The Best Cars for Uber

The best cars for Uber really are the best cars to be in. However, it’s not that simple.

OnlineLoans.com.au take a look at options available to find out the best cars for Uber.

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• As a rideshare driver, you get to set your own working hours and earn a decent income
• Generally, Uber cars need to be in good condition and less than 10 years old
• The best cars for Uber Eats can be older and include motorcycles & scooters
• The best cars for Uber:
  Toyota Camry Hybrid
  Mitsubishi Outlander
  Hyundai i30
  Mazda CX-3
  Honda Civic
  Honda Odyssey
  Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
  Kia Sportage
• Offer phone chargers to passengers for [possible] higher ratings (plus more top tips)

Firstly, what are the benefits of being an Uber driver?

You get to set your own schedule
Something that many rideshare drivers like is the fact you get to work when you want. Some prefer working after hours or around other commitments like other jobs and kids. Drivers can also opt for busy times to maximise earning potential.

Uber helps you earn
‘Dynamic pricing’ is when several users request a trip in the same area at the same time. It means more money for drivers in high-demand areas at high-demand times and can encourage more drivers to help more people.

You can opt to get paid anytime
With Flex Pay, drivers can request to be paid at any time. This means no waiting until the next pay cycle.

Earn a good income
Uber drivers earn on average around $33 per hour. This can increase to as much as over $40 per hour in some larger cities. Amounts vary on expenses and driving times/locations.

Requirements for Uber vehicles

The best cars for Uber need to meet standards set by the company. Requirements vary per location (typically state) and type of Uber ride (e.g. Uber Comfort, Uber X, Uber Premier) Below are some of them;

• 5-star ANCAP rating
• No cosmetic damage (e.g. hail damage or scratches)
• Be a 4-door car or passenger van (no 2-door vehicles)
• Be in excellent working condition
• Have no other commercial branding on it

Vehicle Age

• UberX, the standard ride:  Max 8 years old
• UberXL, vehicles for multiple passengers: Max 8 years old
• Uber Assist, for riders needing extra help: Max 8 years old
• Uber Comfort, top-rated drivers: Max 7 years old
• Uber Premier, luxury vehicles: Max 6 years old

What about Uber Eats?

The  Best Cars for Uber Eats don’t have to be cars. Motorcycles and scooters are acceptable too.

Motorcycles and scooters

• Manufactured in 1990 or later
• In good, working condition

Cars

• Manufactured in 1990 or later
• In good, working condition

The Best Cars for Uber

The best cars for Uber need to tick a few boxes;

• Excellent fuel efficiency
• Cheap to insure
• High resale value
• Cheap servicing
• Spacious interior
• Durable/easy to clean interior
• Reliable

Below are some vehicles that tick those boxes (based on 2021 models)

Toyota Camry Hybrid

Fuel Consumption: 4.2 litres/100km combined
Service Intervals: 9 Months or 15,000 Kms
Boot Space: 524 litres
Passenger Space: 5 people
Interior: Quiet and ‘close to’ luxury. Leather options are simple to clean.

Mitsubishi Outlander

Fuel Consumption: 6.2 litres/100km combined / 1.9 litres/100km for PHEV
Service Intervals: 12 Months or 15,000 Kms
Boot Space: 477 litres (5 seat config)
Passenger Space: 5-7 people. 3rd row not designed for adults.
Interior: Stylish interior compared to previous models. Cloth options can be hard to clean. 

Hyundai i30

Fuel Consumption: 7 litres/100km combined
Service Intervals: 12 Months or 15,000 Kms (depending on trim level)
Boot Space: 474 litres (sedan) / 395 litres (hatchback)
Passenger Space: 5 seats, ideal for 4 adults (3 adults on rear bench can be a squeeze).
Interior: Some obvious hard plastics, easy to clean.

Mazda CX-3

(source: carindigo.com)

Fuel Consumption: 6.3 to 6.7 litres/100km combined
Service Intervals: 12 Months or 10,000 Kms
Boot Space: 264 litres
Passenger Space: 5 seats, ideal for 4 adults (3 adults on rear bench can be a squeeze).
Interior: Comfortable and quiet but cloth options difficult to clean. 

Honda Civic

(source: autoblog.com)

Fuel Consumption: 6 litres/100km combined
Service Intervals: 12 Months or 10,000 Kms
Boot Space: 519 litres (sedan) / 414 litres (hatchback)
Passenger Space: 5 seats, ideal for 4 adults (3 adults on rear bench can be a slight squeeze). However, it’s noticeably large for this segment.
Interior: Premium feel.

Honda Odyssey

Fuel Consumption: 8 litres/100km combined (can rise when passenger-laden)
Service Intervals: 6 months or 10,000 km
Boot Space: 322 litres in 7-seat config / 1,725 litres in 5-seat config
Passenger Space: 7 or 8 depending on config. Second row can be a 3-person bench or 2 captain’s chairs. The 3rd row is okay for 2 adults or 3 children.
Interior: Hi-tech and comfortable with a premium feel, one of the best people movers around.  

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Fuel Consumption: 4.8 litres/100km combined
Service Intervals: 6 months or 8,000 km
Boot Space: 580 litres
Passenger Space: 5 people
Interior: High quality and comfortable feel. Cloth options difficult to clean. 

Kia Sportage

Fuel Consumption: 7.8 litres/100km combined
Service Intervals: 12 months or 15,000 km
Boot Space: 466 litres
Passenger Space: 5 people
Interior: Comfortable feel, stylish. Cloth/light grey options difficult to clean. 

The bottom line

Chances are an Uber car will have a decent amount of urban stop-go driving and possibly be tasked with ferrying some messy passengers – think muddy shoes for example.

Ideally, as an Uber driver, you’ll take some cleaning products/material with you to make sure you can clean up any spills quickly and before the next passenger gets in.

Remember that passengers give ratings after each trip and vehicle cleanliness is a big part of their judging.

Uber tips

• To save fuel, avoid driving around too much between trips. Instead, wait at a nearby busy place like a shopping centre.
• Try to position yourself near popular venues at popular times if possible.
• Take a break as per Uber’s recommendations and judging by how you feel.
• Offer phone chargers to passengers for [possible] higher ratings.
• Observe a passenger’s body language and demeanor to determine if they want to engage in small talk.
• If you have a long-distance trip, don’t take the highways back. You might be able to get a few rides by sticking to regular roads to help pay for the drive home / back to your area.

Get into an Uber vehicle

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