Toyota Aqua Hybrid

👋 Haisai! I’m CULT.
Today, I thought I’d do a little review of car rentals in Okinawa. The model is the Toyota Aqua Hybrid, and I’ve already reviewed it several times on my Korean NAVER blog. So, I’m quite familiar with this model as a rental car in Okinawa and can confidently recommend it. However, it’s bundled with the ‘Toyota Vitz’, so even if you request this vehicle, you might get a Vitz. Conversely, if you book a Vitz, you might receive an Aqua.

To start with what you might be most curious about…
The rental price is 5,500 yen per day / basic insurance 1,100 yen / NOC insurance 1,100 yen.
For a safe journey, it’s good to consider it as 7,700 yen per day. Additionally, you can rent a car seat, baby seat, or child seat for 330 yen per day.

Toyota Aqua Hybrid

The photos were taken next to Senaga Island Umikaji Terrace.
I usually prefer taking photos here. If you want to capture the essence of Okinawa in your photos, this spot is ideal. Other places that truly represent Okinawa tend to be crowded or have many parked cars, so I find this location to be one of the best.
Please excuse the slight untidiness of the car, as I took the photos rather hastily while driving. 🙏

From the side, it looks like this.
The vehicle is larger than a compact car but smaller than a Korean Avante. For a couple’s trip, the size is more than adequate, and naturally, it has more power when you press the accelerator compared to a compact car. I recommend this vehicle for a family of four, such as mum, dad, and two young children, as it offers good value for money.
Although this vehicle is a five-seater, if five people are on board, there is limited space for luggage, so it’s more convenient to think of it as a four-seater for adults.

If everyone brings just one suitcase, it’s possible.

This is a view from the side.
I usually enjoy capturing blue skies in my photos. It really gives that Okinawan feel, doesn’t it? This is also the kind of scenery you’ll encounter when you drive around with a rental car.
I sincerely hope that when you travel, you’ll have days filled with blue skies and white clouds. 🙏

This is the rear side.
If you look to the right, there’s a sign warning about crabs, and indeed, crabs often come out of the forest and move towards the sea. Of course, I know this because I often visit here to photograph rental cars.

Trunk Space

Shall we take a look at the car’s trunk capacity now?
It would be convenient if the car had a power tailgate, but… please understand that this would increase the car’s price and rental costs. However, since the car isn’t particularly large, the trunk door isn’t heavy. With hydraulic cylinders fitted, you can open and close it with ease.

This is the trunk space. Even at a glance, you can see that it absolutely cannot fit five 24-inch suitcases. That’s why I mentioned that it’s suitable for a family with a child or four adults. Although it’s a five-seater, it’s only feasible when you reduce it to a four-seater by removing one seat.

I loaded the luggage into the back seat.
Unfortunately, I can only show you this much as I only have one 28-inch suitcase and two 20-inch cabin suitcases.

If you remove one of the back seats and change it to a four-seater, you can carry a bit more luggage.
In the case of a compact car, folding a seat is almost essential, but since the Aqua is slightly larger, you can maintain it as a four-seater while still accommodating more luggage.

The View from the Driver’s Seat

This is the view of the front seats inside the vehicle.
Japanese vehicles generally have a high ceiling. Even if you’re 185cm tall, you won’t find driving uncomfortable at all. Everything you need for driving is there.

This is the driving information panel visible from the driver’s seat.
Being a hybrid, the fuel efficiency is excellent. There’s an LCD slightly to the centre left, so it’s rarely obscured by the steering wheel while driving.

This is the appearance of the stick. The parking P lever varies greatly depending on the vehicle, so it’s good to check it once. If you take a look at such photos in advance, it might be something to consider when booking a rental car, right?

The handbrake is a stick type.
In most Japanese kei cars, the handbrake is located on the foot pedal, but in this vehicle, it is adjusted with a hand stick.

So, there are two foot pedals.
In vehicles with a low stream, the side brake pedal is located at the far left based on this picture. This part varies from vehicle to vehicle, so I’ll let you know each time I review one.

The fuel lever is located at the bottom right.
In Korea, many vehicles do not have a fuel lever, so many people are confused about how to open the fuel cap when refuelling before returning the vehicle. Therefore, we provide this indication.

The rear camera provides a level of convenience that makes parking hassle-free. It’s not an exceptionally high-quality camera, but it’s sufficient for parking without any inconvenience. There’s also a guide, which is almost essential for those driving in Japan for the first time.
If you’ve driven a Hyundai Avante in Korea, you’ll find parking quite easy here as well.

This is what a black box looks like.
It’s a magical item that ensures you won’t be wronged if you’re involved in an accident. In the Okinawa car rental industry, there are quite a few vehicles without a black box. So, it’s worth considering this as a factor.

Passenger Seat and Back Seat

The passenger seat isn’t particularly special or impressive. It’s a bit of a shame that there’s no cup holder at the front top, though.

This is a convenient drawer for storing food purchased from convenience stores or supermarkets when travelling in Okinawa. I’ll also upload a post recommending snacks that are perfect for enjoying during a drive later on.

This is the view of the back seat. It’s a seat that can accommodate three people, and the inner seat can be folded forward separately. You can fold just one to create additional luggage space.
If only two people are travelling, the entire back seat can be folded down.

In Conclusion…

The Aqua is larger than a compact car but smaller than a mid-sized vehicle. It’s fuel-efficient and easy to park, making it an ideal choice for travelling around Okinawa. Of course, for those who need a larger trunk, I would recommend a bigger vehicle. However, if you’re planning a light trip for about 3 to 4 days, I think it’s quite a good choice.

You can make a reservation through the link below.
I’ll be back with various reviews to make your Okinawa trip easy and convenient through another rental car review. Matayasai 👋