Since when is a Civic a Mid-Sized car?
Aug 17, 2009, 8:38 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: HHonors Diamond, UA Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 117
Since when is a Civic a Mid-Sized car?
Has Hertz changed their car classes? When i make reservations under my corporate account, i chose midsize which says Mazda 6 or like. This week i get to the airport to pick up my car and i have a Honda Civic given to me. I go to the desk and ask them for a Mid-Sized like my reservation and they said Civic is a midsize and they can offer me a Carolla instead. I was shocked to be given such a tiny car. And i wish i woulda stayed with the civic because the one i have had no Cruise Control or Remote Door locks.
I plan to call Hertz and explain my dissatisfaction with the car i was given. Last week i was given a Kia Forte. I think something is seriously wrong here.
-Kevin
I plan to call Hertz and explain my dissatisfaction with the car i was given. Last week i was given a Kia Forte. I think something is seriously wrong here.
-Kevin
Aug 17, 2009, 8:43 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred; HH-Gold; Avis First
Posts: 3,617
Corolla has been mid-size for years, and it surprised me the first time I got one. I think the car classes are just shrinking across the board, at Avis the new Malibu is full size.
Aug 17, 2009, 12:53 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YYJ
Programs: Aeroplan, Priority Club, National Exec Elite, Hertz #1 Gold, Avis First, Thrifty Bluechip
Posts: 1,924
All car rental companies have downsized their fleets in order to keep costs down and to meet consumer demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles. Midsize is a smorgasbord car category. You can anything from a Kia Spectra to a Chrysler Sebring, and everything in between. The Corolla has been Hertz's midsize exmaple for a few years here in Canada. Down in the US, the prevous body style Mazda 6 was a midsize, but then it grew in size and has gone either to Standard or Fullsize. It doesn't surprise me that Hertz hasn't updated yet considering how often we see pictures of previous-generation vehicles listed on the website...
I'd definitely send them an e-mail and let them know about your dissatisfaction. Maybe it'll prompt them to update their website a little sooner...
I'd definitely send them an e-mail and let them know about your dissatisfaction. Maybe it'll prompt them to update their website a little sooner...
Aug 17, 2009, 1:49 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 88
Happened to me as well: my rental contract said "Mazda 6 or similar", they initially tried to give me a Civic and told me it was the same category.
If they want to call a certain category "midsize" and rent a Civic, that's fine with me - a Civic could easily hold four adults and their duffel bags, which as far as I'm concerned makes it a midsize. But the Civic competes directly with the Mazda 3, while the Mazda 6 competes with the Accord; any consumer who is told "Mazda 6 or similar" is going to have the same reaction we all did, meaning many more jet-lagged, underfed travelers getting into arguments with counter clerks who have no say in the matter. Dumb.
If they want to call a certain category "midsize" and rent a Civic, that's fine with me - a Civic could easily hold four adults and their duffel bags, which as far as I'm concerned makes it a midsize. But the Civic competes directly with the Mazda 3, while the Mazda 6 competes with the Accord; any consumer who is told "Mazda 6 or similar" is going to have the same reaction we all did, meaning many more jet-lagged, underfed travelers getting into arguments with counter clerks who have no say in the matter. Dumb.
Aug 18, 2009, 7:41 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: PDX
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Posts: 3,938
Today's midsize? A Hyundai Elantra. Are you kidding me? This was a B rental last year.
Significant car class downgrades going on.
Significant car class downgrades going on.
Aug 18, 2009, 11:00 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
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Posts: 108
Aug 19, 2009, 12:12 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Plano, TX
Programs: SWA A List, HH Gold, Bonvoy Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 159
They're renting Suburu Imprezas as midsizes (YC in the case of the Impreza) in SLC unless you get the upgrade.
My response to getting one was asking the attendant why I just got a car that's the same size as a Ford Focus... which I could have paid less for according the picture and the corresponding price on the Hertz website. I drove 3 weeks in a row of Imprezas and did three weeks in a row of those survey's at the bottom of the receipts. I was given a Ford Fusion this week...
What is a G6 "Standard" size getting since the G6's seem to dropping out of the fleet quickly?
My response to getting one was asking the attendant why I just got a car that's the same size as a Ford Focus... which I could have paid less for according the picture and the corresponding price on the Hertz website. I drove 3 weeks in a row of Imprezas and did three weeks in a row of those survey's at the bottom of the receipts. I was given a Ford Fusion this week...
What is a G6 "Standard" size getting since the G6's seem to dropping out of the fleet quickly?
Aug 19, 2009, 12:29 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: Hertz Gold
Posts: 108
I hope I don't get stuck with an '08 Corolla. I still see some of those in service, though they are being replaced with the '09s quickly.
Aug 19, 2009, 8:11 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2009
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I actually wouldn't mind getting the Impreza this time around (I booked a C) only because I was planning on test driving both the Impreza and Legacy at my local Subaru dealership anyway.
I hope I don't get stuck with an '08 Corolla. I still see some of those in service, though they are being replaced with the '09s quickly.
I hope I don't get stuck with an '08 Corolla. I still see some of those in service, though they are being replaced with the '09s quickly.
Aug 20, 2009, 2:35 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: Hertz Gold
Posts: 108
Car classes are determined as a combination fleet cost and physical size. A Civic from a "cost" standpoint would be in the same range as a domestic "mid size". Keep in mind Honda gives very little in terms of fleet rebates to the rental companies, which is why there is never a huge inventory or alloment of HONDA's in most rental company's fleets.
Aug 21, 2009, 1:57 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 485
When I worked for the largest rental car company in the US from 1995-1997, our car sizes were based more on the value of the car rather than the size. It's all about the daily rate. The reason the Civic is considered a midsize and a Mazda 3 is a compact is because even though they are the same size the rental car company paid more for the Honda. So they need to charge a higher rate thus it is in a higher car class than you would think.
Aug 21, 2009, 2:23 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2008
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I was offered a Toyota Yaris as a mid-size!!!! I went in and he said that was also a new midsize. I said no way, and instead they gave me a Malibu, with SIXTY (60,000) kilometers!!