Hertz - Mazda 3 - what class?

I rented what I believed to be an 'intermediate' class car on Sunday. What I got was a Mazda 3. I looked at this (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=743032&highlight=mazda) thread which seems to indicate that I actually received a 'compact' car (actually, a 'special compact'). However, post 5 in that thread says that car classes are dependent on the airport.

The car is nice enough but a lot on the small side (for my height).

Sadly, I'm paying a boatload of money for this little car (the joy of the company travel agent).

I haven't looked at the rental agreement yet (it's in the car right now) but I figured I'd ask the experts. Did I get the wrong class car? Or is a 'special compact' considered a compatible class to 'intermediate'? The Hertz website itself doesn't have an 'intermediate' class.

Thanks.

I rented what I believed to be an 'intermediate' class car on Sunday. What I got was a Mazda 3. I looked at this (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=743032&highlight=mazda) thread which seems to indicate that I actually received a 'compact' car (actually, a 'special compact'). However, post 5 in that thread says that car classes are dependent on the airport.

The car is nice enough but a lot on the small side (for my height).

Sadly, I'm paying a boatload of money for this little car (the joy of the company travel agent).

I haven't looked at the rental agreement yet (it's in the car right now) but I figured I'd ask the experts. Did I get the wrong class car? Or is a 'special compact' considered a compatible class to 'intermediate'? The Hertz website itself doesn't have an 'intermediate' class.

Thanks.

What is the class code on the key?

-Brian

What is the class code on the key?

-Brian
Unfortunately, the insert in the plastic #1 is typed on a blank sheet of paper. The only thing that looks like a class code is a "C". (At the bottom of the key it says "Risk"...they talking about me? :p)

Unfortunately, the insert in the plastic #1 is typed on a blank sheet of paper. The only thing that looks like a class code is a "C". (At the bottom of the key it says "Risk"...they talking about me? :p)

Well, C would be compact - and given the side of the car, I can't see it being any bigger than that....

-Brian

Well, C would be compact - and given the side of the car, I can't see it being any bigger than that....

-Brian

C is intermediate. Compact is B, Economy is A.

First I've heard here of a Mazda 3 being Intermediate, but then since the Corolla has been C for a couple years, I guess it's not really surprising. Also, yes, it can vary by location and possibly by newness of the car. Does it have very few miles on it? It may be that as they get new Mazda 3s, they are being classed C whereas one that's been in the fleet for several months might still be classed B.

Doh! *smacks head* You are right, C is intermediate, or mid-size up here in Canada. :o

Sorry for any confusion on this. I have had *Mazda 6s* as class C here a couple times, but with the creep that is happening with Hertz, I would not be surprised if they were classed D or something now... (this is from seeing Pontiac G6s go from C to D).

-Brian

I am driving a Mazda 3 right now (in the US) and the class code on my key says "YB" (?)

Y="Specialty" (hopefully a little nicer than a regular model in that class) so YB="Specialty Compact" which is kinda ridiculous but yes they have Specialty Compact and have for at least a few years. Also YC, YD, YF and I think after that they give up on the Y prefix. I hope there's not a YA as I can't imagine what that would be but there could be. I don't even know what is typically in the fleet for A anymore, have not even booked one because B or even C is always so little price difference that I don't bother.

So I guess nothing conclusive yet that the Mazda 3 will be a C since clearly at least some are still YB.

Y="Specialty" (hopefully a little nicer than a regular model in that class) so YB="Specialty Compact" which is kinda ridiculous but yes they have Specialty Compact and have for at least a few years. Also YC, YD, YF and I think after that they give up on the Y prefix. I hope there's not a YA as I can't imagine what that would be but there could be.

FWIW, in Canada (at a corporate location) I have driven YG (Chrysler 300C) and YI (loaded Cadillac DTS)

-Brian

Unfortunately, the insert in the plastic #1 is typed on a blank sheet of paper. The only thing that looks like a class code is a "C". (At the bottom of the key it says "Risk"...they talking about me? :p)

A "Risk" car is a car that Hertz owns and is not a lease from Ford/Mazda. The car will be sold at the end of its service life instead of being returned to Ford/Mazda.

C is intermediate. Compact is B, Economy is A.

First I've heard here of a Mazda 3 being Intermediate, but then since the Corolla has been C for a couple years, I guess it's not really surprising.

Both are listed by the US EPA as compact based on interior room, but the Mazda 3 has more interior room than the Toyota Corolla. The Mazda 6 is only slightly bigger in the passenger space than the Mazda 3, but has a more noticeable increase in trunk space (just enough to move into the US EPA midsize class).

Based on lists of Hertz cars by Hertz size class that I have seen, Hertz "intermediate" seems to range anywhere between small compacts (Toyota Corolla, Saturn Ion) to fairly large midsize cars or even full size cars (Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata).

Several years ago, I rented from Hertz (in Canada). They had the Ford Focus as a compact, and the Chevrolet Cavalier as an intermediate. The Ford Focus has much more interior room than the Chevrolet Cavalier (plus, it is a better car), so why did they put the Chevrolet Cavalier in a higher price class?:confused:

Based on lists of Hertz cars by Hertz size class that I have seen, Hertz "intermediate" seems to range anywhere between small compacts (Toyota Corolla, Saturn Ion) to fairly large midsize cars or even full size cars (Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata).This list is great:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8585062

This list is great:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8585062

Not always entirely accurate, though. We have this recent evidence for the Mazda 3 plus another thread with the Ford Focus both as being in C class at least in these sample locations.

Not always entirely accurate, though. We have this recent evidence for the Mazda 3 plus another thread with the Ford Focus both as being in C class at least in these sample locations.

Someone needs to take it over and give it some TLC. You could say that is an offer.

-Brian