Rental car standards are all over the map

0 Comments | USA TODAY, May, 2008 | by Bill McGee

The Ford Focus may be economical, reliable and peppy, but one thing it is not: intermediate-sized. Even if Enterprise Rent-A-Car calls it that.

That is just one example of the confusion consumers face when trying to find the right car to rent.

The rental industry continues to struggle with product standardization, so you're often left scratching your head when comparison shopping. To make matters stickier, it's virtually impossible to secure a specific make and model at most rental companies.

Enterprise defines "intermediate class" as "Chevy Cobalt, Ford Focus or similar" on its website. But Budget and Hertz list the Focus as a compact, one step below intermediate or midsize. Similarly, the Cobalt is called a compact by Alamo, Avis and National. ...