see cars being classified using different terms, for example “intermediate”, “mid-size” or “standard”, all of which ultimately describe the same thing.

This guide will explain the most common car hire categories in Australia, the details of each category as well as popular models in each. Note that there are several less common categories for people who are interested in high-performance or exotic cars that are not explained in detail in this guide.

Bear in mind that when you book a car in a particular category, you may not get the exact model you selected. Most car hire companies will show you a deal for a specific model “or equivalent”, or “similar options”, because they’re changing their fleets frequently and may not know if that exact model is available to book at the time of your departure.

Car categories / types

On KAYAK’s dedicated car hire webpage, you will see that cars are categorised more broadly into “Small” or “Compact/Mini”, “Medium” or “Mid-sized/Intermediate”, “Large” or “Full-sized” and even “SUV”, “Van” as well as “Luxury (Sports)” and “Eco-friendly” variants. To specify what exactly you can expect to drive when hiring a car through KAYAK, we have put together a selection of different models below for you to look through. Bear in mind that this page is non-exhaustive, meaning car types and categories will vary from location to location.

Hatchback Mini - KAYAK

Economy

KAYAK Category: Small

Passengers: 2-4

Bags: 2

Examples: Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Yaris

Economy cars typically have low rates and great fuel efficiency, and are slightly smaller than compact cars.

Hatchback Compact / Economy - KAYAK

Compact

KAYAK Category: Small / Medium

Passengers: 4

Bags: 2

Examples: Toyota Corolla, Toyota Auris

Compact cars feature low rates and great fuel efficiency, with slightly more room than economy cars.

Coupe car types - KAYAK

Intermediate / Mid-size / Standard

KAYAK Category: Medium / Luxury

Passengers: 5

Bags: 3-4

Examples: Kia Forte, Hyundai Elantra, Honda HR-V

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.

Saloon car hire type - KAYAK

Full-size / Premium

KAYAK Category: Medium / Large

Passengers: 5

Bags: 3

Examples: Toyota Camry, BMW 3 Series, Holden Commodore, Mercedes CLA

Full-size cars are four-door sedans that comfortably seat 5 passengers with luggage. Premium cars may come with more features.

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Ute

KAYAK Category: Ute (Pickup truck)

Passengers: 5

Bags: 3-4

Examples: Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi 200/Triton, LDV T60

Utes can vary in size between smaller and larger models that offer more cargo space and towing capability.

SUV car hire - KAYAK

SUV

KAYAK Category: SUV

Passengers: 5

Bags: 2-3

Examples: Toyota RAV 4, Nissan X-Trail, Suzuki Jimny

SUVs – or Sports Utility Vehicles – is somewhat an umbrella term for a whole group of larger, stockier vehicles including crossovers, 4x4s and off-road models. Offering both space whilst being as compact as an average family car, many SUVs are suited both on and off the main road. SUVs sit slightly higher off of the ground, meaning drivers feel more in control of where they are going and those with mobility issues don’t have to struggle as much to get in or out of them. SUV types can range from Compact, Medium, Premium and Luxury, so make sure to check these out when it comes to making your decision and hiring a car that best suits your travelling needs!

People Carriers - MPV - KAYAK

People carrier (MPV)

KAYAK Category: Van

Passengers: 5-9

Bags: 2-5

Examples: Renault Scenic, Vauxhall Zafira, Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer, Ford Galaxy

An MPV – or Multi-purpose Vehicle – could be the perfect choice for those wanting more space and flexibility. Otherwise known as people-carriers, MPVs have since become much more than just that, offering more confidence behind the wheel with an elevated driving position as well as foldable, slidable and even completely removable seats, allowing you to create an interior space tailored specifically to your needs. MPVs’ popularity has shot up over time given their practicality and can be just as economical as smaller vehicle types and family cars. You will tend to find people carriers in the “Van” category on KAYAK.

Convertible car hire - KAYAK

Convertible

KAYAK Category: Convertible

Passengers: 2-4

Bags: 2

Examples: MINI Convertible, Audi A5 Cabriolet, BMW 4 Series Convertible, Mazda MX-5

Convertibles are – as many already know – cars with retractable roofs. Coming in both soft and hard top variants, they are sleek and aesthetically pleasing, but can also be based on hatchback and sedan models. Bear in mind that the price to pay for soaking up the sun whilst you drive is inevitably the limited storage capacity, so a convertible would be best suited to those travelling light or not wishing to travel directly to or from the airport with their hire car.

Hybrid and Electric Car Hire

In today’s world, people are trying to live more sustainably in order to protect our planet and halt climate change. With this in mind, KAYAK offers search filters to help travellers find a range of hybrid/electric vehicles. In the below, we have put together a small overview for travellers looking for a more climate-friendly driving experience. For more information, see KAYAK’s dedicated webpage here.

Car types and availability

Car types will vary depending on the country you visit. However, a wide variety of car types also have electric/hybrid variants in their fleet. Make sure to check them all out by using KAYAK’s “Eco-friendly” filter during your search.

Charging stations

Charging stations may be something you are well acquainted with or completely new to. Similar to a conventional petrol station, they are designated parking points for drivers of an electric vehicle to park their car and charge its battery to full. Many cities in Europe already have a network of electric vehicle charging points, so if you’re travelling around Europe, make sure you plan your route accordingly to ensure you are never too far from one.

Perks of hiring a hybrid/electric car

In certain cities, you may even be eligible for perks when it comes to your electric/hybrid vehicle. For example, in London, there are currently congestion and ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) charges to be paid by those travelling into and out of the city in order to combat its high levels of pollution. If you hire an eco-friendly vehicle with no emissions, you are currently not required to contribute to these charges. In Norway, eco-friendly car drivers are exempt from paying parking charges anywhere in the country and may even use bus routes during rush hour!

People Carrier Hire

If you’re looking for more confidence behind the wheel, various space and storage options and the opportunity to tailor the car’s interior to your specific needs, a People Carrier is the right choice.

6 seater car hire

6 seater cars usually have three rows of seats and are perfect for families or larger groups wanting to get away. Examples include the Fiat Multipla, Tesla Model X, Honda FR-V, Mercedes R-Class and the BMW X7.

7 seater car hire

7 seater cars are spacious and offer great seating and storage opportunities for all. Examples include the Audi Q7, SKODA Kodiaq, Volkswagen Sharan, the Ford Galaxy and the SEAT Alhambra.

8 seater car hire

8 seater cars are minivan-sized and are perfect for those on the move for extended periods. They offer ample storage as well as room for up to 8 adults. Examples include the Citroen Spacetourer, Mercedes Benz Viano MPV, Volkswagen Caravelle, the Peugeot Expert Tepee and the Toyota Previa.

9 seater car hire

9 seater cars are the largest car hire available and are suited to practically any travel occasion. Examples can include the Mercedes Benz V-Class, the Ford Transit and Volkswagen Multivan.

Search hire cars

Car classification codes

If you want to know exactly how car hire categories work and know what every specific model includes, then it’s useful to learn the SIPP or ACRISS car classification code. This is a hire car industry standard for defining exactly what characteristics make up each car.

The 1st character denotes the vehicle category – based on size, cost, power, and luxury factor
The 2nd character defines the vehicle type – chassis type (van, SUV, wagon, convertible, etc)
The 3rd character defines the transmission and drive – automatic / manual & 2WD / 4WD / AWD
The 4th character defines the fuel type (petrol/diesel/hybrid/electric) and whether it has air conditioning

Make confident decisions

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Car hire types – FAQs

Luxury is the highest-priced car hire category. Luxury vehicles can include both sedans and SUVs. They will usually fit 5 people, with 2 large suitcases plus 2 small suitcases. They also generally come with added features like comfy seats, more powerful engines and fancier entertainment systems.

Hiring a luxury car will ultimately depend on the city in which you are seeking to hire it. Hiring a luxury car in Sydney, for example, will set you back around A$157 per day. In Cairns, you can expect to pay around A$108 per day.

Car hire companies that rent luxury cars include Ace, Europcar, Green Motion, Hertz, keddy by Europcar, Simba Car Hire, and Sixt.

Again this will vary by city and the time and date of hire. In Perth, you can hire a van on average for around A$206 per day. In Melbourne you can expect to pay around A$111, and in Sydney A$174.

Car hire companies that rent vans include Ace, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, East Coast Car Rentals, Enterprise, Europcar, GREEN MOTION, Hertz, National, Sixt, and Thrifty.

Given their popularity as well as their maintenance needs, convertible cars can be quite pricey, but, as always, this will depend mostly on the city you are hiring in. In Sydney and other larger cities, expect to pay around A$200-A$240 per day.