it is all about how you use the vehicle. I would be hard pressed to fit 400 lbs of equipment, a bike, a dog and clothing for a three week trip into a compact. as for renting, renting a GMC pickup or a cargo van is $75 per day at enterprise. for three weeks that makes $1575. no thank you.I can't believe anybody is actually looking at an SUV/pickup these days... I drove a Cherokee for 5 years and you couldn't pay me to go back, and the gas was only $3 back then. hell, my "compact" now feels too big. I'd say get the smallest, most fun to drive car you can get, and rent something bigger if you need it on occasion.