Toyota Aqua Hybrid

👋 Haisai! It’s CULT here.
Today, I’m going to review a rental car in Okinawa. The model is a Toyota Aqua Hybrid, and I’ve already reviewed it several times on my Korean NAVER blog. So, I’m confident in recommending it as a rental car in Okinawa. However, it’s bundled with a model called ‘Toyota Fit’, so even if you request this vehicle, you might get a Fit. Conversely, if you book a Fit, 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 is 1,100 yen / NOC insurance is 1,100 yen.
For a safe trip, it’s good to consider it as 7,700 yen per day. Additionally, car seats, baby seats, and child seats can be rented for 330 yen per day.

Toyota Aqua Hybrid

The photo was taken next to Senaga Island Umikaji Terrace.
I usually prefer taking photos here. I want to capture the essence of Okinawa, but truly Okinawan places are often crowded or have many parked cars, so I find there’s no better spot than here.
Please excuse the car being a bit untidy, as I took the photo rather hastily while driving 🙏

This is how it looks from the side.
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 great value for money. Although it’s a five-seater, if five people are on board, there’s limited space for luggage, so it’s more comfortable to consider it as a four-seater for adults.

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

This is the view from the side.
I usually love capturing photos with a blue sky. It really gives off that Okinawa vibe, doesn’t it? This is also the kind of view you’ll encounter when you go for a drive with a rental car.
I hope that when you travel, you’ll be blessed with days full of blue skies and white clouds 🙏

This is the rear side.
On 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 frequently 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 tell that five 24-inch suitcases definitely won’t fit. That’s why I mentioned that it’s only feasible for a family with a child or four adults. Although it’s a five-seater, it’s only possible 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 compact cars, folding one seat is almost essential, but since the Aqua is slightly larger, you can keep it as a four-seater and still carry more luggage.

Driver’s Seat View

This is the view of the front seats inside the vehicle.
Japanese cars 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 right 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 from vehicle to vehicle, so it’s good to check it out 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 this vehicle 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 photo. This can vary 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. While it’s not an exceptionally high-quality camera, it’s sufficient for parking without any inconvenience. There are also guides, which are almost essential for those driving in Japan for the first time.
In fact, if you’ve driven a Hyundai Avante in Korea, parking should be quite easy for you.

This is what a black box looks like.
It’s a magical item that ensures you don’t face any unfair situations if you have an accident. In the Okinawa rental car industry, there are quite a few vehicles without a black box. So, consider this as one of the factors when making your decision.

Passenger Seat and Back Seat

The passenger seat isn’t particularly special or impressive. It’s a bit disappointing that the cup holder isn’t located at the front top, though.

When travelling in Okinawa, this drawer is perfect for storing food purchased from convenience stores or supermarkets. I’ll also upload a post recommending snacks that are great 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, you can fold down the entire back seat.

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 boot, 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 👋