Uber and Lyft are among those few companies in the world that created the potential for a side income for the common folk.
The ride-sharing business is not just about making easy money; it comes with responsibility for the safety of passengers.
Drivers should carefully choose their vehicle if they want good ratings and intend to stay with the business in the long run.
Important Factors
Choosing the perfect car as your Uber or Lyft ride requires checks on a list of factors such as:
- Fuel economy
- Comfort level
- Spacious interior
- Safety features
- Spacious Trunk
- Entertainment, Wi-fi access, USB ports are a bonus.
Opting for a newer model will save you costs on maintenance, service, and repairs.
Although high-end cars such as Audi can fill in as rideshare vehicles, we’ve opted for the more budget-friendly options without compromising on specs and safety.
Keeping all those factors in mind, we suggest the best cars for Uber and Lyft drivers.
The 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
The Corolla has been a family-favorite car for decades due to its fuel efficiency and comfort.
The new hybrid model tandems the power of a combustion engine with an electric motor.
You can easily switch between two power sources and help reduce air pollution alongside.
According to Toyota, the car gives a mileage of 1,111 km per one tank of gas and a regular charged battery.
This is a great number for long everyday driving.
The brand made a wise decision of installing the battery under the driver’s seat to save space in the trunk or cabin.
This means you won’t have to worry about big passenger luggage when transporting them from the airport or a train station.
Toyota’s models are known for being family-friendly and safe.
Although the safety features included in the hybrid are not the kind you find in more high-tech cars, it still has the needed basics.
The digital dash boasts of a touchscreen infotainment panel and access to Apple car play.
Heated front seats keep the driver warm in cold weather.
With automatic air-conditioning, passengers at the back can enjoy either a cool or warm ambiance.
The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid
Rideshare drivers focus on safety over speed which makes the Hyundai Ioniq a practical option over sporty cars.
Featuring an electric motor and four-speed combustion engine, it may not be as hardcore as its counterparts, but other specs make up for it.
Hyundai claims the Ioniq offers a mileage of over 1000 km per gas tank so you can ferry passengers around without worrying about frequent fuel stops.
This is the standard model with upgrade possibilities and has the most economical price.
Some extra investment will allow you to upscale the safety features and get blindspot sensors, rear cross-traffic warning, lane departure, collision warning, driver’s assistance, and more.
For entertainment, the Ioniq comes with a touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto support.
If you would also like to upgrade the standard interior, opt-in for models with leather interior and heated front seats.
The 2020 Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is one of the highest-ranking midsize luxury cars and has persistently kept the record.
Featuring a dynamic engine, smooth handling, a spacious cabin, and ample room for luggage, the Accord is an all-rounder road companion.
The turbocharged 1.5 liters four-cylinder engine with 192 horsepower leads to fuel economy of up to 30 mpg driving within the city and 38 mpg on the highway.
These numbers are outstanding for a classy ride.
The Accord adds to the driver’s joy as it floats on the road, convincing passengers of a relaxed experience.
Every Honda model comes equipped with the Honda Sensing technology featuring various driver-assistance tools.
One of the main highlights of the car is the roomy interior and legroom in both front and back seating areas.
It can easily accommodate five people, and with more than 40 inches of leg space in the back, passengers can indulge in a bit of a stretch.
It requires a little effort to cross baggage through the narrow trunk opening, but the inside is vast enough to hold a mix of suitcases.
The 2020 Subaru Impreza
The Subaru Impreza is not your standard Sedan. It is a combination of style, comfort, and fuel-efficiency and will please you as a driver.
Like all other Subaru models, the Impreza sports an all-wheel-drive (a rare feature in sedans), which makes an excellent choice for the driver as well as passengers in unfavorable weather.
Comfortable seating, ample legroom, and energy-saving traits make it a winner.
For a compact size car, the Impreza has over 36 inches of leg space for riders.
Combined with cozy seating, the overall ride offers a pleasant experience.
While the Impreza sports an average cargo space, the hatchback model provides ample room for luggage behind the rear seats, allowing enough space to fit in a couple of suitcases.
The Impreza model with CVT (continuously variable transmission) includes the Subaru Eyesight Suite security system with impressive features such as cruise control, collision warning, automatic emergency brake system, lane assistant, and lane departure warning.
The 2020 Honda Insight
Honda came with Insight with the good intention of serving its customers.
But the company has also created an all-in-one package for Uber and Lyft drivers.
The Honda Insight has got the looks, various safety features, roomy interior, generous luggage space, and best fuel economy figures. Need we ask for more?
The Honda Sensing technology is standard in every Insight model.
The vast safety suite consists of collision warning, cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and collision mitigation braking system.
This reliability has earned Insight the title of Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded the car with a five-star rating.
While the Insight offers a fulfilling leg space of over 37 inches, the rear headroom may not fully please tall riders, specifically in models including a moonroof.
Apart from this, the seats offer support and comfort. The trunk holds enough cargo space to load in big bags with ease.
To Conclude
Uber and Lyft are exciting side hustle opportunities, and with the ideal road companion by your side, you’ll start making passive income in no time.
Thinking from the customer’s perspective is the key to success.
A person or a group of people need to get somewhere, and the driver has to offer a relaxing experience.
A clean, well-maintained car with efficient driving skills will get you good ratings from happy passengers and a longtime tenure with the company.