Benalmádena is the shortest drive from Málaga Airport of any town on this coast, which makes it well suited to short breaks where every hour matters. This page lists suppliers with genuinely fast turnaround from terminal to car.
The town splits into three distinct areas — the seafront and Puerto Marina, the modern Arroyo de la Miel district, and the hillside Pueblo — and a compact car is the practical choice for the tighter streets around the Pueblo specifically, noted on the relevant offers.