From Baku to Gabala in a Kia Picanto: an economical car for a trip to the mountains
From Baku to Gabala in a Kia Picanto: an economical car for a trip to the mountains
My name is Anton Sergeev, I am from Moscow, and my wife and I spent ten days in Azerbaijan. We planned to see not only Baku but also the mountain regions, so on the third day of the trip we arranged car rental in Baku and took a Kia Picanto from Karavan Rent A Car in Baku.
We were choosing between a larger car and a compact one. In the end we decided that for two people with two suitcases, the Picanto would be more than enough — and we were right. The luggage fitted into the boot, and everything else was a matter of comfort on the road.
The route from Baku to Gabala took us about four hours with stops. The road is good almost the whole way, and the car handled it calmly: it holds the highway confidently, the cabin is quiet enough for conversation, and the air conditioning coped even at midday.
Along the way we stopped in Shamakhi to see the Juma Mosque, and then turned towards Ismayilli. It is exactly on such spontaneous detours that your own car shows its value — no timetables, no waiting, you simply turn where you find it interesting.
In Gabala we stayed for three days. We drove to Tufandag, to the Seven Beauties waterfall and to Nohur Lake. Mountain roads in this region are mostly asphalted, and the Picanto managed them without any problems. On the climbs you need to work with the gears, but for a small engine the car pulls honestly.
Fuel spending for the whole trip turned out to be much lower than we had budgeted for. That is probably the main argument in favour of this class of car for travelling around Azerbaijan.
About the company itself I can only say good things. The car was handed over clean and fully fuelled, with a spare wheel and all the documents in place. The manager gave his phone number and said we could call at any time — fortunately we did not need to, but the feeling that you are not left alone on the road is worth a lot.
We returned the car in Baku two days before flying home and walked around the city on foot. The inspection took several minutes, no complaints from either side.
If you are planning car rental in Baku for a trip to the regions and you are travelling as a couple, the Kia Picanto is an excellent economical option. Gabala, Shamakhi, Ismayilli — all of it is completely accessible in this car.
