Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a change of vehicle, it can be hard to figure out what are the best cars for Uber drivers in the UK.
In Great Britain, Uber offers five classes of service to its customers. These range from its most popular flagship UberX, all the way up to Uber Lux and Uber XL.
Most rideshare drivers opt for UberX as the area where they’ll operate, and Uber has rules on the vehicles it will accept for this service in the UK. You can see the full details here, but the guidelines are simple:
1. The vehicle must be no older than 2008 in London and 2006 elsewhere.
2. It must have four doors or be a minivan.
3. It must be in good condition with no cosmetic damage.
4. It must have no commercial branding.
5. It must be licensed to carry a minimum of 4 passengers.
In London there are some other rules set by TFL but otherwise, given the range of vehicles that Uber will accept for UberX, you’ve got a great range to choose from. With London moving towards hybrid and electric vehicles, with the rest of the UK following suit, we’ve got some great planet-friendly options.
We’ve looked at all the new cars available in the UK and narrowed them down to the top ten best cars for Uber drivers today. So enter your destination, and let’s strap in.
Top 10 Cars For UberX in the UK
What do you need in a car for UberX? This is Uber’s economy option, offering standard rates per ride. You won’t want a Mercedes S Class here, we’re talking safe and enjoyable, not luxury. Keep that for Uber Lux. Here are our top picks:
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1. Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid
The hybrid that finally knocked the Prius off its top spot. Available as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or all-electric, the Ioniq offers great comfort and better-than Prius styling. Yes, the rear seats will take three, but whoever sits in the middle will not be comfortable, and yes, the cargo space is shallow despite the car’s width, but the hybrid’s petrol and electric motors scoot this car forwards like no other. Expect mpg of around 60 per petrol gallon equivalent when using both power sources. On batteries only, that will leap to 90mpg, but the range is just 28 miles. This one is really taking the front seat, while the rest are passengers.
Cost: From £24,000
Mileage: 50-60 MPG Combined
Engine: 1.6L Petrol Electric
Gearbox: 6 Speed Auto
Seats: 5
Cargo Capacity: Average
Comfort: Good
Speed: Faster than a Prius, but no Mustang
Styling: Slick, but nothing extraordinary
Warranty: 5 years unlimited mileage
Best Option: 1.6L GDi Hybrid Premium 5 Door DCT
2. Toyota Prius Hybrid
Even in its latest form, the Prius is still a bit of an ugly duckling, but for UberX it’s a great choice. Ideal for urban driving, its first class petrol/electric power mix gives amazing mpg. Combine that with sprightly performance, decent turning circle, roomy interior and a flat floor and you have a car that’s an obvious choice for Uber drivers. However, be prepared for the fact that the rear view is hampered by the split screen and the boot is not as big as you’d hope. The Business Edition at around £28,000 may cost more than some of its petrol or diesel rivals, but the Prius holds its value well and benefits from Toyota’s excellent maintenance support.
Cost: From £25,000
Mileage: 50-65 MPG Combined
Engine: 1.8L Petrol Electric
Gearbox: CVT Automatic
Seats: 5
Cargo Capacity: Average
Comfort: Good
Speed: Average, fine for the city
Styling: Not a favourite
Warranty: 3/5 years
Best Option: 1.8 VVT-i Business Edition AT
3. Skoda Octavia
With a lower price, bigger space inside and in the boot, the Octavia is the fossil fuelled car to take on the hybrids. Even in petrol format, the mileage is great and the 1.5litres 148hp engine will kick this roomy vehicle up to 60mph in around 8 seconds. Not so sloppy we think. Add in an extendable warranty and 12 years body protection and it’s easy to see why this is currently the number one choice for Uber drivers across the UK.
Cost: From £20,000
Mileage: 55 MPG Combined
Engine: 1.5L Petrol
Gearbox: Semi Automatic
Seats: 5
Cargo Capacity: Good
Comfort: Good
Speed: Punchy when you pull away
Styling: Clean and imposing
Warranty: 3 years 60,000 miles
Best Option: 1.5 TSI SE 5 Door DSG
4. Toyota Corolla Hybrid
The Corolla has long been a bestseller in the UK, now in hybrid form, it’s an even better car. Yes, this comes from the same people who give you the Prius and it costs less, but you get what you pay for. The Corolla hybrid feels cheaper inside and out than its teardrop-shaped sibling and those bog standard looks will never win a beauty contest. However, in all other respects, this is a good option to either the Ioniq or the Prius, with decent handling, performance and good space for a normal number of passengers. If you’re looking for a good all-rounder as an UberX driver, you really can’t go too wrong here. Like the other hybrids, the neat petrol/electric power source will move this car along at a brisk pace, but it suffers in visibility and is tight inside. Still the best, affordably priced hybrid on the market.
Cost: From £23,000
Mileage: 65 MPG Combined
Engine: 1.8L Petrol Electric
Gearbox: CVT Automatic
Seats: 5
Cargo Capacity: Good
Comfort: Better than basic range cars
Speed: Swift as you would expect
Styling: Not as clunky as the Prius but still chunky
Warranty: 3/5 years
Best Option: 1.8 VVT-i Hybrid Icon 5 Door CVT
5. Hyundai Kona Electric
Its look may be the marmite of car exteriors (do you love it or hate it?) but the Hyundai Kona is one of the most affordable electric cars shaking up the electric vehicle game. A rival to the Nissan Juke (another car whose appearance divides people), the Kona is compact and inexpensive to run. It’s almost silent with light loads and, as such, comes with Hyundai’s ‘Virtual Engine Sound System’, which emits imitation engine noise at nearby cars and pedestrians at low speeds as a safety feature. Ideal for stopping and starting in a city!
Cost: From £27,500
Mileage: Around 280 miles per full charge
Engine: Electric
Gearbox: Automatic
Seats: 5
Cargo Capacity: A little on the snug side
Comfort: Average
Speed: 0-60mph in 6.7sec
Styling: An edgy upgrade on the Nissan Juke’s unique look
Warranty: 5 years unlimited mileage
Best Option: 39 kWh Kona Electric SE
6. Skoda Kodiaq
Skoda’s second entry in our top ten and the best all-round SUV for UberX. High build quality, (thank you VW) and good materials for the money. The 148hp 1.5L petrol pushes this big rig along quick enough, although don’t expect a dragster, because it isn’t. Tons of space inside and a cargo area to handle any number of suitcases. Great high position visibility and very good mpg. If you like a big, brawny car as a professional driver, then this is the one to go for.
Cost: From £25,000
Mileage: 46 MPG
Engine: 1.5L Petrol
Gearbox: Automatic
Seats: 5
Cargo Capacity: Excellent
Comfort: Excellent
Speed: A bit heavy but more than enough power
Styling: Looks more costly than it is
Warranty: 3 years 60,000 miles
Best Option: 1.5 TSI SE 5dr DSG
7. Renault Scenic Hybrid
Another hybrid car and a French one at that. The Scenic is Renault’s compact answer to the SUV trend. This smaller, but highly agile rival comes with decent interior space, good cargo capacity and the usual, quirky French design touches. It has a smaller turning circle than either the Kodiaq or Tiguan and is swift around town, great for professional drivers. Put the pedal down hard and it seems a little harsh, but overall, it performs more like a car, with SUV attributes. The diesel is the best option and that, along with the cheaper finishing, (without a much cheaper price) and lack of brawn, pushes this one down to number 8 and a three-star rating. A pity, because for UberX this is a very good option.
Cost: From £26,500
Mileage: 80.7 MPG with hybrid assist
Engine: 1.5L Diesel Electric
Gearbox: Manual
Seats: 5
Cargo Capacity: Good
Comfort: Average
Speed: Good but lacking torque
Styling: Cool with aero dynamic lines
Warranty: 5 years or 100,000 miles
Best Option: Renault Scenic dCi 110 Hybrid Assist Dynamique S
8. Skoda Scala
The latest model from Skoda fills spot number nine in our top ten. The Scala comes in estate-car form and it’s positioned as an entry level option. Below the Octavia and Kodiaq. Unfortunately, the sales guys at Skoda seemed to have confused the pricing, as by the time you opt for the 115hp SE to get a little power and an auto gearbox, you’re getting close to Octavia country. That fact has helped push this model down in our ranking. Otherwise, despite the basic plastic trim, this one is roomy, has great cargo space and looks pretty good. Its small 1.0 litre turbo is never going to cut it as a racer, but around town it has decent pulling power and good mpg. If you fancy something very new, you’d be hard pressed to beat a Scala.
Cost: From £17,000
Mileage: 41 MPG Combined
Engine: 1.0L Turbo Petrol
Gearbox: Automatic
Seats: 5
Cargo Capacity: Good
Comfort: Good
Speed: About 10 seconds 0-60…
Styling: It is an estate but it looks good
Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles
Best Option: SE TSI 115hp
THE HIGHLIGHTS:
Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid
Toyota Prius Hybrid
Skoda Octavia
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Hyundai Kona Electric
Skoda Kodiaq
Renault Scenic Hybrid
Skoda Scala Estate
