Location: VRN
Status: Gold
Reserved: Peugeot 408
Offered: Citroen C3
Requested/Received: BMW G23 LCI 420d (paid upgrade)

Had to ask at the counter as it wasn't available for online booking. Got a reasonable offer, and overall enjoyed it given the location. (convertibles with black interiors and non-ventilated seats should be outlawed)

Location: DCA
Status: Platinum
Reserved: LFAR (BMW X3 or similar)
Received: LFAR - 2024 Genesis GV80 w/36,000 miles

The App offered no other choices despite my seeing several X3's around. Despite the high mileage, the GV is in relatively good shape and even has 4 new Michelin tires, which was surprising. Also surprising to see Sixt ordered these with the hot-rod spec 3.5T (375HP).

Location: Toulouse Carnot (City Centre)
Status: Platinum
Reserved: Audi Q6 e-tron
Received: 2025 BMW x3 30e 15k kms

No electric car available (car not in rentable condition) and so was upgraded several categories to a hybrid x3. Car was generally in good condition for a 2025 but there was strange sap all over the front bonnet and only the obvious areas were vacuumed, car could do with a full valet.

Sounds more of a downgrade from a Q6 to an X3

Yeah in a way you’re probably right because the latest model X3 is in a lot of ways cheaper feeling than the previous ones, but for whatever reason the Q6 is often significant cheaper per day at TLS locations

-Diamond
-San Francisco Intl
-FCAR
-CFAR (Buick Envision)
-asked for SFAR, RFAR, everything only with at least $30/day upgrade fee.

what the heck? I will contact the customer support.

- Diamond
- BOS airport
- BMW X1 or equivalent
- got a Mercedes GLS with 4000 miles on it. we were stoked; the initial upgrade was to a GLC and then the lot guy asked me if I’d be OK with the GLS. Very pleased as it was a nearly month long booking with family.

Their offer was proper downgrade though. 408 is a midsize, a C3 is not! Did that factor into the deal for the paid upgrade?

Location - MEX Mexico City International Airport
Status - Platinum
Reserved - Hyundai Grand i10 Hatchback or similar automatic (MCAR)
Received - Hyundai HB20 Sedan manual (CCMR)

Honestly can't complain about $19 for a 3 day rental. The manual transmission doesn't bother me, but if you were expecting an automatic since all of the options say that, you might be taken for a surprise. Also good to know: Sixt includes third party liability insurance (unlike most agencies in Mexico which lure you in with $2 a day pricing only to swindle you with mandatory insurance for $40 a day.) However if you decline additional protections you'll have to put up a hefty deposit - for me it was 60,000 pesos or ~3250 USD - so make sure you have plenty of credit limit available.

I was hoping for an SDAR, but ultimately didn't care as I was betting on a last minute booking - availability at VRN was atrocious, and prices even worse, guess it's the season.
They seemed happy when I inquired about an upgrade, but I didn't mention the 408 vs C3 discrepancy, and overall got a reasonable deal on the 4er I think.


Location: POZ
Status: Gold
Reserved: Peugeot 3008
Offered: Skoda Octavia kombi (paid upgrade)

Not sure why I took the Octavia (and paid for it!), the 3008 was probably better equipped - Octavia had no ACC, display was small, VAG is really skimping these days. But the extra space came in handy. It was also quite pokey and had pretty low mileage. Another Octavia I had from POZ was speced with the interesting fabric-like interior, whilst this was more hard plastic and (fake) leather.

PHX - Diamond

Booked: Merc C class or similar
Received: 5 series

Nice staff, good facility.

Location: FCO
Status: Diamond
Reserved: BMW 3 Series Wagon
Received: Audi A6 Avant

Status- Platinum
Location- Birmingham Airport (BHX)
Reserved- Midsize (BMW 3 series)
Received- VW Tiguan e-hybrid.
The guy at the counter said it was an upgrade but I'm not convinced 😁. We were offered a BMW 530e touring for an extra £55 a day but declined.
The Tiguan is a nice spec (Match spec with 3,500 miles and a few months old).We were keen to try our first plug-in hybrid (albeit the battery was empty when we collected it).so we accepted it.
Was also offered an Alfa Romeo Tonale.

Thanks!

I would not consider that an upgrade. They often will weasel word when they do not have an objectively nicer booked car with a category that is ostensibly more expensive but clearly not a nicer car.

Agreed. Rental companies have wildly varying definitions of vehicle segments (most of which are completely inconsistent with market realities), but a compact non-premium crossover is not an upgrade from a premium midsize sedan. I wouldn't even consider it an upgrade from a Passat or a similar non-premium sedan/wagon. An upgrade from a 3-series would have been a 5-series or an X5. A Tiguan from a 3-series is a downgrade. A Tonale is a lateral move, at best (premium brand, but pretty small compared to the 3-er).