5 luxury features to look for in a rental car

​Renting a car has never been easier – and there's so much choice nowadays, you might feel less like an adult on a forecourt and more like a kid in a sweet shop.

So why not be a little picky? If you treat yourself to the latest mod cons, you'll have an even more enjoyable experience on the open road.

That's not to say there's anything wrong with the basics. Even our most affordable rentals will get you from A to B in style – and they're all clean and well-looked-after to boot.

But sometimes you only want the best. So here are five luxury features to look for when hiring your next car.

1. Cruise control

Cruise control is one of the most underrated features that modern cars have to offer. Because it helps you maintain a constant speed, it's a blessing for long-distance drives. (Your right foot will thank you for it!)

And it doesn't just prove its worth on motorways. Cruise control is also useful for average speed areas. Simply set your MPH as required, then relax as the car keeps your tachometer ticking at the perfect speed.

Usually, the feature is activated via buttons on the steering wheel. So, although you'll still use your foot for braking, everything else is controlled with a quick tap. Once you no longer need cruise control, you can press the button and the feature will be cancelled. Easy peasy!

2. Air-con

If there's one thing we can't live without in our cars, it's air conditioning. Not only does it keep you cool in the blistering summer heat, but it also helps keep your environment fresh and airy on those long drives. 

Nowadays, air-con comes as standard in most mid-range cars, so it's hard to believe that it was once a rare feature in the UK.

Gone are the days of our ears popping as we wind down the windows on the motorway. We just press a button and feel the instant breeze. Bliss!

Some people dislike air-con because they think it constantly blows freezing cold air into your car. We're happy to say this is a misconception. Air-con can be adjusted to suit you and your passengers. 

Word of advice: if you don't like snowflakes flying from your air vents, keep your air-con set to a steady 18°C. That's a comfortable temperature for most people.

3. Electric windows

Electric windows are pretty much standard nowadays.

And thank goodness that they are standard. If you've ever had an encounter with a wasp on the motorway, you'll know how valuable those simple push-button window controls can be.

Electric windows are arguably safer too. In hindsight, it seems a little distracting to take your hands off the wheel for 20 seconds while you struggle with a crank.

Do they count as a "luxury" feature? That's debatable. But keep an eye out, because there are a few modern models that still use old-fashioned hand cranks. These include Ford's F150XL and Nissan's Frontier S.

4. Sat nav

Map reading and getting directions from your passenger can be left in the past with this luxury feature.

Sat navs are still not standard, even in newer models of cars. For the foreseeable future, they're likely to be considered a luxury feature – and we can see why. They really do give you a lot of "bang for your buck".

Picture the scene: you're a couple of hours into a long journey. You're thirsty. You're irritable. The kids are begging for the loo and the car is begging for petrol.

There's no two ways about it. You need a service station, pronto.

Good job your hire car has sat nav, then. Thanks to this little lifesaver, you can simply tap a few buttons, find a nearby Welcome Break and take a short diversion to get there.

Not only can you quench your thirst and fill your tank, but your trusty sat nav will get you right back on track from where you left off.

5. Parking sensors

We have one word for the person who invented parking sensors: genius.

Let's not beat around the bush. We've all struggled to get into a parking space once or twice –  whether it was parallel parking, reverse parking or just driving straight into a bay and praying your turning circle has an extra inch to offer.

Thank goodness, then, for parking sensors. This luxury feature has changed the game completely.

We no longer need our passengers to wave us into a space and shout, "A bit to the left, a bit to the right". We can just listen for that trusty beep and know that we're keeping a safe distance from the obstacles around us.

Hiring a car with this amazing feature will be sure to make your life 100 times easier, especially if parking isn't your forte.

Less stress. Less hassle. Less chance of dings and bumps. Yes please!

Want the luxury experience?

Great news: all the luxury features we've raved about are available on selected cars in our fleet.

So if you're in the northeast and you want to treat yourself to a swish, feature-packed motor, we've got you covered.

Ready to get going? Explore our range of cars for hire in Newcastle today. And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with one of our friendly team members.