When an SUV makes sense
If you are travelling with family, carrying beach gear and suitcases, or planning full days of sightseeing, an SUV offers comfort and boot space that a small car cannot. The raised seating position gives a clearer view of Malta’s busy roundabouts and unfamiliar junctions, which many visitors find reassuring in the first day or two on the left. It also makes it easier to see over the low rubble walls that line so many of the island’s country lanes.
The extra ground clearance is welcome on Malta’s rougher rural roads too. Many of the quieter spots, a parking area above a cove or the approach to a village chapel, sit at the end of a narrow, patched or steeply cambered lane. A city car copes, but an SUV rides the bumps, kerbs and speed humps more comfortably, so you arrive relaxed rather than wincing at every scrape. Stick to public roads, though: as with every hire car, the cover does not apply to off-road or track use.
What does SUV hire in Malta cost?
SUV hire in Malta with Nova Drive is priced all-in like the rest of the fleet: VAT, the airport fee, collision damage waiver, third-party cover and unlimited mileage are included in the daily figure, with a refundable deposit held on a credit card at pickup. An SUV costs more per day than a small city car, but for families and longer stays the extra boot space and higher seating position usually earn it back in comfort, and the price you see when you search is the price you pay. The table below shows the classes most people consider for an SUV-size hire, from the compact crossover to the seven-seater, with current from-prices per day. Free cancellation applies up to 48 hours before pickup.
| Class | Seats | Bags | Transmission | From (per day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact SUV | 5 | 2 | Auto/Man | €10 |
| SUV | 5 | 3 | Auto/Man | €12 |
| 7-Seater | 7 | 3 | Auto/Man | €26 |
Compact SUV
SUV
7-SeaterBoot space and comfort on longer days
The real advantage of an SUV in Malta is what the boot swallows without a fuss. A large hard-shell suitcase per passenger, a folded pushchair, a cool box and a beach bag can all go in together, so nobody travels with a bag on their lap on the drive from the airport. That matters most on the first and last day, when everyone is loaded up and tired.
- Comfortable for the whole group on longer drives to the north and west of Malta.
- Room for luggage when you are moving between hotels or heading to the Gozo ferry.
- Easy loading for prams, cool boxes and a day’s worth of beach kit.
- A quieter, more settled ride on the faster stretches like the coast road.
On the Gozo ferry with an SUV
An SUV is an easy fit on the Malta to Gozo ferry, and its comfort comes into its own around the crossing. In peak season a queue can build at the Ċirkewwa terminal, and a car full of luggage with everyone waiting is far more pleasant when there is proper space and air conditioning rather than knees against bags. You drive straight on and off the boat, so there is no unloading, and once on Gozo the higher stance helps on the more rural roads and the steeper climbs up to Victoria and the Cittadella.
Any of our cars can make the trip, but for a family or a group carrying kit for the day, the extra room takes the friction out of both the wait and the exploring. Our Malta and Gozo car rental page explains how the vehicle ferry works and where fares are paid, and if you need still more seats an SUV-sized 7-seater is the next step up.