Key Takeaways
- Service Features: Uber Comfort offers newer, spacious cars with ride customizations like quiet trips and advanced reservations.
- Vehicle Standards: Requires specific models for extra comfort, including cars like the Toyota Camry and Tesla Model S.
- Driver Requirements: Drivers need a minimum 4.85 rating and a qualifying vehicle to provide Uber Comfort services.
- Price Comparison: Generally about 20% more expensive than UberX, with pricing varying by city and influenced by factors like distance, time, and surge rates.
Recommendations: I don’t use Uber Comfort because I have Uber VIP status with my credit card. However, I do think Uber Comfort is a service worth upgrading to if you value leg room and the ability to customize your ride.
What is Uber Comfort?
Uber Comfort is a service within the Uber app offering newer, spacious cars for a more comfortable ride. Unlike the normal UberX service, this ride type offers a variety of ride customizations at an affordable price.
It’s available to riders who prefer extra legroom and a higher level of comfort. Drivers must have a minimum 4.85 rating and a qualifying vehicle to offer Uber Comfort services.
What’s So Great About Uber Comfort?
Uber Comfort brings in a lot of the features that were only available with more upscale services like Uber Black SUV.
You’ll pay more for an Uber Comfort than you would a standard Uber, but you don’t have to pay as much as you would for the luxury options.
For a slightly higher cost, you get:
1. Reserve Advanced Rides
With Uber Comfort, you can schedule your rides up to a month ahead. Just pick the day and time that works for you, and you’re all set. Plus, when you book early, you lock in your cost, making it a smart choice for planning ahead.
2. Quiet Rides
When you book a ride with Uber Comfort, you can customize certain aspects of your ride.
A popular option is the ‘quiet ride’ feature. While you can still exchange greetings to confirm you’ve got the right passenger, there’s no need for continuous conversation throughout the trip.
3. The Vehicles are Nicer Than Most
Uber Comfort requires specific types of cars to ensure passengers have a luxury experience. Eligible cars are chosen for their extra legroom and headroom compared to standard vehicles.
Examples of approved cars for this service include the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Jaguar XJ, Lexus EG, and Porsche Cayenne. For a complete list of approved cars, you can refer to the list provided below.
4. Extended Uber Comfort Pick-up Times
Unlike standard Uber rides where drivers typically wait only a minute or two before they begin charging or cancel the ride, Uber Comfort offers a more relaxed approach.
With this service, your driver will wait for you for up to 10 minutes, giving you ample time to reach the vehicle.
What Types of Vehicles Can You Expect While Using Uber Comfort?
With Uber Comfort, you can expect vehicles that provide more room and comfort compared to standard options. These cars are specifically chosen to offer additional legroom and comfort features.
Some examples of eligible Uber Comfort vehicles include the Audi SQ7, BMW Alpina B7, Chevy Tahoe, Dodge Durango, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-9, Toyota Camry or Highlander, and Tesla Model S.
View Uber Comfort car list
- Acura: ILX, MDX, RDX, RLX, TLX
- Alfa Romeo: Stelvio
- Audi: A6, A7, A8, Q5, Q7, Q8, e-tron, S6, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ7, A6 Avant, A8 L, Q9, SQ8
- Bentley: Flying Spur, Bentayga, Mulsanne
- BMW: 5-series, 7-series, ActiveHybrid 5, Alpina B7, M5, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, 5-Series Gran Turismo, 7-Series 745e, 740i
- Buick: Enclave, LaCrosse, Regal, Regal Sportback, Regal TourX
- Cadillac: CT5, CT6, CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, SRX, STS, XTS, XT4, XT5, XT6
- Chevrolet: Tahoe, Suburban, Blazer, Equinox, Impala, Trailblazer, Traverse, Malibu
- Chrysler: 300, 200, Aspen, Pacifica
- Dodge: Durango, Ram 2500, Caravan, Grand Caravan
- Ford: Expedition, Mustang Mach-E, Edge, Excursion, Explorer, Flex, F-150, Escape, Fusion, Fusion Energi
- Genesis: G70, G80, G90
- GMC: Yukon, Yukon Denali, Yukon XL, Yukon XL Denali, Acadia, Acadia Denali, Terrain
- Honda: Pilot, Accord, Accord Hybrid, Clarity, Clarity Electric, Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Odyssey
- Hyundai: Equus, Genesis, Genesis G70, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Sport, Santa Fe XL, Palisade, Tucson, Tucson Fuel Cell, Kona, Kona EV, Kona Hybrid
- Infiniti: Q70, QX50, QX60, QX70, QX80
- Jaguar: XF, XJ, I-Pace, F-Pace
- Jeep: Cherokee, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler
- Kia: K900, Sorento, Sportage, Telluride, Sedona, Sportage R
- Land Rover: Discovery, LR4, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar, Range Rover Vogue, Range Rover Evoque, Discovery Sport
- Lexus: ES, GS, GX, LS, LX, NX, RX, RXL, ES Hybrid, GS Hybrid, NX Hybrid, RX Hybrid
- Lincoln: Aviator, Continental, MKC, MKS, MKT, MKX, MKZ, Nautilus, Navigator, Corsair
- Maserati: Quattroporte
- Mazda: CX-5, CX-9, MAZDA5, MAZDA6
- Mercedes-Benz: E-Class, G-Class, GL-Class, GLA-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, GLE-Class, GLK-Class, GLS-Class, ML-Class, M-Class, S-Class, E-Class Wagon, EQC, E350e, GLC Coupe, GLE Coupe
- Mitsubishi: Outlander, Outlander Sport, Outlander PHEV
- Nissan: Armada, Murano, Pathfinder, Rogue, Quest
- Porsche: Cayenne, Panamera
- Subaru: Ascent, Legacy, Outback, Forrester
- Tesla: Model S, Model X, Model 3, Model Y
- Toyota: 4Runner, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna, Venza
- Volkswagen: Arteon, Atlas, Tiguan, Touareg, Passat, Passat GTE
- Volvo: S90, XC40, XC60, XC90, S90 Hybrid, XC40 Electric, XC60 Hybrid, XC90 Hybrid
What is the Difference Between UberX Vs Uber Comfort?
UberX is the standard rideshare option, and Uber Comfort is a step up. Understandably, they differ in certain ways but read on to find the specific differences between these two services.
1. Price Differences Between UberX and Uber Comfort
Uber Comfort is more expensive than UberX. This is because Uber Comfort offers newer, larger cars and allows riders to specify comfort preferences.
The base price for Uber Comfort is typically $0.30 to $0.75 higher than UberX, with per-minute and per-mile rates about 30 to 40% higher.
As you can see from my Uber app, the cost of an Uber Comfort ride is slightly more expensive than an UberX ride, but slightly less than an UberXL ride.
2. Availability
UberX is widely available in most cities in the U.S., with a larger pool of drivers due to minimal requirements. Uber Comfort, on the other hand, requires drivers to have a minimum 4.85 rating after 100 trips and to drive clean, spacious, newer cars, leading to fewer available drivers.
UberX generally has shorter wait times, except during peak events or at airports.
Uber Comfort drivers, being fewer, might have longer wait times. However, Uber Comfort allows booking up to 30 days in advance, securing your ride.
4. Rider Preferences
With UberX, you can only specify pickup and drop-off locations. Uber Comfort, in contrast, offers a ride in a newer, more spacious car and allows you to request specific temperature settings and your preferred conversation level with the driver.
How Much Does Uber Comfort Cost?
Uber Comfort typically costs about 20% more than a base UberX trip. The pricing for both services is based on distance traveled, trip time, and factors like toll roads or surge rates.
In different U.S. markets, the price difference between Uber Comfort and UberX can vary. For example, in New York City, an Uber Comfort ride is about 13% more expensive than UberX, in Portland it’s 23% more, in Austin 19% more, and in Minneapolis-St. Paul, it’s 24% more.
The actual price increase can depend on the specific city and market conditions.
Brett’s Take: Is Uber Comfort Worth It?
I don’t use Uber Comfort, solely for the reason that I have Uber VIP status as a result of my AMEX card offering the status as a benefit. With that status, I get upgraded rides without having to pay for the next level of service.
However, if I did not have that benefit through my credit card, I would likely use Uber Comfort instead of UberX. However, while using the service, there are a few things you should understand.
First, Uber Comfort does not mean luxury.
There are many riders who request this ride thinking they are requesting an Uber Select or Uber Black. They expect top-of-the-line vehicles and the best drivers.
Yes, you are getting top-rated drivers and nicer vehicles, but the biggest benefit of using this service is the vehicles with more legroom. If you want luxury, you’ll need to upgrade further.
Second, not all drivers remember preferences.
I hear lots of feedback about drivers not setting preferences as requested in the app. Many drivers do both UberX and Uber Comfort, so they don’t always remember which ride they accepted.
If this happens to you, simply remind the driver of the preferences and go on with the ride.
Lastly, expect differences in vehicles types between cities.
The qualification for Comfort cars can vary by location. For example, a Kia Niro might qualify for Comfort in one region but not in another.
This discrepancy can create confusion among users who travel between different regions and expect a consistent service standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Uber Comfort Cheaper?
In times of high demand, Uber activates surge pricing for whatever service the demand is the highest for. If demand for other Uber services is higher than that of Uber Comfort rides, the pricing may drop below that of others.
How Many Passengers Can an Uber Comfort Hold?
Uber Comfort typically accommodates up to 4 passengers, similar to standard UberX rides. This capacity is designed to ensure a more comfortable experience with additional legroom and higher vehicle standards, but without increasing the passenger capacity beyond that of a standard sedan.
