Rent a Car in Kota Kinabalu: Which Car Should You Hire?
Most people in Kota Kinabalu overthink the car and underthink the group. Start with how many people and bags you have, then check the roads you want to drive. The right car usually falls out of those two answers.
Two people, city and coast: a hatchback
For a couple staying in town, a small car is the easy choice. It is simple to park around the waterfront and the shopping areas, and it costs the least. The Perodua Axia 1.0 is RM150 a day and the Perodua Myvi 1.5 is RM160 a day. Pick the Myvi if you want a bit more room for luggage and a stronger engine on hills.
Business trips and airport runs: a sedan
A sedan has a closed boot, so bags stay out of sight when you park. The Perodua Bezza 1.3 (RM160 a day) and Proton Saga 1.5 (RM170 a day) cover most needs. If you want a more comfortable ride for longer drives, look at the Honda City 1.5 or Toyota Vios 1.5 at RM250 a day.
Mountain and highland roads: an SUV
The road up to Kundasang and Kinabalu Park climbs for a long stretch. Any car can do it, but a turbo engine or a higher seat makes it less tiring. The Perodua Ativa Turbo 1.0 (RM230 a day) is the value pick. For more power, the Proton X50 1.5 Turbo is RM280 a day and the Honda HR-V 1.5 Turbo is RM330 a day. Our biggest SUV, the Jaecoo J7 1.5 Turbo, is RM450 a day.
Families of five to eight: an MPV
Seven seats make a difference once you add child seats, grandparents or luggage. The Perodua Alza 1.5 and Perodua Aruz 1.5 seat seven for RM270 a day. The Toyota Innova 2.0 seats eight at RM330 a day. The Toyota Voxy 2.0 (RM430 a day) is the most comfortable of the group.
Groups of ten: a van
The Toyota Hiace Manual 2.8 seats ten. The manual is RM380 a day and the automatic is RM530 a day. Choose the automatic if your driver is not used to a manual van.
Trails and rough roads: a pickup
The Toyota Hilux Revo 2.8 is RM380 a day and seats four. It suits gear, longer rural drives and roads that are not smooth. It is not the choice if you need a quiet city car.
A quick way to decide
- 1 to 2 people, mostly town: hatchback.
- 2 to 4 people with bags: sedan or small SUV.
- Kundasang or Kinabalu Park day trip: turbo SUV.
- 5 to 8 people: MPV.
- 9 to 10 people: Hiace van.
Daily rates are from our current price list. Weekly bookings get a lower daily rate. Tell us your dates on WhatsApp and we will confirm the price. Every booking also comes with a free itinerary, so you can ask us which car suits your route.