Well that depends on where you plan to wander. Downtown Mangalore, about 1 mile from Mangalore Airport (IXE-Mangalore Intl.), can be a bit tricky to drive in. Make it easy on yourself by picking something small, fuel-efficient, and a breeze to handle. Take into consideration that Mangalore is an excellent base to explore some of the sandy shores around Karnataka. If your trip is more about cruising down highways, you may want a ride with more trunk space and room to move around. What about a full-size car or a standard SUV?