Best cars to drive with Uber in Australia in 2023

What makes the best cars for driving Uber in Australia? There's a lot to consider – from the all-important fuel consumption through comfort, safety, to reliability, and even how good the car looks on the road. Choosing the best car for Uber in Australia can be a challenging decision. At Splend, our Flexi and Flexi own subscriptions have helped over 25,000 people globally to get started, rent a car for Uber and earn an income with rideshare apps and delivery platforms such as Uber, Ola and Amazon Flex. Our experience combined with that of our customers has allowed us to create this ultimate guide of what you need to consider when choosing to buy and own or rent a car to try before you buy for Uber driving.

The car you drive also needs to match Uber’s car requirements, which can be rather strict, depending on your location, car model and the Uber service you're planning to drive for. Uber Comfort cars and Uber Premier cars must meet stricter criteria compared to UberX cars.

The minimum requirements for an UberX-approved car, common to all Australian areas are:

• be less than 15 years old

• have 4 doors

• have air conditioning

• state-specific rideshare insurance

Before getting a car for Uber, make sure to check the minimum car requirements for the state you want to drive in:

• Uber car requirements in Sydney

• Uber car requirements in Melbourne

• Uber car requirements in Canberra

• Uber car requirements in QLD

• Uber car requirements in Adelaide

• Uber car requirements in Perth

Which is the best car for Uber in Australia?

Based on the first-hand experience of over 15,000 Uber drivers globally, we outlined three of the most fuel-efficient car categories, and looked at some of the most popular models within each. Click the links in the column headers to read more.

¹ Manufacturer information

² Calculated based on the average $1.95/L fuel price/$0.31/kWh home electricity price in Sydney as at April 2023 for 1,000 km driven

³ Estimates courtesy of carsguide.com.au for older models

Electric cars

What is an electric car?

Electric vehicles are cars with one or multiple electric motors which use energy stored in rechargeable batteries. They don’t have internal combustion engines and they can only be recharged via an external source of electricity, such as a wall socket or a charging station. With Australia's constantly growing charging infrastructure and latest technology and battery improvement on EVs, now is the ideal moment to switch to an electric car. Driving an EV is also cheaper in the long run — lower fuel costs, less maintenance to do and numerous benefits and financial incentives for EV drivers. That's what makes them the best choice for Uber driving.

Polestar 2 Single Motor

Whether you go for the Standard Range or the Long Range version, Polestar 2 is guaranteed to offer your a premium driving experience.

Why is it one of the best cars for Uber?

This fully-electric five-seater medium sedan is more than just pretty looks and style, its impressive features making it ideal for Uber driving:

• Five-star ANCAP rated

• Whopping range of 478 km for the Standard Range model, and 551 km for the Long Range version

• Charges 10-80% in just 35 minutes with a Type 3 fast charger and no more than in 8 hours with a regular, 3-phase 16A charging station

• Superior earning capability, being eligible for Uber Premier rides

• Sophisticated interior with high-quality details

• Premium features: dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, hands-free automatic boot.

Available on Flexi Try and Flexi Own from $419 per week

Read more about the Polestar 2 Standard Range and the Polestar 2 Long Range

Sign up to drive an electric car  

Petrol-electric hybrid cars

What is a petrol-electric hybrid car?

A car is considered a hybrid drive if it uses two different means of propulsion. This most often means a combined drivetrain with an electric motor, as well as a petrol or diesel engine. Although they have a powerful electric motor, in lifestyle terms they’re the same as a conventional car: you just fill up and go, no need for an external source of electric power. Hybrids generally consume less fuel and have lower CO2 emissions than a comparable car with only an internal combustion engine. If you still doubt the hybrid technology's efficiency, check for yourself how much a hybrid saves on petrol compared to a traditional petrol car.

Toyota Camry Hybrid

The Toyota Camry Hybrid is available on Flexi own plan, so you can put your weekly payments toward owning your car, without a lock-in contract.

Why is it one of the best cars for Uber?

The Toyota Camry Hybrid has established itself as one of the best cars for Uber with its amazing fuel consumption, high performance and unparalleled safety features:

• Combined fuel efficiency of 4.2 L/100 km

• Onboard computer that stores your best fuel consumption figures

• Excellent abilities in and out of city traffic, thanks to to the electric motor's instant peak torque

• Spacious and comfortable for your passengers

• Boot can fit large suitcases

• ANCAP safety rating of 5 stars.

Available on Flexi and Flexi own from $399 per week Read more about the Toyota Camry Hybrid

Toyota Yaris Cross GX Hybrid

Leveraging Toyota’s renowned hybrid system, this light SUV petrol-electric hybrid offers the best of both worlds and will ensure you’re safe and efficient, but also stylish while out on the road.

Why is it one of the best cars for Uber?

This snappy light SUV delights drivers by minimising the use of the petrol engine whilst zipping around town, this being just one of the reasons why the Yaris Cross is perfect for Uber driving:

• Thrifty on fuel with a consumption of just 3.8 litres/100 km

• Able to travel 947 km on one tank

• Toyota’s advanced Safety Sense System with features like Lane Trace Assist, Road Sign Assist (speed signs only), Pre-Collision Safety system

• Full five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Available on Flexi Try and Flexi Own from $365 per week

Read more about the Toyota Yaris Cross GX Hybrid Sign up to drive a petrol-electric hybrid  

Internal-combustion-engine cars

What is an internal combustion engine?

Internal combustion engines are the common petrol and diesel cars that everyone knows. Although electric and hybrid technologies are gaining ground, these cars continue to be the most popular due to their instant availability, good power to weight ratio, long range, and solid fuel and service infrastructure. They generally consume more fuel than hybrids, but they also have a simpler construction, which can mean fewer headaches when it comes to maintenance and troubleshooting.

Mitsubishi Outlander

The Outlander is perfect for UberXL and UberPool. It transforms into the ultimate people-carrier in a matter of seconds by popping two extra seats up from the boot floor, while still leaving a decent-sized luggage space in the back.

Why is it one of the best cars for Uber?

The Outlander is more than just a big 7-seater, and excels even when you use it as a normal 5-seater, being an excellent choice for any Uber service thanks to its:

• Seven-seat capacity

• Boot space enough for big luggage

• 7.2 litres/100 km fuel consumption

• 5-star ANCAP rating

• Advanced safety features such as traction control, stability control, and anti-lock brakes with brake assist

• Infotainment system with Bluetooth and AUX input, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

One of our customers, Graham aka the #TheBestUberEver chose the Mitsubishi Outlander on Flexi Own so he could provide his riders with a better experience, since he can, as he puts it, “keep groups of people together, which is awesome.”

Available on Flexi Try from $365 per week. Learn more about the Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi ASX ES

Compact, yet versatile, the 2022 Mitsubishi ASX has often been a favourite in Australia when it comes to small, petrol SUVs, and it's available on Flexi Try plan.

Why is it one of the best cars for Uber?

This car has the whole package to become Uber drivers' favourite:

• Modest 7.6L/100km fuel consumption

• Plenty of room for both passengers and luggage

• Packed with comfort features, but also safety, like the driver knee airbag or Forward Collision Mitigation system with pedestrian detection

• Helps prevent theft with the encrypted engine immobiliser

• Stylish interior with high tech features, like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth with voice control.

Available on Flexi Try from $304 per week Learn more about Mitsubishi ASX ES

Sign up to drive an internal-combustion-engine car  

What do the best Uber cars have in common?

When you think of the best cars for Uber, the first thing to consider is the rider’s experience. However, when it comes to earning consistent five-star driver ratings and tips, things like chrome and leather are just the tip of the pyramid. It's actually your behaviour as a driver that is the basis of that. What you essentially need is a trusty tool to get you through the day without hiccups and keep as much money in your pocket as possible. Here’s what you need to look for when choosing a car for Uber driving:

1. Good fuel economy

The biggest running cost of any car is the energy required to drive it around, whether there’s a thirsty petrol engine, a modern electric drivetrain, or some sort of hybrid technology under the bonnet. Each category has its own advantages and drawbacks that make them suitable for different uses, but one thing is clear: the more you move towards electric technology, the lower your daily energy costs will be.

2. Low or fixed-price servicing costs

Because you drive so much, you’ll need to have the car serviced two or three times each year, so affordable servicing is a must. Korean and Japanese cars are known for their solid build quality and reasonably priced spare parts, so they’re a good choice for a long-term investment. Opting for a Flexi Own car plan with fixed servicing costs is another way to minimise the expenses and headaches that come with routine maintenance for years to come.

How much does car maintenance cost in Australia? This depends on a lot of factors, from how much you use your car to your driving style. The maintenance of the most popular Uber cars costs around $1,000-1,200 per year on average, or about $23 per week. How often are cars serviced in Australia? Your car should ideally get a full service once a year or every 10-12,000 km. However, if you look after the car well and always take it in for a quick check whenever something doesn’t feel right, you may get away with a more affordable basic service too.

We recommend small but frequent check-ups, as it’s cheaper in the long run and less of a financial burden compared to a rare but costly general maintenance.

What is the difference between a basic car service and a full service? A basic car service includes a routine check to diagnose any issues and taking care of the consumables that wear out or get used up most frequently as you drive the car. These include the oil and other fluids, filters, wiper blades, etc. A full service includes everything that’s in a basic service and a more thorough check including engine diagnosis, reconditioning the suspension, swapping the fuel filters, and more repairs depending on the car’s overall condition.

3. Strong resale value

Cars are depreciating assets, which means their value starts to drop the moment they roll out of the dealership. It’s closely linked to the car’s age and mileage, but different models also depreciate at different rates regardless of how and how much you drive. Asian manufacturers that offer some of the most popular Uber cars are among the slowest-depreciating brands. Kia leads the pack and also Toyota, which is not only fuel-efficient but has a great reputation in the market. Mid-size SUVs are especially popular for resale, as they deliver everything the modern Australian family wants, such as low running costs and plenty of passenger and luggage space. How to minimise car depreciation? While it’s impossible to avoid, the best way to keep depreciation at bay is choosing a model that maintains its value well. Given the volume of riders getting in and out of your Uber car, it’s best to go for one that has a robust interior with good quality synthetic materials which don’t deteriorate as quickly.

 The best way to maximise your car’s resale value is regular maintenance using original or manufacturer-approved spares and keeping a detailed service record.

4. Plenty of space

Spacious cars are becoming an industry standard in ridesharing. There are many cars that would otherwise be excellent in the city traffic, but have little to almost no rear legroom once you push back the front seats to a comfortable setting. They might be fine for taking the kids to school in the morning, but passenger comfort should be up there with the highest-priority features when you’re choosing your car for Uber driving. Small hatchbacks and even some larger sedans also have ridiculously small boots. They may be more than plenty for the daily commute and the odd shopping trip, but Uber driving involves many trips to airports and railway stations. It would be a shame having to decline these for lack of luggage space.

5. Affordable insurance

To drive Uber, you need a car insurance policy that will cover you for ridesharing. This is something that Uber does not cover for you and Uber’s free contingency cover will only cover bodily injury to you, the driver. Since this doesn’t cover for any accident damage, it’s important to have comprehensive or at least third-party car insurance to help cover some of the potential costs and to think of Uber’s insurance as more of a safety net.

About Splend

We enable people to make money by driving for on-demand apps such as Uber. We’re more than a car subscription provider. In addition to new-model cars and all the essentials to start earning money with Uber as quickly as possible, our customers enjoy driver training and dedicated support, as well as customer benefits such as partner discounts and exclusive events. For more information about Splend, make an appointment and drop by to your local Splend Hub, email us, or say hello on 1800 775 363.