Minivan Rental – Our Choices

With a huge range to choose from, hiring a people carrier is becoming more popular for larger groups travelling abroad. To decide on the people carrier best suited to you, you will need to consider the number of people in your party and of course the amount of luggage you need to transport. Remember, fuel prices are on the increase so you may do well to pick up a diesel seven seater.

If you are organized and manage to book a vehicle well in advance then you are guaranteed to get the best price available, it’s a bit like booking cheap flights, the sooner you book the cheaper the price. There are many dedicated websites which allow you to compare all the local people carrier hire providers by using a booking engine. Do your research ahead of travel and above all remember to read all the terms and conditions as many suppliers of people carrier hire differ from each other. There are plenty of catches for the unwary particularly when it comes to fuel policy so make sure you know what your suppliers policy is.

We cannot emphasise enough that you need to understand what you are insured for and what you are not insured for, be prepared and get cover to avoid nasty shocks. The list of MPVs, people carriers and minivans available today for rental is mind-boggling, our personal favourites are reviewed below.

Ford Galaxy – Still Going Strong.

For a prestigious comfortable seven seater MPV rental, the Ford Galaxy has to be on your list. There’s plenty of space inside the cabin, excellent headroom and legroom, and plenty of room in the boot. It’s a very versatile vehicle, seeking seven adults no problem, and yet capable of folding away seats to transform into a van to all intents and purposes. It looks cumbersome from the outside but it’s actually amazingly good to drive.

It has a nice driver position and the overall driver experience is excellent. All of the models in the range are well-equipped, and even the entry-level vehicles have air conditioning as standard along with electric windows. Several of the diesel vehicles will give you a very acceptable fuel economy of about 45mpg.

There were a few problems with this minivan when it first came onto the rental market but these have long since been ironed out. If you are traveling in a party with seven adults then you may want to consider hiring a roof box as you will not have enough luggage space. In summary, if you’re looking for a luxurious, comfortable people carrier hire, the Ford Galaxy is an excellent choice.

VW Touran Compact 7 Seater.

Although it’s been around for a long time, the VW Touran is still right up there as one of the best 7 seater MPVs of all time. With a variety of both diesel and petrol engines to choose from, the VW Touran can be economical as a hire vehicle. You will be pleasantly surprised at how quiet and pleasant to drive this vehicle is although diesel versions are noisier, so please bear that in mind if you are traveling long distances.

Over the years Volkswagen have tweaked the internal layout of the Touran and the space and practicality are amazing. Seven people can fit in easily, there is plenty of legroom and headroom, and the people in the front will still be able to hear the people in the back even at motorway speeds.

SEAT Alhambra – Excellent All Rounder.

The Alhambra is a spacious and practical 7 seater that holds up well in comparison to many of its competitors. Performance is decent with an excellent selection of engines across the range. For a large seven seater it’s amazingly quiet and inside the cabin is a pleasant experience. The Alhambra has an outstanding safety record and it is well equipped throughout with plenty of legroom and headroom for passengers. One small negative mark is that the Alhambra can be difficult to Park. If you need rapid access into the luggage area than one downside of the Alhambra is that the rearmost seats are a bit fidgety. However,the money you’ll save on hiring an Alhambra will more than compensate for the shortcomings.