Thinking of venturing into the vast taxi-hailing business? Well, the secret to surviving in this space lies in choosing the right tool for the job. Today we’d like to analyze different fuel-efficient cars as we try to narrow down to the best car for Uber in Kenya.
Remember, the word Uber here is simply used as an umbrella term for all kinds of taxi-hailing services available in Kenya. Thinking of going with Uber, Little, Bolt, Wasili, or any other Uber alternative? One of the following Kei cars is the single biggest investment you need.
Top-Rated Cars for Uber Business in Kenya
The best types of cars to buy if you’re into Uber are the Kei cars. These are tiny cars that are designed with fuel efficiency in mind. The best ones for Uber business are:
- Suzuki Alto
- Daihatsu Mira
- Nissan Dayz
- Mazda Carol
- Subaru Pleo
- Mitsubishi EK Wagon
- Toyota Pixis
Without further ado, we’re going to break them down for you so you can understand why they made it to this list. Let’s dive in.
Want a Kei car?
Why Kei Cars?
Kei cars are a popular phenomenon in the taxi business and that is because they are designed with efficiency in mind. With the rising cost of petrol, crowded streets, and limited parking spaces, Kei cars make a lot of business sense.
To qualify as a Kei car, the vehicle should have a displacement of 660cc or less. Its dimensions should not exceed 3.4 (meters) X 1.48 (meters) X 2 (meters).
Of course, you can always try your hand at the taxi business using other cars like Honda Insight and Toyota Prius but these cost a pretty penny which once again underscores why Kei cars are better.
Table of Contents
Suzuki Alto
Ex-Japan Price: from Ksh700,000
This is perhaps the most popular Uber car in the market currently. The Alto comes loaded with a 3-cylinder 658cc engine that produces a decent 55HP of raw power.
55HP may not sound like much but you have to remember that this car is really light in weight as it weighs 700KGS. Its lightweight and a snappy continuous variable transmission (CVT) make Suzuki Alto a relatively fast and efficient car for our roads.
And talking about efficiency, this motor vehicle boasts an incredible 18KM/L fuel efficiency on city roads. That’s to say it can comfortably do 1 trip to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from the CBD with under 1 liter of fuel. How cool is that?
The Alto comes with a 27-liter fuel tank, 5 doors, 4 seats, and a top speed of 140KPH – all of which make it ideal for navigating through the hustle and bustle of city areas.
Pros
- Great ride quality
- Built with practicality in mind
- Easily available spare parts
- Highly reliable
- Decent speeds for city roads
Cons
- Poor headroom
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Daihatsu Mira
Ex-Japan Price: from Ksh650,000
You might not have heard the name Daihatsu in the mainstream car market but it really is a respected car manufacturing corporation based in Osaka, Japan. Their awesome Kei car, the Daihatsu Mira, stands out from the pack with its good features.
The Mira boasts a 650cc KF engine that produces 51 horsepower, enough to propel this tiny beast through the streets of Nairobi with ease. The Daihatsu Mira is mated with a CVT gearbox ensuring all the power finds its way to the wheels smoothly and efficiently.
What’s more, this Kei car features McPherson suspension at the front and a torsion beam at the rear – akin to the legendary Toyota Corollas.
To top it all up, the Daihatsu provides a 35-liter fuel tank capacity which is enough to run you for up to 700 kilometers thanks to its modest 20KM/L fuel consumption.
Pros
- A wide selection of colors to choose from
- Ample legroom & headroom
- Good ride quality
- Readily available parts
- Eco-Idle for enhanced fuel efficiency
Cons
- Boring interior
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Nissan Dayz
Ex-Japan Price: from Ksh700,000
If you’re looking for an efficient car for your Uber business in Kenya, Nissan Dayz might just be the right pick for you. The Dayz has a cool interior, a fantastic gearbox, and above all fantastic fuel economy.
One thing you need to keep in mind about this car is that it comes with a 660cc 3-cylinder engine codenamed the 3B20 engine. The 3B20 generates 48 horsepower which is just enough to propel this 800KG machine from 0 to 100KPH in about 15 seconds. That’s faster than most full-sized average cars roaming our streets currently.
This cool kid from Japan boasts a CVT gearbox and a top speed of 140KM.
One thing that’s absolutely likable about this Uber car, especially in the Kenyan context is that it has a really well-done interior. In fact, its interior is way better done than some more expensive ex-Japan cars from well-established brands (we won’t name them!).
Last but not least, this Kei car delivers a remarkable 18KM/L fuel economy and a 30-liter tank making it just the right pick for running errands around city estates. And just for context, 18KM/L means the car can travel for 18 kilometers on one liter of fuel.
So, to take a client from Nairobi CBD to Kahawa Sukari will cost you roughly Ksh200 one way.
Pros
- Fantastic interior
- Adequate leg & headroom
- Great seat comfort
- Above-average fuel consumption
- Great exterior looks
Cons
- Clumsy handling
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Mazda Carol
Ex-Japan Price: from Ksh670,000
If you have been keen on the car ownership trends in Kenya, you probably have noticed how Mazda cars have taken our roads by storm. The likes of Demio, CX5, Axela, and Atenza may be good for those looking for normal-sized private cars but when it comes to Uber business it is Mazda Carol that gets the accolades.
The cute Mazda Carol comes with a 660cc K6A engine that’s capable of generating a whopping 53HP of raw power. The car itself weighs roughly 700KGs which makes it lighter than Nissan Dayz and, therefore, more efficient (theoretically).
Just like all other popular Kei cars, this one comes with a CVT gearbox and a top speed of 140KPH.
As you would expect, Mazda Carol delivers a fantastic 20KM/L fuel economy making it slightly cheaper to drive around as compared to its competitors the Alto from Suzuki and Dayz from Nissan.
Above all, this micro car has a 30-liter fuel tank – enough to take you from Nairobi to Mombasa without the need to refuel in between. How cool is that?
Pros
- Well-built for Kenyan roads
- Charming exterior design
- Great fuel economy
- Decent cargo space
- Handy center console
Cons
- Underwhelming interior design
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Subaru Pleo
Ex-Japan Price: from Ksh600,000
Subaru has for long been associated with the bad boys but this notion is fast changing especially with the entry of cars like the Subaru Pleo.
The Pleo is tiny, cute, and fuel efficient. It packs a 660cc engine that delivers a fantastic 51HP to its forward wheels. Unlike its bigger brothers (i.e., Impreza and Forester), this cool kid packs a humble torsion beam suspension begging the question – is this truly a Subaru or just a rebadged Daihatsu Mira?
As far as fuel efficiency goes, the Pelo delivers a respectable 21KM/L and comes with a 32-liter fuel tank capacity. It has a CVT gearbox and maxes out at 140KPH.
Pros
- Great ride quality
- Easy to maintain
- Parts are easily available
- Fantastic fuel economy
- 4WD variant available
Cons
- Tiring to drive (long distance)
Mitsubishi EK Wagon
Ex-Japan Price: from Ksh710,000
You probably know Mitsubishi for its trucks and trailers but did you know they have a tiny car that ranks among the best for Uber in East African roads?
The EK Wagon boasts a fantastic powertrain that comprises a 660cc engine capable of generating 48HP. Mated with a continuous variable transmission (CVT) gearbox, this tiny beast picks speed with ease and can fit in the tiniest of parking spaces in downtown Nairobi.
With an average fuel economy of 21KM/L and a 30-liter tank, the EK Wagon has got all it takes to handle whatever the world of taxi-hailing might throw at it.
Pros
- Aerodynamic appearance
- Comfy seats
- The interior is well done
- Fantastic ride quality
- Efficient CVT gearbox
Cons
- No tachometer
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Toyota Pixis
Ex Japan Price: From Ksh670,000
No list of “best cars” in any category can be complete without mentioning something from the Toyota Motors Corporation. In the Kei car category, the popular car maker is represented by the Pixis Epoch.
The Epoch mini-car comes with a 660cc engine that produces 51 horsepower. It is mated with a CVT gearbox.
One thing you need to keep in mind is that Toyota is the parent company to Daihatsu. And, therefore, just like Subaru Pleo, Toyota Pixis is simply a re-badged Daihatsu Mira.
The Pixis delivers an 18KM/L fuel economy on city roads making it a reasonable taxi car in this era of tough economic times.
Pros
- Reliable car
- Parts are easily available
- Well-thought-out interior space
- Roomy interior
- Excellent maneuverability
Cons
- Inadequate cup holders
How To Choose a Good Car for Your Kenyan Uber Hustle
There are many factors you need to consider when choosing a motor vehicle for your taxi-hailing venture. Some of those include:
Fuel Consumption: To maximize your return on investment, you should always go for vehicle models that consume the least possible amount of fuel per trip. Cars with 18KM/L fuel economy and above are generally considered good for this kind of business. You can also install an LPG kit to push the needle a bit further
Price of the Vehicle: Before you opt for any car be sure to carry out some background search to make sure you’re not overpaying for it. Classified ad sites are a fantastic place to carry out your research.
Spare Parts: Taxi vehicles are always on the move and, therefore, their parts tend to wear out really fast. As such, it pays to own a vehicle model whose spare parts are easy-to-find and affordably priced.
Reliability: Time is money when it comes to the taxi-hailing business. Therefore, you should only go for cars that are known for their reliability to minimize downtime.
Verdict
The kind of car you choose for your Uber business can make or break your venture. As such, it is important to carry out thorough research and get your numbers right.
The Suzuki Alto remains an all-time favorite car for most Kenyan Uber drivers thanks to its reliability and value for money. The Daihatsu Mira is not too bad either especially considering its Toyota roots (Toyota cars are known for reliability and low cost of maintenance).
To sum it up, choosing the right car for your taxi-hailing business is a deeply personal process. So, be sure to do your math before settling for any car model.
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Greetings Kai&Karo, I would like to know the car models limit on the year of manufacture that Uber accepts in Nairobi Kenya. I am thinking of buying a car to start tax business in Nairobi.
The vehicle must be a 2012 & above model, and be a 4-door. Not a Salvage or rebuilt vehicle. You’ll be required to present a vehicle inspection report from AutoXpress or Kingsway Tyres. The vehicles above are a good choice for uber business.
Hello, Kevin,
What about a Mazda Demio, 2016? Would this be a good fit for Uber? What does the fuel efficiency look like? And what other factors would I need to consider in terms of maintenance?
For one the cost of purchase of the said car is way high as compared to any Kei car reviewed above. Secondly, in terms of fuel efficiency, you’ll be getting around 12 to 15 km/L which I would consider very high given the cost of fuel in the country at the moment. Therefore, in my opinion, I wouldn’t recommend a Mazda Demio for Uber, not unless you plan to use it as a personal vehicle when not working.
That’s very true
What about Suzuki wagon r?? Am thinking of it to join Uber!
That’s equally a good uber car
Whats Your opinion on
suzuki solio 1.2cc hybrid 2017
That is equally a good vehicle for Uber business in Kenya
What about Subaru Stella?
That’s equally a good vehicle.
Hello!
After reading this review on best cars for online taxi, I would to visit your show room for inquiry on terms and methods of payment.
Kindly reach us on 0706867677 for directions
Hello Scepture,
what about a nissan note ?
In the taxi-hailing industry currently, you might take a while to break even when operating a Nissan Note. The purchase & running costs are higher as compared to the Kei cars.
Hi,
Are the Uber cars available your show rooms for viewing? Send directions.
The cars are available. Search Stankam Motors on Google for directions.