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I'm looking for a peoplecarrier for 6 adults and luggage from J'burg for 21 days. It must have at least 3 rows of seats and windows that can open on at least 3 of those rows for optimal safari experience. I rented the VW T3 Microbus before for the exact same purpose and it was great but I can´t find it anymore. I´ve seen that the VW T5 for instance will not fit my requirements and I´m not sure about the Toyota Quantum 10 seater because I´ve seen that on some there are 3 rows of windows that can open and on some not. Suggestions?

I rented Quantum and it was fine
1 side 1 back window to be opened
other side 2 back windows to be opened
but we had room to move in the carrier to move
As far as i know the only carrier with 1 extra back row window, while all other brands only have 1 each side
We were 5 adults

Hello,

We are going to be in Kruger at the end of April for 17 days going North to South. We are trying to decide which type of car to rent. We have miles with Avis to use and we were looking at either a Group O - Toyota Avanza or similar or Group K - Hyundai IX35 or similiar. I wrote to Avis and they said the group O could be the Avanza or Renault scenic or Nissan Qashqai and the group K either the IX35 or Kia Sportage,Honda CRv orRenault Koleos.
The K is of course more expensive, but if it is worth it we can do it. Can anyone advise if the group K selections sit much higher than the ones in O ? I have looked at photos and it is really difficult to see much of a difference. If there is a choice in either category we end up choosing, is there a better one amoungst the group or any that we definitely should try NOT to get ?

Thanks,
Kelly

Hi Kelly, we had a Sportage for our 3 week stay in KNP and liked it. Clearance was good and the car was comfortable.

I haven't rented the other options you have, but good luck and enjoy your trip!

In 2011 we got the Renault Koleos and LOVED it. We had the Hyundai the time before and that was just fine. If you can afford the extra money, I would go with that class. How many people? We are traveling south to north to south during that time so perhaps we will see you. We will be in a class K from Avis.

Hi, Kelly, I've hired an Avanza in Kruger and have a Qashqai at home and think either would be fine in Kruger. They both have better clearance than an ordinary sedan though really in Kruger the only roads a sedan won't cope with are the low maintenance roads which are few and far between and quite short and the special 4x4 routes which you have to book.
The Qashqai is probably a bit more comfortable than the Avanza.
Have a great trip!

Thanks everyone. I am leaning towards the K class I think... still difficult to decide. 2 years ago we had a Corolla which was fine but since we will be there 17 days this time we are thinking it would be nice to have a bit more height and comfort. Last year (not in Kruger) we had a iX35 and one thing I didn't like was the passenger side seat could not be adjusted and sat really low. Did you have that too iLoveMeerkats! ? I had to sit on a pillow. Maybe if we go for the K class I will try and request the Koleos or Sportage. We will be only 2 people.
If we go with the O class I could try and request the Qashqai. I saw one here today and it looked nice, I have never seen an Avanza.

That would be fun to run into you iLoveMeercats !

I didn't notice the seat being too low (and i am short), but I generally sit in the back seat with the cameras - bouncing from the left side to the right. We have had some cars where the backseat windows didn't go all the way down and that is a huge problem for photography...but I can't recall if that was the Hyundai. I know the Koleos was perfect and I hope to get that again. It had built-in gps which was really fun as we marked our sightings. Only took about a month to figure that out.

I must say that we have not had much response from avis when it comes to asking for a particular car. They give you whatever they have. The cars change a bit each year, so you can't always compare what you got a year or two ago. They get you with that Hyundai OR SIMILAR thing. This time, we are going to have the car for 42 days so if it is awful, I just might see if I can change it. Wish me luck.

Thanks again iLoveMeerkats ! . I am almost postive the backseat windows went all the way down on the iX35. I didn't spend much time back there, didn't even occur to me to do that until on the last day we got a wild dog sighting and I jumped back there so we both had the sighting on our side. I plan to spend more time back there this year so I am going to try and make sure the windows do go all the way down.

I see from your signature you are about to leave, have a great trip and I hope you get a great car !

Kelly

Thanks Kelly. We are heading to San Francisco in a couple of hours. I am NOT looking forward to the flights but I am oh so excited about being in Kruger. Right back at ya in terms of getting a great car. Hope to see you along the way - don't forget your yellow ribbon!

I am off!

Kathleen

safe travels

Keep an eye out for me --- will be in the same area. My wife originaly from Spokane and her family are in California and Phoenix. MY SO is lucky ---- not so far to travel as you guys to KNP