Which Car Should You Rent in Kuching?...
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Compact vs Sedan: Which Budget Car Should You Rent in Kuching?
You land at Kuching International Airport with two check-in suitcases and a backpack each. The Myvi you booked because it was RM10 cheaper is waiting outside. One suitcase goes in the boot. The other ends up on the back seat, and so does one of you.
It happens more often than you’d think, because compacts and sedans cost almost the same to rent in Kuching but hold very different amounts of luggage. This guide compares the two side by side using Tiva Car Rental’s actual fleet and rates, so you can pick the right one before you book. If you’re still deciding between car types more broadly, start with our guide on which car to rent in Kuching.
Both seat five, cost RM80 to RM140 a day at Tiva, and use little fuel. The difference is the boot. A compact is a hatchback with a small load space behind the back seats; a sedan has a separate, much deeper boot. At Tiva, the smallest sedan boot is bigger than the biggest compact boot.
Tiva’s compacts are the Perodua Viva, Axia and Myvi, and the Proton Iriz. The sedans are the Perodua Bezza, Proton Saga and Persona, and the Toyota Vios. Compacts are shorter, so they’re easier to squeeze into tight street parking around the Waterfront and Carpenter Street. Sedans are longer, which costs a little more in renting price but buys the boot space.
A compact boot holds about one large suitcase plus a cabin bag. A sedan boot holds two large suitcases with room for soft bags. If you’re travelling with check-in luggage for two or more people, a sedan is the safer choice.
| Car Model at Tiva | Type | Boot space | What fits (our rule of thumb) |
| Perodua Viva | Compact | 149 litres | Cabin bags only |
| Perodua Myvi 2016–2017 | Compact | 208 litres | 1 medium suitcase + cabin bag |
| Proton Iriz | Compact | 215 litres | 1 medium suitcase + cabin bag |
| Perodua Axia | Compact | 260 litres | 1 large suitcase + cabin bag |
| Perodua Myvi 2020 | Compact | 277 litres | 1 large suitcase + cabin bag |
| Proton Saga 2024–2026 | Sedan | 420 litres | 2 large suitcases |
| Perodua Bezza | Sedan | 508 litres | 2 large suitcases + soft bags |
| Proton Persona | Sedan | 510 litres | 2 large suitcases + soft bags |
Boot figures are the manufacturers’ published capacities. Real space depends on the shape of your bags: hard-shell suitcases fit less neatly than soft duffels.
Two things stand out. First, the newer Myvi 2020 has a much bigger boot than the older 2016–2017 model, so the year matters. Second, the Bezza and Persona hold about twice as much as any compact. That’s why the Bezza is the car we most often recommend to couples and small families flying in.
If your group needs more than two suitcases, you’ve outgrown a sedan. See our 7-seater comparison.
Which Car Should You Rent in Kuching?...
Only at the very bottom of the range. Tiva’s cheapest car is the Viva 2012 compact at RM80 a day, but from RM100 a day you can rent either type. A Bezza 2019 sedan costs RM120 a day, the same as a Myvi 2016–2017 and less than a Myvi 2020, with more than twice the boot space.
| Car Model | Type | 1–2 days (per day) | 3–29 days (per day) |
| Perodua Viva 2012 (manual) | Compact | RM80 | RM70 |
| Perodua Viva 2014 | Compact | RM100 | RM90 |
| Proton Saga FLX | Sedan | RM100 | RM90 |
| Perodua Axia 2016 | Compact | RM110 | RM90 |
| Proton Iriz 2016 | Compact | RM110 | RM100 |
| Toyota Vios 2012 | Sedan | RM110 | RM100 |
| Perodua Myvi 2016–2017 | Compact | RM120 | RM110 |
| Perodua Bezza 2019 | Sedan | RM120 | RM110 |
| Proton Persona VVT | Sedan | RM120 | RM110 |
| Perodua Myvi 2020 | Compact | RM130 | RM120 |
| Perodua Bezza 2024–2026 | Sedan | RM140 | RM130 |
| Proton Saga 2024–2026 | Sedan | RM140 | RM130 |
| Myvi 2024–2026 | Compact | RM150 | RM140 |
The deposit is RM200 for every car in both groups, and delivery to Kuching International Airport or Kuching Sentral Bus Terminal is FREE.Current rates for every model are on our price list.
| Myvi 2024–2026 (compact) | Bezza 2024–2026 (sedan) | |
| Day 1 | RM150 | RM140 |
| Days 2–3 | RM140 × 2 | RM130 × 2 |
| Rental total | RM430 | RM400 |
| Boot space | 277 litres | 508 litres |
| Deposit | RM200 | RM200 |
Comparing the newest model of each, the sedan is RM30 cheaper over three days and carries almost twice as much. The same holds for older models: a Bezza 2019 at RM120 a day costs less than a Myvi 2020 at RM130.
Both types have small petrol engines of 1.6 litres or less and run on RON95, so fuel costs for a few days around Kuching are similar. You collect the car with at least half a tank and return it at the same level. If it comes back lower, Tiva charges RM20 per bar on the fuel gauge for compacts and RM20–25 per bar for sedans, which is usually more than refueling yourself.
Usually a sedan, and mainly because of luggage. Either type handles the sealed roads to Bau, Serian, Lundu and Sematan at 90 km/h. But a day out with four people, shopping bags or beach gear is far easier when everything goes in a separate boot instead of on the back seat.
All of these towns are inside Tiva’s free driving zone, so there’s no outstation fee. For anything further, such as Sri Aman, Sibu or Miri, see taking your rental car outside Kuching.
In the city it’s the other way round. Compacts are easier to park in the narrow streets around the Waterfront, India Street and Carpenter Street, and in older shophouse car parks. If you’ll spend most of your trip in town, that convenience can outweigh the boot.
The Myvi 2020 is the best all-rounder. If you’re happy with a manual and want the lowest price, the Viva 2012 costs RM80 a day; it’s the only manual car in Tiva’s fleet.
The Bezza is the pick: the biggest boot in the budget range, at RM120–140 a day. The Persona is an equal alternative.
A Myvi is easy to park near offices and hotels. The Vios gives a little more comfort if you’ll be ferrying clients.
Choose a Bezza 2024–2026 or Saga 2024–2026 for the newest cars in the range.
Whichever you choose, every compact and sedan comes with free delivery to Kuching International Airport and Kuching Sentral Bus Terminal. See all our cheap car rental in Kuching options and book in a few minutes on WhatsApp.
Book by luggage, not just headcount; check the model year; and set up Pay & Go parking before you drive. These three steps solve most problems people have with small rental cars in Kuching.
1. Tell us how many suitcases you have when you book. We’ll suggest the right car before you land, so there are no surprises at the airport.
2. Check the model year. The Myvi 2020 boot is a third bigger than the 2016–2017 model’s; the Bezza and Saga 2024–2026 are the newest sedans.
3. Register for Pay & Go. Kuching’s street parking is fully digital; add the car’s plate number in the app when you collect it.
4. Photograph the car at pickup, including the tyres and fuel gauge.
5. Ask for a free baby seat or phone holder at booking so we can set one aside.
At Tiva, the Perodua Viva 2012 at RM80 a day, or RM70 a day for three days or more. It’s manual. The cheapest automatic options are the Viva 2014 and the Proton Saga FLX sedan, both at RM100 a day.
Usually not with the back seats up. A Myvi 2020 boot (277 litres) takes one large suitcase and a cabin bag. For two large suitcases, choose a sedan such as the Bezza (508 litres).
Yes, for short trips in town, but it’s tight and leaves no room for luggage. For five adults with bags, rent a 7-seater instead.
Not necessarily. At Tiva, a Bezza 2019 sedan costs RM120 a day, the same as a Myvi 2016–2017 and RM10 less than a Myvi 2020.
Yes. Both are reached on sealed roads that any car can handle. Damai is part of Santubong, inside Tiva’s free driving zone, and Bako’s jetty is a short drive from the city.
All except the Perodua Viva 2012, which is manual.
