Economy car rental in Agadir

Rental companies use the economy category for small cars with small engines: four or five seats, one or two suitcases, engines between 1.0 and 1.5 litres. In Agadir these are the cheapest cars to rent and the cheapest to run. A Peugeot 208 diesel is rated at 4 litres per 100 km, a Clio 5 diesel or Sandero diesel at 5 litres, a petrol i10 at 5 litres in town.

All of them come with air conditioning, a USB port and Bluetooth. They fit into any parking space in central Agadir, the Corniche included, where a saloon circles for ten minutes. For a couple or a family of three staying in the region, this is the sensible choice.

A typical week with Taghazout, Paradise Valley and a day at Legzira adds up to 600 to 700 kilometres. In a small car using 5 litres per 100 km that is about 35 litres, or around €45 at Moroccan pump prices. A 208 diesel at 4 litres comes in under €40.

Diesel is slightly cheaper than petrol at the pump, and diesel engines use less on the open road. If you plan to leave Agadir every day, take a diesel. If you stay in town and along the coast, the difference over a week is a few euros.

The diesel versions are manual and rent for €26 a day in low season. The petrol versions of the Sandero, Clio 5, 208 and Kia Picanto are automatic and rent for €29. Three euros a day is the gap between a manual and an automatic small car.

The rate includes unlimited mileage, third-party insurance and 24-hour assistance. There are no airport fees and no booking fees. The deposit goes away with full coverage insurance at €6 a day. From seven days onwards the discount runs from 5 to 20 % depending on length.

Four people with hold luggage is a squeeze in a small car. The Dacia Logan diesel or the Renault Kardian, at €29 and €32 a day in low season, take three large suitcases with nothing on anyone's lap, for barely higher fuel use.

For long motorway legs, Marrakech or Essaouira from Agadir, a compact like the Golf 8 is more restful, but it costs more than twice as much. For a week spent in the Souss region, the small car is still the better sum.