I am planning on purchasing some furniture and using a Zipcar to transport it. SO far I have driven a Highlander and an Element as well as afew sedans, but I am trying to figure out which car has the biggest cargo load and would therefore be the best car to rent for this fairly lengthy move ( I have to make 1 trip). I would assume the minivan would be but I'm just not sure. Has anyone used any of the larger cars for moving a sofa for example?

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2005

Answers

Melissa,

You probably want to consider the kind of furniture you are moving, and whether or not you need "cargo volume" vs. "uninterrupted cargo area". E.g., a sofa or long dresser would potentially require different cargo configuration than bags or boxes.

Other things to consider are the door width (if you are transporting large items), loading/unloading, etc.

Edmunds.com (and possibly other sites... Consumer Reports? KBB?) have comparison engines, which will allow you to compare the actual numbers, but here are some thoughts:

- If you want to move a short bulky couch, tall chests of drawers, etc, consider Element or a pickup truck. Element's rear "door" can be folded down, making loading easy. The floor is flat, so heavy items can be balanced. And you can take the seats out completely.

- I do not believe you can take the seats out of Escape (or Highlander), but you can fold them down. This might give you more cargo volume (but with less clearance, heightwise, and without a flat bottom surface).

- A Sienna is definitely the best bet, when it comes to the volume proper; but the same cargo configuration drawbacks apply.

- Some cars in the fleet have roof racks (Escape comes to mind), some do not. If you have light yet bulky items that can be tied to the roof, they might be a good option for you. Please note, these are the manufacturer's roof racks, not the optional bike/ski racks.

- Do not rule out Scion xB. It has lots of cargo height, slightly smaller than Element overall. And a good value for the money.

- Oh, and *I* would probably go with a pick-up or Element. But then again, I have a love affair with the latter.

Good luck!

BullyDogsHuman, Queen of Tetris 3D, the moving game.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2005

FWIW, I used one of the Focus wagons to move a few years ago. I didn't have anything as bulky as a sofa, but I was able to fit my futon frame in the back with no problem. The rear seat folds completely flat to give a cargo area a full 6 feet long.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2005