How Do I Drive This Car? Rental Vehicles Are More Confusing Than Ever

It was just before dawn when I pulled the rented Toyota RAV4 into the gas station. What should have been a quick fill-up turned into an automotive adventure. I searched and searched but couldn’t find the release for the fuel flap. I finally resorted to watching a YouTube video on my phone to solve my dilemma. (The release was a small switch low on the front panel of the vehicle, easily overlooked.)

This exposes an issue with new cars: They’re more confusing than ever. Gone are the days when manufacturers had mostly standardized systems. Because of computerization in many cars, the gearshift levers have been replaced by push buttons and round hockey puck–looking dials. Want to get a new Chevrolet Tahoe rolling? There are several switches on the dash. You’ll push down for park and neutral but pull up for drive and reverse. What? In a recent adventure in a Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid, I couldn’t easily park. The round device had three letters next to it: D, R and N. But where was P? Turns out that control was in the center of the puck.

All of this is fine when you own a car and drive it every day, but in the rental market, it can be infuriating. I’m a longtime automotive journalist and TV commentator, and often I can’t figure out how to drive the thing.

Then there’s the touch screen, another development that has made operating an unfamiliar car even more frustrating. You may find that adjusting the temperature, or even changing the radio station, requires finding the right on-screen menu, as physical knobs, switches and dials are gradually phased out. Car companies often use different touch screen software and interfaces, so you may need to toss out everything you know about using the climate control in one vehicle when switching to a different manufacturer or even a newer model of the same car.

Of course, all you have to do is read the owner’s manual and you should find the answer. But that can require looking through hundreds of pages. A Ford F-150 manual has nearly 200,000 words, which would take an average reader about half a day to finish!

Before you panic, there is help. Rental car companies can assist. I had a problem pairing my phone with a car’s infotainment system, and a representative provided instant aid with a smile. Be aware that such help may depend on how many people are working and how busy the place is. Another option is to request a car that’s the same model, or at least make, as the one you have at home. There is at least a chance that its functions are similar. No guarantees that you’ll get that type of car, though.

When all else fails, there are people who have shared your frustration and can come to the rescue. Just open your phone’s web browser and search YouTube. With millions of results, no doubt you’ll find the answer quickly.