With the surge of popularity of the ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber, it seems that we are on the verge of creating whole new vehicle segments focused solely on satisfying the needs ridesharing users have. Obviously, Lyft and Uber aren't the only ones in the ridesharing world, but they are the most popular.

With that said, both the drivers and the passengers do expect certain qualities of their rides. After my research, I have picked up ten best cars for Uber and Lyft ride-sharing services.

What Are The Needs Of Drivers and Passenger in the Ridesharing World?

Before choosing the cars, I have tried to asses the needs drivers and passengers have with the ridesharing cars, and this is what I have come up with.

Drivers that offer ridesharing services value most:

-* a fuel efficient vehicle

-* a reasonably priced car that can be paid off with the ridesharing work

-* a comfortable vehicle with modern connectivity amenities

-* an easy to clean interior (preferably leather seats and rubber floor mats)

-* front and rear central armrest

-* a dependable vehicle with reasonably cheap maintenance (basically a newer car)

Ridesharing service customers value most:

-* enough room in the cabin

-* a phone charger

-* clean cabin

-* nice smelling interior

-* a sense of safety and comfort

-* big trunk (sometimes)

-* a vehicle with large back doors for easy ingress and egress

The final question, however, is - can you get the best car for Uber or Lyft that ticks all the boxes for the money you can realistically earn offering ridesharing service via Uber, Lyft, or some other similar service?

While it is easy to get a slightly used car for the ridesharing service (which I wholeheartedly support), I will list here ten new best cars for rideshare. With more than 830,000 Uber drivers on U.S. roads, the carsharing service has never been as massive as it is now. If you are one of them, look closely at some of these propositions.

Chevrolet Malibu

In its purest form, the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu is available with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that will return up to 29 mpg in the city and up to 36 mpg on the highway with a maximum highway range of 560 miles. Maximum cargo volume is at 15.7 feet. The Malibu sells for $22,090.

The Malibu is available as a hybrid, but aside from better fuel efficiency, the hybrid considerably cut the cargo space and adds more than $6000 to the sticker price.

Engine

1.5-liter, turbocharged

Horsepower

160 horsepower

Torque

184 pound-feet of torque

MPG (city/highway)

29/36

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

FWD

0-60 mph

8.5 seconds

Top Speed

TBD


Read our full review on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu.

Ford Fusion

Although Ford announced the demise of all its cars from the U.S. lineup (except for the Mustang), the company is still very much active in basically all segments. Available with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine massaged to deliver 181 horsepower, the Fusion seems to be an even better proposition for your next ridesharing car than the Chevy Malibu. You can have it for $22,840 new, but it would seem that a bit of research on the used car market could give you more value for less. Technology such as the SmartGauge with EcoDrive and powerful Regenerative Braking and Brake Coach gives you an edge in lowering the fuel consumption. The hybrid is available as well.

If you think that the small 1.5-liter, turbocharged engine isn't sufficient enough, read this Motortrend assessment: "Keep the revs between 3,000 and 4,000 rpm, and you'll be rewarded with plenty of power for passing, merging, and climbing up steep grades."

Engine

1.5-liter, turbocharged

Horsepower

181 horsepower

Torque

185 pound-feet of torque

MPG (city/highway)

23/34

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

FWD

0-60 mph

9.1

Top Speed

130 mph (estimated)


Read our full review on the 2019 Ford Fusion

Chevrolet Equinox

Mid-size SUVs may well be the best vehicles for the ridesharing services. See, passengers do prefer SUVs as they provide enough room in the cabin, in the trunk, large doors, ease of ingress and egress, and usually lower NVH values compared to smaller cars. With a starting price of 23,900, the Equinox is one of the least expensive midsize SUVs. Whether you like it or not, SUVs like the Equinox offer the most comprehensive set of characteristics that seem to perfectly suit all that the driver and passenger may need. Plus, you, as a driver, can get access to a premium Uber SUV service.

Engine

1.5-liter, turbocharged

Horsepower

170 horsepower

Torque

203 pound-feet of torque

MPG (city/highway)

26/32

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

FWD

0-60 mph

9.2 seconds

Top Speed

115 mph (est)


Read our full review on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox

Nissan Rogue

Nissan's entry in the mid-size SUV segment comes with the 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that develops 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. With known reliability, the Rogue will also return up to 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. It is definitely a welcomed feature for any driver. I would wager that this makes the Rogue one of the best cars for Lyft. Nissan sold a bunch of these mid-size SUV's, so finding a used one with higher grade equipment may be an even more alluring possibility. After all, at almost $25,000, the Rogue is not among the most affordable vehicles on the list.

Engine

2.5-liter, naturally aspirated

Horsepower

170 horsepower

Torque

175 pound-feet of torque

MPG (city/highway)

26/33

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

FWD

0-60 mph

9 seconds

Top Speed

118 mph


Read our full review on the 2019 Nissan Rogue

Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is a holy grail among Uber and Lyft drivers. Heck, even calling it a "best car for Lyft" sounds reasonable. Plus, I think it is somehow synonymous with the ridesharing culture. With its incredible fuel efficiency (it returns more than 50 mpg), well-known Toyota reliability, and comfort inside, the Prius seems to be a perfect ridesharing car. The latest generation will set you back at least $23,770. However, you can even go for the smaller Prius C that starts at a reasonable $21,350. Plus, it is UberX approved.

Engine

1.8-Liter and 71 hp electric motor

Horsepower

121 horsepower combined

Torque

105 pound-feet of torque

MPG (city/highway)

58/53

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

FWD

0-60 mph

10.5 seconds

Top Speed

112 mph (est)


Read our full review on the 2019 Toyota Prius

Hyundai Ioniq

At $25,350, the 2019 Hyundai Ioniq plug-in Hybrid is one of the least expensive PHEVs on the market. A pure hybrid version is even cheaper, but considering that the Ioniq plug-in hybrid has up to 39 miles of range solely on electric power, I think that it may be an awesome ridesharing car that will give you an edge in your pursuit for profitability. Rated at 139 horsepower, its hybrid system is more powerful than the one in the Prius, plus, I think that this one looks better. So, if you plan your routes a bit more carefully and make use of the electric drive capability, the Ioniq PHEV could be a perfect ridesharing solution. Heck, go for the used one. Back on Autotrader, I found Ioniq hybrid with reasonable mileage of 35,000 miles for as low as $13,500.

Engine

1.6-liter and 60 hp electric motor

Horsepower

139 horsepower combined

Torque

125 pound-feet of torque

MPG (city/highway)

57/59

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

FWD

0-60 mph

9+ seconds (est)

Top Speed

110 mph


Read our full review on the 2019 Hyundai Ioniq.

Toyota RAV4

The newest RAV4 may be the most convenient compact SUV ever produced. It can even return up to 41 mpg. However, at $27,700 it is definitely among the most expensive entries on the list. Chief advantages over the other cars on the list include its SUV stature, modern equipment, a lot of space in the cabin, exceptional fuel efficiency, bulletproof reliability, and a design that, finally, exerts some power. I'd go as far as to say that the Toyota RAV4 is the best cars for a taxi, and probably just right for any ridesharing service. It is big enough for a dog, for groceries, and it is efficient enough for the driver to make the profit. Plus, it's all new and modern. And it does have a smart AWD system.

Engine

2.5-liter and Multi-electric motor assist

Horsepower

219 horsepower

Torque

163(ICE)+149(electric front)+89(electric back) pound-feet

MPG (city/highway)

41/38

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

AWD

0-60 mph

7.8 seconds

Top Speed

TBD


Read our full review on the 2019 Toyota RAV4

Dodge Grand Caravan

The Dodge Grand Caravan is the only vehicle on this list that comes with a six-cylinder engine. It develops 286 horsepower and returns up to 26 mpg. So, why the heck would you need it for the Uber business?With an entry-level price of $26,790, it feels that the Grand Caravan is a good people carrier. Sure, you could go for the new one, but I did find an exceptional 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan with 35,000 miles on the odometer for 13 grand. Do your research. You could find a fantastic deal and get the best Uber car. Plus, you can get that Stow 'n Go folding seat system in the back.

Engine

3.6-liter, V-6

Horsepower

283 horsepower

Torque

260 pound-feet of torque

MPG

17/26 mpg

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

FWD

0-60 mph

7.9 seconds (est)

Top Speed

113 mph


Read our full review on the 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan

Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Elantra is a no-fuss compact sedan. First of all, it will return up to 36 mpg with its 147 horsepower, 2.0-liter, gasoline engine. More important than that is the fact that, with only a $2,300 premium, Hyundai adds a nice 7-inch display, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and advanced safety gear. Even as such, the Elantra remains a sub-$20k sedan.

Engine

2.0-liter

Horsepower

147 horsepower

Torque

132 pound-feet of torque

MPG (city/highway)

26/36

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

FWD

0-60 mph

9 seconds

Top Speed

120+ mph (est)


Read our full review on the 2019 Hyundai Elantra

Honda Civic Hatchback

However, with a price of $21,450 it is rather pricy - especially compared to Korean competition. Nevertheless, the 2019 Honda Civic hatchback power comes from a modern 1.5-liter, 174 horsepower engine that can return up to 40 mpg on the highway (with a CVT). In the back, with the rear seats folded down, you can enjoy as much as 46.2 cubic feet of space. As an Uber driver, I am sure that is something you'd need more often than not.

Engine

1.5-liter, turbocharged

Horsepower

174 horsepower

Torque

162 pound-feet of torque

MPG

31/40

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

FWD

0-60 mph

6.5 seconds

Top Speed

125 mph


Read our full review on the 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback

Bonus

The Simplest Thing You Can Do To Get That 5-Star Uber Rating Every Time? (aside from being clean and not being a prick that is) - Install a cell phone, laptop, and tablet charger in your car