Grey Volkswagen Tiguan Rental in Los Angeles

A dark platinum grey is exactly the right colour for this car. The Tiguan is drawn from flat panels and straight creases, and a mid-dark grey gives those enough shadow to read while keeping the whole thing looking tidy rather than plain — which is more than either white or black manages on this shape.

It is the least demanding car in the fleet over a long booking. Grey never looks dirty, never glares on a bright freeway, and never attracts a second glance in a car park — which is precisely what you want from the vehicle you are using to get to everything else. Book it for a working week or a family trip where the car is a tool.

The Tiguan is the car to book when the trip is about everything except the car. It is quiet at freeway speed, the boot is genuinely square so cases stack instead of wedging, and it is short enough to park in Venice without circling. The turbocharged four is unhurried and returns real economy on a long day, which matters when the week involves a lot of driving between Los Angeles and somewhere else.

What Volkswagen gets right here is the small stuff: the seats are supportive over three hours, the controls are where you expect them, and nothing about the car demands attention. It is the least interesting thing to write about in this fleet and one of the easiest to spend a week with.

Honest hook: it is transport, and good transport. If you want the drive to be part of the trip, almost anything else here is a better choice.