Woman Rents ‘Premium’ Car From Enterprise. Then She Sees What They Give Her: ‘Since When?’

“My 2014 Chevy Impala is more premium than this could ever be.”

Woman rents ‘Premium’ car from Enterprise. Then she sees what they give her

Photo by: courtneyglynn222 & O'Donoghue

Ljeonida Mulabazi

By: Ljeonida Mulabazi

Jan 19, at 10:00am ET

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Car rental “levels” are supposed to set expectations. When you book a certain category, you’re paying for a specific tier of comfort, features, and overall experience.

At Enterprise Rent-A-Car, for example, those tiers range from economy and compact all the way up to luxury, with “premium” sitting right below the top.

Typically, choosing a premium vehicle signals something a step above the standard midsize sedan.

So when one woman selected the premium option on Enterprise for a long trip, she expected exactly that. What she ended up with, however, left her questioning when the definition of “premium” changed.

What ‘Premium’ Vehicle Did Enterprise Allegedly Send?

TikTok creator Courtney (@cournteyglynn222) shared her experience in a recent video that sparked discussion.

“So my little crash out for today may be valid, may not be valid, but I rented a car from Enterprise, which I do a lot, and I selected premium, a premium car,” she says at the start of the clip.

She then turns the camera to show the vehicle she was given. “This is what they gave me,” she says, before naming it: a Hyundai Sonata.

“So since when is a Hyundai Sonata premium?” she asks. She then compares it to her own car, adding, “My 2014 Chevy Impala is more premium than this could ever be.”

As she opens the door and films the interior, Courtney points out what she feels is missing. “No leather, no heated seats, no heated steering wheel,” she says. “Nothing, nothing is premium about this.”

The situation felt even more frustrating because of how far she planned to drive. “I have to drive over 1,000 miles,” she explains. “So yes, I’m going to be picky about what I selected and what they gave me because I just don’t feel like it’s premium.”

According to Courtney, the explanation she received didn’t help. “They said, ‘Oh, it’s premium because it’s a hybrid,’” she says.

She adds that she called Enterprise and waited to see if they could find her something else, even if it meant paying more. “Why have a premium class when you don’t have premium cars to give?” she asks.

How Does Enterprise Describe The “Premium” Category?

On Enterprise’s website, a premium car rental is described as offering “additional passenger room, trunk space, and features than other sedans.”

One of the example models listed is the Nissan Maxima, which auto reviewers describe as having a more luxurious interior and stronger performance compared to typical midsize sedans.

By contrast, the Hyundai Sonata is generally viewed as an affordable, reliable family sedan. While newer trims may include upgraded features, the model itself is not usually positioned as a premium vehicle in the same way a Maxima or similar sedan is.

Motor1 reached out to Enterprise to ask whether the specific Sonata trim Courtney received qualifies as premium under the company’s internal classifications and to request comment on how premium vehicles are assigned when availability is limited. We’ll update this if the company responds.

Commenters Share Alleged Insider Insight

In the comments, several viewers claiming to be former Enterprise employees offered their own explanations.

“Hi former employee here, premium cars don’t exist anymore, Enterprise literally doesn’t carry them,” one person wrote. “To get a ‘premium’ car you have to book luxury now.”

Another commenter echoed that sentiment, saying, “Former employee here. Since 2021 we haven’t really had premiums since they don’t make them anymore.” They added that calling a hybrid premium “doesn’t qualify it as a premium.”

They explained that when they handled premium reservations, they tried to prioritize leather seats, a sunroof, and stronger engine options. They listed vehicles like a Volkswagen Passat SEL, Ford Fusion Titanium, and Mazda 6 Grand Touring Reserve as examples they felt could justify the category. “Had they given you a Sonata N-Line… I would’ve been able to justify it,” the commenter added. “But not a Sonata Hybrid SEL.”

Others were less sympathetic, with one person writing simply, “1st mistake: renting from ERAC.”

Enterprise also responded publicly in the comments. “Hello. We’d like to help. Please send us a private message and include your rental details (branch and RA#), so we can assist,” the company wrote, signing off with the name Chris M.

Enterprise Steps In With An Update

In a follow-up video, Courtney shared that Enterprise ultimately replaced the vehicle. This time, she filmed a Genesis GV70, a compact luxury SUV.

What do you think?

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That clearly falls into a higher tier than the sedan she originally received. In the clip, she appears satisfied with the swap, though she stated she had to pay extra.

Motor1 has reached out to Courtney via email for additional details about the replacement and her overall experience.

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