Can You Rent a Car With a Debit Card in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes — credit or debit, as long as the card belongs to the renter. The part worth knowing before you book: the rental is charged when you book, the ...
Read more →Should You Rent a Sedan or SUV in Fort Lauderdale?
The Jetta is $55.00 a day, the Taos $55.00, and the Kia Soul $49.00. Rates move with demand and dates, so check them for your dates — but for most trips the deciding factor isn't the rate, it's what you're carrying.
Take the Jetta if there are one or two of you traveling light and you want the best fuel economy. Take the Taos if you're carrying full-size suitcases, family gear or beach equipment, or you simply prefer sitting higher. The Soul sits in between: SUV-style cargo space in the shortest, easiest-to-park car we have, at our lowest rate.
Fort Lauderdale's roads don't require an SUV. Your luggage might.
Our three cars, side by side
2024 Volkswagen Jetta SE — sedan
- Cargo — 14.1 cubic feet of trunk space
- Fuel economy — EPA 29 city / 40 highway / 33 combined
- Seats — five
- Best for — couples, solo travellers, business trips, commuting, light luggage
2023 Volkswagen Taos S w/ IQ.DRIVE — compact SUV
- Cargo — 27.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats, 65.9 with them folded
- Fuel economy — EPA 28 city / 36 highway / 31 combined
- Seats — five
- Best for — families, several large bags, strollers, beach and sports kit, higher seating position
2024 Kia Soul — compact SUV
- Cargo — 24.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, 62.1 with them folded
- Fuel economy — EPA 30 combined
- Seats — five
- Best for — the lowest rate we offer, easy parking, replacement rentals while your own car is in the shop
All three are automatic and all three seat five. All include 200 miles a day.
The number that actually decides it
The Taos holds almost twice as much luggage as the Jetta — 27.9 cubic feet against 14.1 — and that understates it, because a hatchback opening swallows awkward shapes a trunk lip won't. A folded stroller, a cooler, beach chairs or golf clubs go in without negotiation.
The cost of that space is about two miles per gallon. It's a small penalty for a large gain, which is exactly why we bought the Taos second rather than a bigger SUV.
The Soul is the smallest and most affordable of our SUVs, with a boxy shape that carries more than its size suggests: 24.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, close to the Taos, in a car about a foot and a half shorter than the Jetta.
Pick the Jetta if…
- One or two people are traveling
- You have carry-ons rather than full-size cases
- Most of your driving is local, or you'll park downtown and near the beach often
- You want the best fuel economy we offer — 40 MPG on the highway
- You need a straightforward replacement car for commuting and errands
Distance alone doesn't call for an SUV. A couple driving to Key Largo, Miami or Palm Beach is perfectly comfortable in the Jetta if the luggage already fits.
Pick the Taos if…
- Three or more of you are traveling with bags
- You're bringing several full-size suitcases
- A stroller or car seat is coming along
- You'll be carrying beach, golf or outdoor equipment
- You'd rather sit higher, or you drive an SUV at home
The same logic applies to a replacement rental. If your routine involves children, work equipment or a weekly shop, the crossover fits the routine better — regardless of what your own car is.
Pick the Soul if…
- You want the lowest rate we offer
- You need more luggage space than a sedan, without a bigger car to park
- You're renting while your own car is being repaired
- You'll be squeezing into hotel garages, beach lots or metered spaces on Las Olas
It won't match the Jetta on fuel economy, and the Taos is roomier with the seats folded — but for a lot of trips, the Soul is the best value on the site.
Parking and driving
All three work well across Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Dania Beach, Davie and Aventura. The Jetta and the Soul have the edge in a crowded beach lot or a tight garage bay, and the Jetta is the more familiar shape if you normally drive a car rather than a crossover.
But the Taos is a compact crossover, not a large SUV — it fits hotel garages and street spaces without drama. The higher seating position and wider rear opening are easier when you're loading children or cargo. None of them will make you circle the block.
Still not sure?
Count the people and the bags that will be in the car at the same time. That usually settles it.
If everything fits in the Jetta, take the Jetta — you'll spend less on fuel and park more easily. If you want more room at the lowest rate, take the Soul. If you're doing arithmetic about whether it fits, take the Taos. A cramped car is a bad way to spend a holiday, and the difference in rate is rarely what you'll remember about the trip.
Book any of them
All three include 200 miles a day, then $0.35 per additional mile, and a $300.00 deposit held rather than charged. We deliver across Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Dania Beach, Davie and Aventura, or you can collect at our FLL airport pickup point.
Compare the 2024 Volkswagen Jetta, the 2023 Volkswagen Taos and the 2024 Kia Soul, pick your dates, and you'll see an itemized price before you book. Our FAQ covers insurance, deposits, mileage, additional drivers and delivery.
