Economy Vs Compact – Key Car Differences Updated 04/2024

You have to rent a car, and you want something small but big enough for your luggage. Which one do you pick?

Which is smaller: a compact car or an economy car? And which one has room for your bags?

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You might also wonder how many people can fit in the car. And how good is the gas mileage?

If you’re like most people, these are the questions that run through your mind when it’s time to rent a car. After going through the same thing, we made the comparison to put this to bed for good.

What Is An Economy Size Car?

The Toyota Yaris is a good example of a cheap rental car, also called a sub-compact car. Even though this is a hatchback, not all economy rental cars are hatchbacks. However, it gives you a good idea of the size of the vehicle you can expect in general.

Economy class rental cars are usually small sedans or hatchbacks made for couples or small families.

There are some things that all economy size cars have in common, even though the model and specs vary from one rental car location and dealer to the next.

Usually there are two doors, but sometimes there are four.

Fuel economy: Usually 30-35 mpg

Usually, it can fit two adults and one or two children (not comfortable for 4 adults)

Usually, you can bring one medium suitcase and a few small bags, or a lot of small bags.

Cost to rent: Usually the least expensive option

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As you can see, the smallest and least expensive rental cars are those in the economy class. Prices vary, of course, because they depend on what’s available (if they are short on supply, an economy class vehicle may be more expensive).

Most people will be interested in how big the trunk is and how many seats it has.

What Is A Compact Size Car?

The Toyota Corolla is a good example of a small car to rent. Even though this is a four-door model, not all compact rental cars have four doors. However, it gives you a good idea of the size of a compact rental car in general.

Most compact class rental cars are slightly bigger small sedans that can fit four people.

There are some things that all economy size cars have in common, even though the model and specs vary from one rental car location and dealer to the next.

Most of the time, there are 4 doors, but sometimes there are only 2.

Fuel economy: Usually 25-30 mpg

Seats four to five people, and up to three people can fit in the backseat.

Usually, several suitcases and small bags can fit (12-14 cubic feet of trunk space)

Cost to rent is usually the same as for economy, but there is more room and storage space.

As you can see, compact class rentals are small and cheap, but they also have a lot of space. Prices vary, of course, because they depend on what’s available (if they are short on supply, a compact class vehicle may be more expensive).

What’s The Difference? And Which Is Better?

If you’re still confused and just want an easy way to remember the difference between the two, we can help.

The only real difference between these two types of rental cars is how big they are.

Think of economy cars as sub-compact cars, and that will help you remember which one is smaller.

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Both cars are about the same in price, gas mileage, and number of doors. But the difference is in how many people and how much stuff you can fit.

Which one is better depends on your needs and what you want. Ask yourself the following questions to figure out which one meets your needs better:

How many people are going to be in the car?

How much stuff do I have to carry?

Once you know the answers to those questions, you’ll know if you should rent an economy car or a compact car.

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Other Considerations

If you decide that both types of vehicles meet your needs, you might still not know which one is best for you.

When this happens, you should think about how you will use the vehicle.

Will you be driving and parking the car in places with streets or parking lots that are very narrow? If that’s the case, pick the smaller option (the economy car).

Will you be in the car for a long time, like on a road trip? If so, choose the larger option (the compact car) so that you and the other people in the car have more room and can be more comfortable.

Will you be travelling a lot of miles? If so, you might want to get the model that uses less gas (the economy car) to save money on gas.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know the main differences between the two types of rental cars, you can make a good choice. But make sure you check what the rental company says about each type of car.

Usually, when you rent a car, the company will give you an example of the type of car you will get and a list of the features you can expect. For example, you may find out that an agency’s compact cars are the only ones with cruise control and their economy cars don’t have it.

Or the rental company might not have any economy-class seats at all. So, before you book, do a lot of research.

Sources: https://micdot.com
Category: Vehicles