Can I fit a bike in a Hyundai Accent rental car?

[KLizotte]

I’m going to Colorado for a couple of weeks in early June and am planning on renting a bike (road and/or mountain) so will need to be able to carry a single bike in the back of a rental car. I won’t be hauling the bike around with luggage fortunately.

Stupid me pre-paid for an economy car before realizing it may not be big enough. I just called the rental company (Advantage) and they said most of their cars are hatchbacks and I’ll probably get a Hyundai accent or similar and cannot upgrade before I get there.

Since I own a Subaru Outback and can lay my bike down easily without even taking a wheel off, I have no experience trying to fit a bike into a smaller car. Do you think I can easily fit a bike in a compact car without incurring the wrath of the rental agency?

I’m hoping I can upgrade to one of their Kia Soul’s when I get at the airport but there is no guarantee.

P.S. I’m only 5’2″ so my bike will be on the smaller side.

Thank you!

Topic

[Tim Kelley]

It helps that you are a normal sized human. Once you take the wheels off the frame could probably just sit in the back seat. Just be careful with the drive train getting things greasy.

[dasgeh]

@Tim Kelley 84368 wrote:

It helps that you are a normal sized human. Once you take the wheels off the frame could probably just sit in the back seat. Just be careful with the drive train getting things greasy.

You might want to pack an old bed sheet to protect from grease monsters (wherever you end up stashing the bike — but I wouldn’t worry)

[Anonymous]

I carried mine in my Jetta for years before splurging on a rack a few years back. I did have to take the front wheel off, of course and I think it’s on the larger end of “compact”, but it wasn’t too difficult. With just the bike no luggage I would guess you’ll be fine.

[vvill]

^ Agreed with Tim. I can fit my folding bike, unfolded in the back seat of my compact car, so I think it’d work with a wheel (or two) off. I’d try with just the front wheel off first. You might need to move the front seats forward a bit.

Maybe bring a big garbage bag to wrap around the drivetrain? I have an old ratty picnic blanket I use for my car. Also make sure you put the bike derailleur side up.

[KelOnWheels]

Just did some quick Googling – I can just cram my 49cm Space Horse, with fenders, into the back of my 2004 Hyundai Elantra if I take the front wheel off.

The Interwebs say my car has 55.6″ of rear hiproom.

A 2012 Hyundai Accent, OTOH, has 47.2″ of rear hiproom, so that’s a fair bit narrower.

[DismalScientist]

Shouldn’t be a problem. I can get any bike into the back of my Mazda3 with the front wheel off and the seats folded down. While I would put the drive side up, I wouldn’t bother with a ratty blanket. After all, it’s a rental.

[Bilsko]

Zipcar tells you if a bike fits in a car (but you might only see that if you’re a member) – I’ll dig around and see if they have any Hyundai Elantras.

[Bilsko]

@Bilsko 84379 wrote:

Zipcar tells you if a bike fits in a car (but you might only see that if you’re a member) – I’ll dig around and see if they have any Hyundai Elantras.

Zipcar says it’ll hold a bike with the wheel off and 8 medium sized storage boxes (whatever those are)

[bikesnick]

@KLizotte 84366 wrote:

Can I fit a bike in a Hyundai Accent rental car?

I put my road bike in my Mini Cooper often.

[KLizotte]

@bikesnick 84382 wrote:

I put my road bike in my Mini Cooper often.

Wow! I presume with the top down and all the doors closed.

[bikesnick]

@KLizotte 84383 wrote:

Wow! I presume with the top down and all the doors closed.

No. Doors closed, hard top, front wheel off, front passenger seat pushed forward.
(A long time ago I *did* put my road bike in a two seater convertible, wheels on, and top down.)

[JimF22003]

@bikesnick 84390 wrote:

No. Doors closed, hard top, front wheel off, front passenger seat pushed forward.

Diamond in the back. Sunroof top. Diggin’ the scene…

Oops. That’s a different song

[DaveK]

Yes. Back seat down, front or both wheels off, you shouldn’t have a problem. My bike fits in my wife’s Scion xA with only the front wheel off and that’s about the smallest thing I would consider a car.

(Smart cars are not either of those things)

[Tania]

I can get both my mtn bike and my road bike in the back of my Honda Fit with no issues (wheels on). Granted, they’re both borderline midget bikes.

[KLizotte]

Thanks everyone! You all obviously earned A’s in origami class. :p

[Author]

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