Vehicle Selection Guide
Which Vehicle Do You Actually Need?
Passengers, luggage, skis and car seats — matched to the right vehicle class, with the real capacity limits rather than the marketing ones.
Count passengers first, then luggage. Arion sedans carry up to 3 passengers at $100 per hour, executive SUVs 5 at $125, luxury SUVs 6 at $150, the Luxury Coach 14 at $250, the Executive Van 12 at $325 and the Jet Van 9 at $375. Full-size luggage or ski equipment reduces usable seats by roughly one to two per vehicle.
How many passengers fit in each vehicle?
Sedans — up to 3 passengers
A luxury sedan (Audi, BMW, Lincoln, Mercedes and similar) seats three passengers at $100 per hour with a two-hour minimum. In practice, three adults with full-size suitcases will not fit; two passengers with two large bags is the comfortable limit. For an airport run with three people and luggage, book an SUV.
Executive SUV — up to 5 passengers
The executive SUV seats five at $125 per hour with a two-hour minimum. Five passengers with carry-ons is fine; five passengers with five checked bags is not. Six passengers do not fit in an executive SUV under any configuration — that requires the luxury SUV.
Luxury SUV — up to 6 passengers
Escalade, Navigator L and Yukon Denali class, seating six at $150 per hour with captain's chairs and a two-hour minimum. This is the workhorse for airport transfers of four to six people and for mountain trips with gear.
Vans and coaches — 9 to 14 passengers
The Jet Van seats 9 at $375 per hour, the Executive Van 12 at $325, and the Luxury Coach 14 at $250. Executive Vans and Jet Vans carry a four-hour minimum; the Luxury Coach is two hours. See the full fleet and capacities.
Buses — 20 to 50 passengers
Motorcoaches run 20 passengers at $275 per hour, 30 at $325, 40 at $375 and 50 at $425, all with a four-hour minimum. For groups above 50 we run multiple vehicles on a coordinated manifest.
How much luggage actually fits?
The honest arithmetic
Vehicle capacity is quoted at maximum seating, not maximum seating plus everyone's bags. As a working rule, subtract one seat for every two large checked bags beyond the first two. A luxury SUV seating six comfortably carries six passengers with carry-ons, or four passengers with four large checked bags.
Airport arrivals
Tell us your bag count when you book, not when we arrive. A family of five arriving from a two-week trip needs a different vehicle than a family of five on a weekend. Bag count is a required field for a reason — it is the single most common cause of a vehicle being wrong on arrival.
Golf clubs, strollers, instruments
Golf travel bags and cellos take roughly the space of a large suitcase each. Strollers and pack-and-plays are usually fine in an SUV. Oversized items — bicycles, large art, event equipment — should be described to dispatch before booking so we can size the vehicle honestly.
When in doubt, go one class up
The cost difference between an executive SUV and a luxury SUV is $25 an hour. The cost of the wrong vehicle at a curb at DEN with a flight to catch is a ruined trip. We will tell you when you are ordering more vehicle than you need.
What vehicle do I need for skis and snowboards?
Skis and boards need a class above the passenger count
Ski and snowboard bags are long and rigid. Two passengers with two ski bags and two boot bags are comfortable in an executive SUV; four passengers with four sets of equipment need a luxury SUV or a van. Six passengers with six sets of gear is a van trip, not an SUV trip.
Roof boxes and interior carriage
We carry equipment inside the vehicle rather than on exterior racks in winter, which is why gear consumes seats. It also means your equipment stays dry, secure and out of the weather over Vail Pass.
Rental gear changes the math
If you are renting skis at the resort you only need boot bags, which frees a seat or two. Groups often over-book vehicle size for a trip where they are renting on arrival — tell us and we will size down.
Route matters too
Winter mountain routes require traction-law-compliant vehicles regardless of group size. See the Colorado traction law guide and ski resort transportation.
Do you provide child seats?
Yes, by request at booking
Child and infant seats are provided on request and must be reserved with the booking so the correct seat travels with the correct vehicle. Colorado law requires children under 1 year and under 20 pounds in a rear-facing seat, children 1–3 in a car seat, and children 4–7 in a car or booster seat.
Which vehicle for a family
A family of four with two car seats fits an executive SUV; a car seat occupies a full seat and reduces usable capacity. Families of five or more with multiple car seats are usually better served by a luxury SUV or a van.
Installation
Our chauffeurs install and check the seat before departure rather than handing you a box at the curb. If you prefer to install your own seat, that is fine — tell dispatch so we allow time.
Unaccompanied minors and students
We handle student and family travel to and from DEN and Colorado campuses on a named-chauffeur basis. See student and family transportation.
How does the hourly minimum affect which vehicle to book?
Minimums differ by class
Sedans, executive SUVs, luxury SUVs and the Luxury Coach carry a two-hour minimum. The Executive Van, Jet Van, stretch limousine and all motorcoaches carry a four-hour minimum. For a short one-way transfer, that difference matters more than the hourly rate.
The cheaper hourly rate is not always the cheaper trip
The Luxury Coach at $250 per hour with a two-hour minimum is $500 for a short group transfer. The Executive Van at $325 with a four-hour minimum is $1,300 for the same trip. For a two-hour airport run with twelve people, the Luxury Coach is the right call.
Long days favor larger vehicles
On a full-day itinerary the minimum stops mattering and capacity, comfort and luggage room dominate. For a ten-hour wedding or convention day, book the vehicle that fits the group without compromise.
Multiple vehicles vs one larger one
Two luxury SUVs ($300 per hour combined) carry twelve passengers with real luggage room and two chauffeurs. One Executive Van ($325) carries the same twelve with one chauffeur and a four-hour minimum. For airport arrivals across different flights, two SUVs is usually better. Full rates on the pricing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many passengers fit in an executive SUV?
An Arion executive SUV seats up to 5 passengers at $125 per hour with a two-hour minimum. Six passengers require the luxury SUV, which seats 6 at $150 per hour. Full-size checked luggage reduces usable seating by roughly one seat per two large bags.
How many passengers does a luxury SUV hold?
Arion's luxury SUVs — Escalade, Navigator L and Yukon Denali class — seat up to 6 passengers with captain's chairs at $150 per hour, two-hour minimum. With six large checked bags, plan on four passengers instead.
How much luggage fits in a luxury SUV?
A luxury SUV comfortably carries six passengers with carry-on bags, or about four passengers with four large checked suitcases. As a rule, subtract one seat for every two large checked bags beyond the first two.
What vehicle do I need for 5 passengers and luggage?
Five passengers with carry-ons fit an executive SUV ($125/hour). Five passengers with five checked bags should book a luxury SUV ($150/hour) for the extra cargo room. Tell dispatch your bag count at booking so the right vehicle is assigned.
Which vehicle should I book for a ski trip?
Skis and snowboards are carried inside the vehicle, so gear consumes seats. Two to three passengers with equipment fit an executive SUV; four to six with full equipment need a luxury SUV or a van. If you are renting gear at the resort, you can size down.
What is the largest vehicle Arion offers?
A 50-passenger coach bus at $425 per hour with a four-hour minimum. Between the SUVs and the buses we run the Luxury Coach (14 passengers, $250), Executive Van (12, $325), Jet Van (9, $375) and 20-, 30- and 40-passenger coaches.
Do you provide car seats for children?
Yes, on request — reserve them with your booking so the seat travels with the assigned vehicle. Our chauffeurs install and check the seat before departure. Note that each car seat occupies a full passenger seat.
Is it cheaper to book one large vehicle or two SUVs?
It depends on trip length and minimums. Two luxury SUVs cost $300 per hour combined with a two-hour minimum; one Executive Van is $325 per hour with a four-hour minimum. For short transfers, two SUVs is often less expensive and offers more luggage room.
What if my group is larger than 50 people?
We run multiple vehicles on a single coordinated manifest with one dispatcher managing the timeline. See our group and event transportation planning guide for how larger arrivals and departures are staged.
Tell us the group. We'll tell you the vehicle.
Because You Matter — and so does arriving with everyone and everything.
Last reviewed: July 31, 2026 by Arion dispatch. Rates, policies and Colorado Department of Transportation rules are subject to change; call (970) 703-4995 for current details.