The best Uber car isn't the cheapest to buy. It's the one that costs the least per kilometre while keeping passengers comfortable enough for 5-star ratings. We ran the numbers.
Uber Vehicle Requirements (Australia 2026)
- UberX: 4 doors, 5 seats, manufactured after 2014 (varies by city), valid rego + insurance
- Uber Comfort: Must be 2020 or newer, extra legroom, higher-rated drivers
- Uber Black: Must be a luxury vehicle (BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, etc.)
- Uber Green: Must be hybrid or fully electric
Best Overall: Toyota Camry Hybrid, From $39,490
The Camry Hybrid is the Uber driver's best friend. 4.2L/100km means fuel costs of $0.08/km. The boot takes two large suitcases for airport runs, and Toyota's dealer and parts network is the widest in the country, so a service booking is rarely the thing that keeps you off the road. Check rear legroom against your own back seat needs before you commit, since that is the spec riders notice.
At 40,000km/year (typical for full-time rideshare), fuel costs just $3,192/year. A petrol sedan doing the same km costs $6,000+.
Best for UberX (Budget): Toyota Corolla Hybrid, From $33,490
If you want the lowest possible running costs, the Corolla Hybrid at 4.2L/100km is one of the cheapest non-EVs to fuel. It's smaller than the Camry (passengers notice), but for short city trips it's adequate. Annual fuel at 40,000km: $3,192.
Best for Uber Green: Tesla Model 3, From $54,900
The Model 3 qualifies for Uber Green (premium rates) and costs just $0.04/km in electricity when charged at home. That's $1,680/year at 40,000km. Half the Camry Hybrid. The catch: higher purchase price and insurance. But the per-km profit is the best of any rideshare car.
Cost Per Kilometre Comparison (40,000 km/year)
| Car | Fuel/km | Service/km | Insurance/km | Total/km (excl. depreciation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | $0.04 | $0.02 | $0.06 | $0.12 |
| Camry Hybrid | $0.08 | $0.03 | $0.04 | $0.15 |
| Corolla Hybrid | $0.08 | $0.03 | $0.04 | $0.15 |
| Toyota Camry (Petrol) | $0.14 | $0.03 | $0.04 | $0.21 |
On fuel, servicing and insurance the Tesla Model 3 is the cheapest to run at $0.12/km, with the two Toyota hybrids level at $0.15 and the petrol Camry well back at $0.21. These figures deliberately exclude depreciation: we hold no recorded used sale prices, so a cents-per-kilometre depreciation rate would be invented, and at 40,000km a year it would be the largest number in the table. Between the two hybrids, the Camry earns higher passenger ratings for rear legroom, which means more Uber Comfort trips at premium rates.
Annual Profit Estimate (Full-Time, 40,000 km/year)
| Car | Gross Revenue | Running Costs | Uber Fees (25%) | Before depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camry Hybrid (Comfort) | $72,000 | $6,000 | $18,000 | $48,000 |
| Corolla Hybrid (UberX) | $60,000 | $6,000 | $15,000 | $39,000 |
| Tesla Model 3 (Green) | $78,000 | $4,800 | $19,500 | $53,700 |
Read that last column carefully: it is gross revenue minus running costs and Uber's fees, and nothing else. It is not your profit, because depreciation has not been taken out of it. At 40,000km a year that omission is worth thousands, and it hits the most expensive car hardest, which is the Tesla. On this basis the Model 3 leads at $53,700 on Uber Green premium rates and very low energy costs, but the Camry Hybrid is the lower-risk bet: less capital tied up, lower insurance, and a car that loses less in absolute dollars simply because it cost less to begin with.
5 Tips for Rideshare Drivers
- Buy a hybrid at minimum. the fuel savings at 40,000km/year are $2,000-3,000 vs petrol. This compounds every year.
- Keep the car immaculate. 5-star ratings get you Uber Comfort/Premium access. A clean car with water bottles and phone chargers = higher earnings.
- Consider a novated lease. if you also have a PAYG job, a novated lease on an EV can save $5,000-10,000/year in tax.
- Track every expense. fuel, insurance, phone, car washes, tolls. all tax deductible against rideshare income.
- Don't forget depreciation. Odometer readings drive used prices, and a rideshare car racks them up several times faster than a private one, so the car will be worth noticeably less at the same age than the same model in private hands. We can't put a number on it and neither can anyone else without your actual sale price, but leave it out of your sums and your profit figure is fiction.
Compare fuel costs for any car on CarSorted. Adjust the km slider to 40,000 to see real rideshare running costs.