Just as I was talking about how upstart rental firm Silvercar manages to keep its costs low by offering a single-model fleet of Audi A4s, it went and changed things up by adding the Audi Q5 SUV to its fleet. This model will initially be available only in Denver with a December 1 start date that makes it perfect for loading all your gear during the winter ski season.
There is a catch, however: The Q5 will cost a somewhat staggering $199 a day!
Is this unreasonable? The A4 is normally between $59-79 at many locations. I think it works out well if you look at the comparable price for a mid-size or full-size sedan. The cards have many more features, and in the markets where Silvercar currently operates it faces competition with similar rates. Even if you compared it to a luxury vehicle, most other rental firms offer domestic models that, in my opinion, are not up to the same standards.
But $199 is a lot. Again, it depends on where you look. It’s not hard to find places that rent SUVs for about $100 a day or more. That’s not unusual and can be very useful when you need the extra space for people or gear. Right now Silvercar notes that its competition is charging $250 a day for a RAV4.
If you want a luxury SUV then it reasons that it will cost even more, and yet this seems to be a discount. Silvercar also notes that its entire A4 and Q5 fleet at Denver comes with ski racks included this season.
Personally, I will not be renting a Q5 anytime soon. If i need the space of an SUV I’ll probably settle for whatever standard model is available. With that much gear and people in the car it’s unlikely to feel very luxurious anyway. But for those who want to visit Vail in style — and who lack the resources to fly there directly by private jet — it’s a new offer worth noting.
You can try Silvercar yourself and save $50 on your first rental by using the coupon code SMACKENZIE. Feel free to include your own referral code in the comments. All referrals through December 31 (mine or yours) will earn $100.
