Which Minivan to Rent in Baku: the Hyundai Staria, Kia Carnival, Mercedes-Benz V-Class, Sprinter and More, With or Without a Driver, from Karavan Rent A Car in Baku
Key points. Karavan Rent A Car in Baku has seven minivan models — the Hyundai Staria, Kia Carnival, Hyundai Custin, Hyundai H-1 and Mercedes-Benz V-Class, Vito and Viano — plus a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibus with up to 20 seats for large groups. The Staria comes with 7, 8 or 9 seats, the H-1, Vito and Viano seat eight, the Carnival takes up to eight, the Custin seven and the V-Class six or seven. Any of them can be rented with or without a driver; the Sprinter comes with a driver only. For a delegation, take the V-Class with captain’s chairs; for a family on a long trip, the Staria or Carnival; for eight people with luggage, the H-1 or Vito.
The badge matters less than three numbers: how many of you there are, how many suitcases you’re bringing and how far you’re driving. Below are all our minivans and the Sprinter with their specs, plus pointers on which one fits your trip.
All our minivans in one table
| Minivan | Seats | Suitcases | Engine | Length | Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Staria | 7, 8 or 9 | up to 8 | 2.2 diesel | 5.253 m | 3.273 m |
| Kia Carnival | up to 8 | up to 4 | 2.2 diesel | 5.155 m | 3.09 m |
| Hyundai Custin | 7 | up to 4 | 1.5 petrol | 4.95 m | 3.055 m |
| Hyundai H-1 | 8 | up to 8 | 2.5 diesel | 5.15 m | 3.2 m |
| Mercedes-Benz V-Class | 6 or 7 | up to 8 | 2.2 diesel | 5.14 m | 3.2 m |
| Mercedes-Benz Vito | 8 | up to 8 | 2.2 diesel | 5.14 m | 3.2 m |
| Mercedes-Benz Viano | 8 | up to 8 | 2.2 diesel | 5.14 m | 3.2 m |
All seven minivans are automatics.
The wheelbase tells you how much room there is between the axles for the second and third rows. The Staria has the longest, the Custin the shortest.
Hyundai Staria — a family minivan with panoramic windows
At 5.253 m long, 1.997 m wide and 1.99 m tall, the Staria is the longest minivan in our fleet. Hyundai unveiled it on 13 April 2021, and it took over from the H-1 that same year. According to the maker, the cabin was designed “inside-out”, taking the lounge of a cruise ship as its model. Hyundai says the low beltline and panoramic side windows improve visibility from the cabin.
We have the Staria in 7-, 8- and 9-seat versions, with a 2.2 diesel and an automatic gearbox. Inside you get climate control, leather, cruise control, a reversing camera, parking sensors, a screen and Bluetooth. For a closer look at a family trip in this car, see our article on the Hyundai Staria for a family holiday. Book the Hyundai Staria.
Kia Carnival — a minivan with a lower profile
Kia put the fourth-generation Carnival on sale in 2020. Compared with its predecessor, the body grew by 40 mm to 5.155 m, and the wheelbase is 3.09 m. It also sits noticeably lower than the Staria and H-1: 1.74 m tall against almost two metres.
Our Carnival has the 2.2 diesel, which Kia rates at 440 Nm and pairs with an eight-speed automatic. It takes up to eight people, has sliding side doors and comes fully equipped. Book the Kia Carnival.
Hyundai Custin — a compact seven-seater
At 4.95 m, the Custin is shorter than any other minivan we have. You notice the difference when parking outside a hotel in central Baku or turning in a tight courtyard. Even so, its wheelbase is 3.055 m, and it seats seven in three rows.
The Custin is our only petrol minivan, with a 1.5 engine and an automatic gearbox. It has sliding side doors, climate control, leather, cruise control, a camera, a screen and Bluetooth. Book the Hyundai Custin.
Hyundai H-1 — eight seats and the biggest engine
The H-1 has the largest engine of all our minivans, a 2.5 diesel with an automatic gearbox. It seats eight, and you climb in through wide sliding doors. For a group of eight with their bags, it is one of the most practical choices: Hyundai quotes 851 litres of boot space even with every seat taken.
Our H-1s are not equipped the same way. The newer one has climate control, cruise control, leather, a camera and Bluetooth; the simpler one has air conditioning and parking sensors. Book the Hyundai H-1.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class — the minivan for delegations
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the V-Class in Munich on 31 January 2014, presenting it as a saloon for up to eight people. We have two versions. The VIP version seats six, with two separate captain’s chairs in the second row. The other version seats seven.
Both are 5.14 m long, with a 2.2 diesel, an automatic gearbox and the full set of features: climate control, leather, cruise control, a camera, a screen and Bluetooth. People hire them to meet delegations at the airport, to carry wedding guests or for transfers. Book the VIP V-Class · the seven-seat version.
Mercedes-Benz Vito — eight seats in the V-Class body
The Vito and the V-Class belong to the same generation, which Daimler launched in 2014. Our Vito has the same dimensions: 5.14 m long, with 3.2 m between the axles. The difference is the layout: instead of captain’s chairs it has three rows of seats, eight in total. It runs on a 2.2 diesel with an automatic gearbox and is just as well equipped as the V-Class.
The Vito works well when a large group has to travel in one vehicle without giving up comfort: a tour group, colleagues heading to an off-site event, or wedding guests. Book the Mercedes-Benz Vito.
Mercedes-Benz Viano — a simple, roomy minivan
The Viano is the V-Class’s predecessor: Mercedes-Benz unveiled it in 2003, updated it in 2010 and replaced it with the V-Class in 2014. Ours seats eight and has a 2.2 diesel and an automatic gearbox. The seats are leather, and it has parking sensors, cruise control and air conditioning. There is no climate control, camera, screen or Bluetooth.
The Viano makes sense when the priority is getting eight people into one car and you can do without the multimedia. Book the Mercedes-Benz Viano.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter — a minibus for up to 20, with a driver
When a group won’t fit even into an eight-seat minivan, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter takes up to 20 people. It is rented with a driver only, so nobody in your group has to drive a large minibus. It suits an airport transfer for a big group, a corporate outing or a sightseeing tour of Azerbaijan. Ask the manager on WhatsApp whether it is free on your dates.
Which minivan suits your trip
- Meeting a delegation, VIP guests, a wedding: the V-Class with captain’s chairs.
- A family of five to seven, a week in the regions: the Staria or the Carnival, both fully equipped with three rows of seats.
- Eight people with suitcases from the airport: the H-1, the Vito or the nine-seat Staria.
- A group too big for nine seats: the Sprinter with a driver.
- Lots of driving in central Baku: the Custin.
- A large group on a short route: the Viano or the H-1.
If there are fewer of you than seats, the spare places in the third row can take your bags. Tell the manager the number of passengers and suitcases straight away, and they will pick a vehicle with room for everyone. All our minivans are listed in the minivan section of our website.
With or without a driver
Every vehicle in this article can be rented in two ways: you drive it yourself, or you book it with a driver. Self-drive gives you complete freedom over the route. A driver makes more sense when nobody in the group wants to handle a big minivan on unfamiliar roads, or when guests need to be met and taken straight to their appointments. The age, licence and document requirements below apply to self-drive rental.
How we prepare our minivans
Every minivan in the fleet follows the same schedule: a scheduled service every 5,000 km, with an oil change, all the filters replaced and the key components checked, and new tyres every 50,000 km. If something goes wrong on the road, call at any hour: roadside assistance and a tow truck work nights and weekends too. If the minivan breaks down and it isn’t your fault, we bring you a replacement car.
The catalogue photos show the model, not the exact vehicle. The manager will tell you the colour and trim of your minivan when you book.
Why groups and companies trust us
The company has been operating since 5 October 2008. Its clients include SOCAR and its contractors, SLB, Halliburton and McDermott. In 2012 it was also involved in transport services for Eurovision in Baku.
Securing a minivan for your dates takes three steps: photos of your passport and licence on WhatsApp, a 20% prepayment, and the booking voucher you get back. The balance is paid when you collect the car.
Minivan rental prices in Baku
There’s no single minivan rate. The total depends on the model, the season, fleet availability and the length of the rental, and the longer you keep the car, the less each day costs. The booking form on our website works out the exact amount for your dates, and a manager on WhatsApp can send you the same figure. Rentals of three months or more come with separate terms. Delivery isn’t included in the rental price: it depends on the address and the time of day, and you’ll know the cost before any prepayment.
Delivery and rental terms
You don’t need to go to an office to pick up a minivan. It can be waiting for your arrival at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, outside your hotel or at any address, day or night. A delivery service manager brings the keys with a contract already made out in your name, so all that’s left is to look the car over together and sign. You can hand the minivan back at the same spot, at your hotel or elsewhere, by arranging it with the manager in advance. Our guide to car rental at Baku Airport walks through the terminal handover step by step.
| Term | How it works |
|---|---|
| Who can drive | aged 21–65, with a licence held for at least a year; a second driver is added free, which helps when you take turns on a long trip |
| Documents | passport and driving licence |
| Deposit | can be skipped: take full “All Risks Zero” cover or add the “No Deposit” service to basic insurance |
| Minimum rental | one day; three days for routes to remote districts |
| Mileage | unlimited within Azerbaijan; the cars don’t leave the country |
| Payment | cash, bank transfer or a debit card — a credit card isn’t required |
The full list of requirements is in our piece on car rental terms in Baku.
Minivan questions
Do I need a special licence to drive a minivan?
No. A category B licence covers vehicles with no more than eight seats besides the driver’s. All our minivans fall within that limit, so an ordinary licence is enough.
Can I take a minivan into the mountains?
Yes, as long as the route is paved, such as the roads to Guba, Gabala or Shahdag. There are no all-wheel-drive minivans in the fleet, so an SUV is better for dirt roads. There is also one firm rule: the company doesn’t let any of its cars go to Khinalug, as the road there runs along the edge of steep slopes.
How many suitcases will fit if there are eight of us?
If there are eight of you, take one of the large minivans — the H-1, Vito, Viano or the nine-seat Staria — which hold up to eight suitcases. The Carnival and Custin have smaller boots, with room for up to four. If you have more luggage than that, mention it in advance and the manager will pick a suitable vehicle.
Can I collect a minivan at the airport at night?
Yes, even if your plane lands at three in the morning: the minivan will be waiting at the terminal.
Can I drive a minivan to Karabakh?
Yes, the company permits such trips. You’ll need a separate entry permit for the region, issued through the yolumuzqarabaga.az portal.
The bottom line
To choose a minivan, just tell the manager how many of you there are, how much luggage you have and where you’re going. We’ll take care of the rest: picking the vehicle, with a driver if you need one, preparing the contract and bringing it at the time you need. The company also plans to add a new Hyundai Staria to its fleet.
Book a minivan on WhatsApp · WhatsApp and Telegram: +994-55-455-22-45
