6 of the Best Cars For Food Delivery Drivers
Whether you’re planning on delivering food as a side hustle or as your full-time gig, you’ll need a good set of wheels to get the job done. And while almost any make or model will, a few cars in the market work a little better than others. Here is a list of six of the best cars we can think of for delivering food or other items.
1. Toyota Prius
We had to include the Toyota Prius. We specifically recommend the third-generation Prius and newer, so look for a 2009 to 2022 model. However, remember that the newer the car, the more expensive it will be, so pick a year that fits your budget.
Once you find one that works, you’ll be treated to a large amount of cargo volume that’s great for catering platters and other big food orders. If you need more space, you can fold the rear seats down, and there’s plenty of room in the front seat area as well. The Prius is also very comfortable to drive around for hours; best of all, it can achieve up to 50 mpg with its hybrid powertrain.
2. Volkswagen Golf and Jetta Sportwagen TDI
We know that the older Volkswagen Golf and Jetta Sportwagen TDI models are somewhat of a red flag after the “Dieselgate” scandal in 2015. However, these diesel-driven models are still floating around the used car market and can be picked up for cheap nowadays. The Golf TDI offers practicality with its hatchback shape and a fun-to-drive nature.
The Jetta Sportwagen TDI, on the other hand, offers more practicality with its large cargo area and rear seat room. If you don’t mind pumping diesel into either of these cars, they can both return around 40 mpg and provide plenty of torque.
3. Honda CR-Z
The Honda CR-Z isn’t the most popular or practical hybrid, but it sure is a lot of fun to drive. The CR-Z is a two-seat sporty hybrid that can be found for less than $10,000 in the used market. Although it only has two seats, that won’t matter if you’re only delivering food. On the plus side, the CR-Z has a decent amount of cargo room with its hatchback functionality, and it can achieve up to around 40 mpg in mixed driving conditions. Lastly, it’s a Honda, so it’s dead-on reliable.
4. Chevrolet Bolt
Now that we have established that hatchbacks are great for delivering food, we recommend the Chevrolet Bolt. The Bolt is an all-electric hatchback that can get up to around 240 miles of range and provides a good amount of comfort for daily deliveries. The only issue is that you’ll have to plug it in and charge it, but luckily, it only takes around 7.5 hours to charge it completely on a level 2 charger.
5. Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
If you would rather do your deliveries in a normal-looking sedan, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is a great choice. The Sonata Hybrid offers plenty of power and fuel efficiency as its 199-hp, 2.4-liter powertrain delivers up to 40 mpg. The car is also very smooth and has a large trunk that should be able to fit plenty of food orders with ease.
6. Ford Transit Connect
In case you need more space, we recommend the Ford Transit Connect. First-generation models (2010-2013) were available in a shorter configuration, which is ideal for city settings. The Transit Connect features plenty of cargo room and passenger volume, but it can be converted into a cargo van for large deliveries. It’s also very tall, in case you need to stack orders or haul larger items.
Key features for delivery driver cars
If you deliver food occasionally or on a daily basis, these six cars are a great way to move your product. But if they don’t suit your budget or strike your fancy, here are some key features that Upper recommends looking for when shopping for a delivery vehicle:
- Leather seats: Leather seats are comfortable when you have to drive for many hours every day. They are also very durable and should last for a long time.
- Heated seats: If you live in an area that sees snow in the wintertime, it’s a good idea to find a car with heated seats for added comfort.
- Backup camera: Safety is important, so it’s wise to find a car with a backup camera.
- Good fuel efficiency: This one goes without saying, but it’s a good idea to find a car that gets around 40 mpg on average, as the fuel costs can add up quickly.
Ultimately, nearly any practical vehicle will work if you have to deliver food or other goods. However, it’s a great idea to adhere to these guidelines to find the right car, or you can just pick out one of the six we outlined.
