When driving for Lyft, the decision on the best car is a huge talking point for drivers.
The goal is to select a car with features that allow drivers to make enough money while delivering comfortable, smooth rides for passengers.
For a Lyft driver, satisfying your customers starts from the outward look of your car to its interior design.
The definition of comfort also varies between different passengers’ needs for the Lyft ride.
Some passengers may be switching from their regular Uber Comfort rides to Lyft.
In this case, a Toyota Sienna isn’t an ideal vehicle for that passenger.
In this case, a Toyota Sienna or a Toyota Camry are ideal options.
There are numerous car options we can claim are the best cars for Lyft drivers.
But, your selection should be a function of the category of Lyft service you’re looking to provide.
This guide will show you the best cars to use for different categories of Lyft rides.
Keep reading for detailed information on the choice of car to impress your passenger and guarantee a steady income.
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Table Of Contents
Features We Looked For
When analyzing the best cars for Lyft, we drew inspiration from similar criteria to that of the best cars for Uber.
Some cars have features that fall below Lyft vehicle requirements, while others have specific designs for luxury.
Regarding the average Lyft driver’s needs, here’s what we looked out for in our vehicle recommendations.
1. Good Gas Mileage
Gas mileage is a measure of how much gas a car consumes over time.
The standard measurement for gas mileage is mpg — miles per gallon.
For example, if your vehicle runs at a gas mileage of 50mpg, it means your vehicle consumes one gallon of gas every 50 miles.
The gas mileage of a car determines its fuel economy.
According to the Department of Energy, the yearly expenditure on your car will be around $800 if your car’s gas mileage is 20mpg.
Many factors affect the gas mileage of your car.
First is the type of vehicle you’re riding; you’ll generally have low fuel economy ratings if you’re driving a car with a small engine.
A small engine in a car indicates low weight and will require less gas than a larger engine (SUVs).
Other factors that affect your vehicle’s gas mileage include driving conditions, driving aggression, and the fuel octane of the vehicle.
Mostly, if you move at an average speed on a highway, you’ll burn less gas than when you drive at higher speeds.
Suggested Read: The best gas mileage cars
2. Safety Features
Whether you’re driving a Corolla, SUV, or Honda Civic, driver and passenger safety is essential.
Regardless of how high tech the car is, it shouldn’t rank as one of the best cars for your Lyft ridesharing experience if it’s unsafe.
Naturally, some cars have designs to protect you and your passengers in the event of any accidents.
The best cars for Lyft have top safety scores.
The safety features of a car that can give it top safety scores include:
- Forward-collision warning
- Anti-locking brake
- Traction control
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Seat belt effectiveness
- Roof strength
- Survival space
For a ridesharing service like Lyft, these features are a must-have.
While safe driving depends on the rideshare driver, safety features can make a difference.
3. Reliability & Cost of Repairs
As a rideshare driver, the goal is to make money and not spend it.
Low gas mileage, commercial branding, leather seats, a great interior, and safety features all become useless if the vehicle isn’t reliable.
We define reliability as the ability of the car to operate without developing faults.
While it’s impossible to use a vehicle for any considerable length without faults, these occurrences should be minimal.
For a Lyft driver, your car developing petty faults now and then can translate to hefty bills that’ll bite into your income.
You should also consider the cost of repairs and replacement parts for the vehicle.
The best cars for Lyft drivers are vehicles that have low repair costs.
This way, you’ll be saving enough money while making a profit from the ridesharing app.
Best Cars for Lyft
According to a recent report, there are more than one billion vehicles worldwide.
Each one of these cars has amazing features and designs.
While some features are great for personal functions, others set some vehicles apart as the best cars for Lyft ridesharing.
The good thing about the automobile world is you have the advantage of choice.
Since Lyft offers different options like Lyft Line, Lyft Lux, Lyft XL, Lyft Premier and Lyft Plus, different cars will be ideal for each category.
The best car for a rider looking to deliver Lyft shared rides is the Toyota Prius.
Toyota Prius is a top choice because of its gas mileage.
With the Toyota Prius, you won’t need to buy gas after each trip.
When you stop your Toyota Prius vehicle, you can rest assured gas consumption also stops.
This is also a great vehicle if you’ll be marketing yourself to riders using Lyft Wait and Save.
Asides from fuel economy, the trunk space of the Toyota Prius is one of the reasons the car is a popular choice for shared rides.
In the trunk, you have a space of about 24.7 cubic feet, even with the rear seats in place.
Therefore, even if all your passengers have luggage, the Toyota Prius will take it.
While we can describe the Toyota Prius as averagely sized, there’s enough space to make shared rides comfortable.
Your riders will sit comfortably with their luggage at the trunk.
In short, here’s why the Toyota Prius is the best car for Lyft shared rides:
- It’s upfront costs are affordable for new drivers
- It provides your riders with comfort
- It provides enough room for luggage.
- Excellent fuel economy
2. Best Car for Regular Lyft
The best car we recommend for drivers providing regular Lyft services is the Toyota Camry.
While there are different models available, you can rest assured of the reliability of a Toyota Camry.
But as usual, the newer models perform better.
Gas mileage is always an important factor for Lyft drivers to consider.
With a Toyota Camry, you can expect great gas mileage.
While driving this vehicle, you won’t need to worry about your gas frequently thanks to its 34 mpg gas mileage ratings.
Likewise, the car design is sporty, which gives it a nice aesthetic.
The aesthetics of the Toyota Camry is one of the reasons it’s a popular option for regular Lyft drivers.
More often than not, the aesthetics will impress your passengers and add to their comfort.
A major advantage for Lyft drivers who choose the Toyota Camry is its size.
There’s a lot of room in the rear seats for up to four passengers to sit comfortably.
Furthermore, if you move the seats, there’s enough space for each passenger to stretch their legs regardless of their respective heights.
Summarily, here are the top reasons we recommend the Toyota Camry for regular Lyft services:
- Hardly develops damage and engine complications
- Sporty look and performance
- Comfort for all passengers
- Moderate gas mileage
3. Best Car for Lyft Luxury
Drivers who choose Lyft luxury are looking to cater to Lyft’s luxurious and upscale riders.
Hence, you need a vehicle that speaks luxury in its totality.
That is why the Lexus ES sedan is at the top of our list of the best cars for Lyft.
With its beautiful design on the outside and advanced features on the interior, the Lexus ES sedan is the total package.
The Lexus ES provides a hybrid driving experience in addition to its luxury status.
Therefore, you won’t need to try hard to make a positive impression on your riders; it’ll come naturally.
The only area of concern is the area of cost.
While obtaining a Lexus ES for Lyft Luxury can come with huge upfront costs, gas fees are a bargain.
The gas mileage of the Lexus ES is about 40 mpg.
Therefore, you won’t need to spend too much on gas fees.
It’s important to ensure all of your potential riders pay for luxurious services.
That way, you won’t be making a lower income while offering a higher quality of service.
If your city offers Lyft luxury services, the reasons the Lexus ES is a top pick include:
- Beautiful design
- Moderate gas mileage
- Comfortable ride
- Reliable engine performance
4. Best Car for Lyft Luxury
If you’re a driver for Lyft XL, we recommend ferrying your passengers around with the Honda Odyssey.
The Honda Odyssey is a big car with enough space to accommodate multiple passengers.
There’ll be no need to go back and forth with passengers about your car not having enough space.
It’s possible to rearrange the interior configuration of your Honda Odyssey to fit up to eight passengers in one go.
Big size and space aren’t the only offerings of the Honda Odyssey.
Honda Odyssey is one of the vehicles with top safety scores globally.
In a manner typical of the Honda brand, you can rely on this vehicle.
You won’t have to visit the mechanic workshop frequently, even with daily usage.
While Honda Odyssey helps you manage space, it also helps you save money.
With its gas mileage ratings sitting between 22 mpg and 30 mpg, you don’t need to break the bank for gas fees.
In conclusion, here’s why you should pick the Honda Odyssey for Lyft XL:
- Multiple safety features
- Low gas mileage
- Excellent space availability
- Decent interior design
5. Best Car for Lyft Black XL
Black XL is a category on the Lyft ridesharing app catering to riders who want luxury and extra space simultaneously.
The Chevrolet Suburban is a big vehicle that ticks all of the boxes.
The Chevrolet Suburban has a stylish exterior.
The attractive exterior is enough to make any rider fall in love with the vehicle.
Of course, space isn’t an issue with the Chevrolet Suburban, as between six and eight riders can comfortably sit in the car.
The Chevrolet Suburban may be a huge car, but it offers great gas mileage for its size.
Some reasons you should consider the Chevrolet Suburban include:
- Great exterior design and color options
- Easy to get replacement parts
- Enough space availability
- More riders mean more money
6. Best Car for Lyft WAV
A disability may reduce movements but doesn’t stop it.
Lyft WAV is for riders with mobility conditions.
Such riders will need drivers who can cater to a wheelchair, scooter, and other mobility devices.
The best car for the wheelchair-accessible vehicles category on the Lyft app is the Hyundai Sonata.
Although you have other options like the Kia Soul and Toyota Sienna, the Hyundai Sonata stands out.
Its accessible design makes it easy to roll passengers on a wheelchair into your vehicle.
The low ride height of an Hyundai Sonata is a plus for passengers who need mobility assistance.
They’ll be able to climb into and out of your Lyft car with easy access.
The Hyundai Sonata is outfitted with solid, supportive seats.
The seat design makes it easier for riders with chronic pain to assume a comfortable seating position.
This vehicle also has enough space and legroom for passengers.
Likewise, you can get the Hyundai Sonata at an affordable price and still save money on gas due to its low gas mileage.
Some of the reasons the Hyundai Sonata is one of the best cars for Lyft WAV are:
- Moderate fuel consumption
- Low ride height
- Ultra-comfortable chair
- Spacious and enough leg room
- Affordable price
Related Read
What is UberWAV and how does it work?
The Most Popular Cars for Lyft
While many cars have top safety scores and features, you’ll still find some models common among Lyft drivers.
Most Popular Lyft Shared Rides Vehicles
The most popular cars for Lyft shared rides offer low gas mileage.
The top names include:
- Toyota Prius
- Honda Civic
- Honda Accord
- Toyota Corolla
Most Popular Vehicles for Regular Lyft
The most popular cars for regular Lyft include:
- Hyundai Sonata
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Kia Soul
- Toyota Camry
Most Popular Vehicles for Lyft Luxury
The most popular cars for Lyft luxury must have a beautiful exterior and a wonderful interior with leather seats.
Some options are:
- Bentley Bentayga
- Buick Lacrosse
- Ford Expedition
- Kia K900
- Lexus ES
- Alfa Romeo Giulia
- Land Rover Discovery
- Range Rover
- Mercedes-Benz 300-Class
Most Popular Vehicles for Lyft XL
The Lyft XL category requires a spacious vehicle that can accommodate more than five passengers.
Some of the best cars for Lyft XL are:
- Chevrolet Suburban
- Honda Odyssey
- BMW X7
- AUDI Q7
- Toyota Sienna
Most Popular Vehicles for Lyft Black XL
For the Lyft Black XL category, a vehicle must meet luxury requirements and still be able to accommodate up to five riders.
Some of the best options available are:
- GMC Yukon
- Lincoln Navigator
- Mercedez-Benz GLS-Class
- Tesla Model X
- Chevrolet Suburban
Frequently Asked Questions
Here’s what you need know:
What is the oldest year car that you can drive for Lyft?
The vehicle age limit for Lyft drivers differs per location.
In most cases, the oldest model you can drive is a 2005 car.
What kind of insurance do I need for Lyft?
Every Lyft rider needs to complete the personal auto insurance policy in alignment with operating state requirements.
Check out our guide to Lyft insurance to learn more.
Can you put car seats in Lyft?
Lyft car seats are encouraged for young children riding in Lyft vehicles.
Yes, your riders can put car seats in your Lyft ride.
It’s an eventuality you should be ready to accommodate.
Wrapping Up
The best cars for Lyft rides depend on the category of Lyft service you’re looking to provide.
While larger cars are best for Lyft XL, you’ll need a car with great gas mileage for regular Lyft rides.
Above, we have provided recommendations on the top options for different Lyft services.
We’ve also answered questions about selecting cars for Lyft rides.
Use it as a guide to selecting the best vehicle for your time as a Lyft driver.
Good luck!
