Before my trip, I learned from Hertz staff in Hong Kong that the actual car models available for the type I booked would only be Ford Galaxy 7 Seats and Ford Tourneo 7 Seats (the rental car reviews also only listed these two default models). On July 29, when I picked up the car at Munich Airport, the counter staff, Hofmann M., informed me that the actual car available was a smaller Ford S-Max. I immediately objected, but he insisted that the Ford S-Max was in the same category (which later proved to be untrue). Because the Ford S-Max was too small, Hofmann M. suggested that I could rent a Mercedes Benz V-class 8 seats for an additional Euro 300 without the Cross Border Fee. To avoid travel delays, I reluctantly agreed. He then printed the Rental Record for me, and after reviewing it, I questioned the last three charges (Fuel option: Euro 73.24, Location service charge: Euro 69.00, and Tax: Euro 72.82). He assured me that if I returned the car with a full tank, these charges wouldn't apply, so I signed the new Rental Record. On August 14, after returning the car, I found out from the Hertz Statement of Charges that the Location service charge: Euro 69.00 and Tax: Euro 72.82 were still charged. First, if Hertz had provided me with the Ford Galaxy or Ford Tourneo as per the contract, I wouldn't have needed to pay extra for an upgrade, which is the root of the problem. Second, if Hertz couldn't provide the booked car model and needed to upgrade, the upgrade should have been free. Third, Hofmann M. stated that only an additional Euro 300 was required and assured me that the last three charges wouldn't apply, which led to my agreement and signature. His sales tactics were basically fraudulent.

Waited 45 minutes in line to pick up the car.

The staff were very nice.

I have rented cars in Germany twice. The first time I rented an Audi A4 estate, but since they didn't have it, they upgraded me to a Volvo XC60, which was okay. This time I booked a Mercedes E-class estate, and again, they didn't have it, so they upgraded me to a Volvo XC60. Initially, I was a bit upset, but I found the XC60's noise insulation to be much better than the E-class estate I rented in the UK, and it had more space. The interior quality is much lower, and the driving feel of the Mercedes is definitely a class above Volvo.

Quite convenient, not too crowded.