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 Luxury Sedans carry up to 3 passengers at $150 per hour, executive SUVs 5 at $125, luxury SUVs 6 at $150 (5 from November 1 through April 30), the Luxury Coach Van 12 at $250, and the Executive/Jet Van 9 at $325. Full-size luggage or ski equipment reduces usable seats by roughly one to two per vehicle.
How many passengers fit in each vehicle?
Luxury Sedans — up to 3 passengers
A luxury sedan — our all-electric 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450, plus Audi A8L, BMW 7 Series, Mercedes S-Class and similar luxury-class sedans — seats three passengers at $150 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, 5 in winter
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 12 passengers
The Executive/Jet Van seats 9 at $325 per hour and the Luxury Coach Van seats 12 at $250. The Executive/Jet Van carries a four-hour minimum; the Luxury Coach Van is three hours. See the full fleet and capacities.
Buses — 20 to 57 passengers
Motorcoaches run from 20 up to 57 passengers with a four-hour minimum, and are quoted per trip — quoting also confirms availability, which goes fast for major events. For groups above 57 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
Gear rides on top by default, on open roof racks or in a covered box. It comes inside when there is room for it or when you ask us to keep it inside — and that is when gear starts consuming seats, which is why we ask for a gear count at booking.
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
Luxury Sedans, executive SUVs and luxury SUVs carry a two-hour minimum. The Luxury Coach Van carries a three-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 Van at $250 per hour with a three-hour minimum is $1,000 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 Van 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 Luxury Coach Van ($250) carries the same twelve with one chauffeur and a three-hour minimum; the Executive Van seats nine. 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 (5 from November 1 through April 30, when winter gear needs the sixth seat). 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 (5 from November 1 through April 30, when winter gear needs the sixth seat). With six large checked bags, plan on four passengers instead.
How much luggage fits?
An Executive SUV holds 8 standard bags or 4 ski sets, and a Luxury SUV holds 5 bags because the captain's chairs take up cargo room. Our vans hold 14 bags or 6 ski sets, and a Luxury Sedan holds 3 bags. If you are travelling with skis, boards, golf clubs or oversized gear, tell us at booking and we will size the vehicle to the pile, not the headcount.
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 57-passenger charter coach, quoted per trip with a four-hour minimum. Between the SUVs and the buses we run the Luxury Coach Van (12 passengers, $250), Executive/Jet Van (9, $325) 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: September 13, 2026 by Arion dispatch. Rates, policies and Colorado Department of Transportation rules are subject to change; call (970) 703-4995 for current details.
*Base rates shown. Additional fees: 9.3% sales tax, 4% credit-card processing and, where applicable, a 12% fuel surcharge (waived on all-electric Luxury Sedan trips). Gratuity is never automatically added or assumed. Your complete price is shown before you confirm.