Liviu Marcus
Are you a taxi driver? Possibly you are thinking of becoming a taxi driver? If you wish to drive as economically as possible and have more money in your pocket, it is wise to buy a proper car. Whether you are looking for a taxi, we present five of the best taxis on the market and why they are great so that you can pick between models.
Nissan Leaf
In 2020, comparison site Uswitch investigated which cars would be best for taxi drivers. The 2019 Nissan Leaf took the number one spot, offering 108 MPG equivalent (MPGe), at a cost of a mere £0.04 per mile. What’s more, the car requires zero tax on behalf of being a fully electric vehicle (EV) and was said to have a highly comfortable interior too – important for obtaining that five-star rating.
With fossil-fuelled cars set to be banned by 2030, we’re certain that EVs like the Leaf will continue to spread in popularity amongst the taxi driver community, especially as EV prices continue to drop.
Kia Soul
Next on Uswitch’s rankings was the 2019 Kia Soul. Another EV, the Soul had the same MPGe and cost per mile of the Leaf, only slightly missing out due to its smaller boot and legroom. Nevertheless, the Soul is a nicely affordable EV that is sure to protect cab drivers that use it from having to pay to enter the clean air and low emission zones that are cropping up across the UK.
Ford Focus Estate
The only diesel in the top five was the Ford Focus Estate 2019. It is more expensive to run than the two electrics higher up the rankings and requires vehicle tax at £365 per year. Yet, its 80 MPG engine that runs at £0.05 per mile means that the estate is cheap to run, as well as boasting plenty of comfort and luggage space – great for airport taxi routes.
Skoda Octavia
Fourth in Uswitch’s rankings was the 2019 Skoda Octavia. A petrol vehicle, the Octavia nevertheless fared well in terms of efficiency but truly excelled with it came to comfort rating and luggage space. Award-winning, Skodas are a very popular taxi choice due to their no-nonsense practicality, low running costs, and ever-improving cabin quality – the perfect combination for a working vehicle.
Mercedes E-Class
While it may not be the greenest vehicle on this list, the Mercedes E-Class caters well to taxi drivers who serve customers looking for a more premium experience. In this role, it excels, coming top of Uswitch’s ranking for comfort with a perfect score, and displaying fantastic lines that set it apart from other cars on the road.
That’s not only good for passengers, of course, but drivers too. If you’re ferrying passengers across town for 12-hour stretches at a time, you may as well do so in as comfortable a means as possible.
