SUV and van rental still popular

Despite the record high fuel prices and repeated predictions that car rentals would stop hiring gas guzzling SUVs and vans, some of the largest car hire companies have noticed no decline in full-size vehicle hires at all over the course of the past several months. Lisa Martini, a spokesperson for Enterprise Rent A Car, confirmed that this situation “surprises” her, but noted that more comfortable SUVs are still preferred by most American families, who may just be willing to make a financial sacrifice for the sake of more space, especially on long road trips. In fact, a good indication that traditional, medium and full size vehicles are actually still rather popular is the fact that out of Enterprise’s 1.1 million cars, only a relatively modest 5,000 are actually hybrids.

Analysts now expect that the number of clients looking for SUV, van and full-size vehicle rentals will remain at relatively high levels for the peak summer season, especially as families plan road trips and other vacations. These same industry experts, however, point out that by the time the slower fall season rolls around, rental firms may start to witness a decline in SUV rentals and more of an interest in compact and hybrid cars. Rental firms also realize this situation and they are preparing for it by purchasing fewer full-size cars and focusing more on fuel efficient ones. Yet the vast majority of vehicles being purchases by car hire firms are not actually hybrids, according to recent studies, but simply cars with good levels of fuel efficiency.

www.enterprise.com