From compact city cars for a quick trip across town to long people carriers and spacious specialised vehicles with plenty of boot space ferrying holidaymakers to and from airports, taxicabs come in various shapes and sizes. Here are some of the most renowned models and the rundown on just what makes them so suitable.
Honda Accord
Available with petrol or diesel engines, the Accord is favoured by many drivers for its versatility. It’s spacious enough to carry a decent amount of luggage with its passengers but compact enough to make for easy urban driving.
Vauxhall Astra
The Astra is spacious and affordable, giving plenty of legroom and boot space even while newer models have become smaller overall. It’s well built, comfortable, and has a full array of infotainment options—all important if you’re going to be behind the wheel all day.
Toyota Avensis
With comparatively low running costs, the Avensis is another comfortable ride good for drivers who are ready to make longer trips as it is built for smooth, quiet motorway cruising. It’s not the most exciting to drive but reliability is more important.
Skoda Octavia
Cheap to run, reliable, and spacious, the Octavia also has the advantage of a lot of power behind it. It also handles well and comes with a long warranty, meaning the manufacturer is confident it can take the kind of use a professional taxi driver will put it to. With the newest model getting a full five stars from What Car?, it’s a choice you can’t go wrong with.
Volkswagen Passat
Another spacious offering, with a lot of different engine options to suit various needs. It’s stylish inside and out, making long rides comfortable for passengers and drivers alike. It’s a little more expensive than other popular choices, but relatively cheap to maintain, so it can make for a good long-term investment.
Toyota Prius
The most popular choice among private hire drivers on services like Uber, the Prius is a hybrid vehicle that’s not just cheap to run but able to reliably withstand hundreds of thousand miles of use. It’s so good for urban use that specialised taxi retailers like Cab Direct carry it, and with zero tax drivers can pass they savings onto customers to cultivate a loyal user base.