Seven seats on paper, five suitcases in the boot
This is the classic disappointment. A minivan advertised as a seven-seater — Dacia Lodgy, Dacia Jogger, Citroën Berlingo, Volkswagen Touran — has, once the third row is up, only a tiny remaining boot. In practice: either seven passengers with soft bags on their laps, or five passengers and real suitcases.
| Vehicle | Seats | Cases, third row up | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dacia Lodgy / Jogger | 7 | 1–2 | €55–75 |
| VW Touran / Citroën Berlingo | 7 | 2 | €70–95 |
| Renault Trafic / VW Transporter | 9 | 6–8 | €100–150 |
| Mercedes Sprinter | 12–16 | 12+ | €150–220 |
The simple rule: from six people with hold luggage, go straight to a nine-seat van. The price difference is more than offset by not hiring two cars.
Driving a large vehicle in Marrakech
Two difficulties, worth anticipating. Around the medina, the approach roads to the gates are narrow and clogged with two-wheelers and carts: a nine-seat van manoeuvres badly there, and parking near a bab is a matter of luck. On the Tichka road, the hairpins and overtaking lorries demand anticipatory driving, especially loaded.
On the motorway to Casablanca or Agadir and on the Essaouira road, by contrast, a van is entirely at ease and far more comfortable than a compact filled to the roof.
They are never supplied as standard: order them when booking, stating each child's age and weight. Stocks of boosters and baby seats are limited in high season, and picking them up on the day tends to be improvised.
Van with driver: do the full sum
For a group, self-drive is not always cheapest. Add up the van hire, the fuel — a nine-seater drinks seriously — tolls, parking and the deposit tied up. Against that, a private van with driver for the day, to Ourika or Agafay, sits in the same price range with none of those constraints.
The sensible split is often: a transfer for arrival and departure, at €27 per vehicle for up to seven passengers, and van hire only for the days you actually drive.
Book early, genuinely
Large vehicles are the first thing to run out in Marrakech, well before city cars. During European school holidays, at Christmas and in spring, nine-seaters go weeks in advance. If you travel as six or more between December and April, do not count on last-minute availability.