Best cars for taxi business in India - Taxi car price & mileage

India is a blooming place for cab businesses, and the most crucial aspect of these businesses are the cars. Explore a list of the best cars for taxi business in India, considering important factors like mileage, price, power, and other functional aspects such as comfort and safety. Many leading car manufacturers offer models that provide the best value to taxi or fleet operators. In fact, Maruti Suzuki has created a separate range for taxis that features models fulfilling almost all requirements to make them the best cars for taxi business. 

Here are some of the best cars for cab services in India:

1. Toyota Innova Crysta (₹19.1 – ₹26.3 lakh)

For those who seek comfort and a premium experience, especially for longer journeys, the Toyota Innova Crysta has been a preferred option for many years. More than 25 customer accessories are offered in the Innova Crysta that enable personalisation as per the buyer. The Crysta comes with a warranty of three years or 1,00,000 km, whichever comes first, which can be extended to five years or 2,20,000 km. The Crysta has the highest taxi car price on our list. 

Toyota Innova Crysta - Key specifications  

Toyota Innova Crysta - Key features

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2. Mahindra Marazzo (₹14.3 – ₹16.6 lakh)

Dubbed as one of India’s safest MPVs, the Marazzo has received a four-star Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) rating. Its Surround Cool technology, which provides uniform cooling in the car, is an industry-first feature offered by Mahindra. It also claims to have unrivalled leg space for the last row occupants, which is often a concern for MPV owners.

Mahindra Marazzo - Key specifications 

Mahindra Marazzo - Key features  

Check out our collection of Used Mahindra Marazzo Cars in India 

3. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga (Tour M) (₹8.6 – ₹13 lakh)

The Maruti Ertiga, or Tour M, as it is known in the taxi segment separately launched by Maruti Suzuki, delivers on the maker’s offer of good mileage and an accessible service network. Maruti launched the Ertiga (Tour M) as part of their taxi range, offering both petrol and petrol + CNG variants. It also comes with an auto-fuel switch mechanism that switches the fuel from petrol to CNG smoothly, mitigating any chances of jerks.  

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga (Tour M) - Key specifications  

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga (Tour M) - Key features  

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4. Honda Amaze (₹7.1– ₹9.9 lakh)

The Honda Amaze is a spacious and comfortable car in the compact sedan segment. Its rapid acceleration makes it simple to navigate city streets. The only Honda car to be featured on this list, the Amaze offers a comfortable ride even on long drives. To add to that, with its impressive mileage, the Amaze emerges as a strong contender for the best taxi car in India.

Honda Amaze - Key specifications  

Honda Amaze - Key features

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5. Maruti Suzuki Dzire (Tour S) (₹6.5 – ₹9.3 lakh)

The Maruti Dzire is undoubtedly one of the most commonly used cars in the taxi businesses in India. Cabs that are booked through cab aggregator services like Ola and Uber are often the Swift Dzire as the car is extremely successful in the sector. It is estimated that the cost of service for the Maruti Suzuki Dzire for a period of 5 years is as nominal as Rs. 25000/=. The car’s light steering, clutch, and gear make it suitable for the regular city driving that taxis go through. 

Maruti Suzuki Dzire (Tour S) - Key specifications  

Maruti Suzuki Dzire (Tour S) - Key features 

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6. Hyundai Aura (₹6.4 – ₹9 lakh)

The Hyundai Aura was designed to optimise the available space, making it a comfortable drive for the occupants, whether on short hauls or long drives. The car’s eco-friendly powertrains and specially tuned suspension makes for a comfortable ride and it’s superior CNG tank capacity make it an optimal choice as a taxi vehicle. 

Hyundai Aura - Key specifications  

Hyundai Aura - Key features  

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7. Renault Triber (₹6.0 – ₹8.9 lakh)

The Renault Triber is an MPV that comes with a modular seating feature, which adds to its credentials as a spacious car. Renault claims to have 100 possible seating arrangements for the seven-seater Triber. The cabin can comfortably house up to 7 people with flexible seating modes. Additionally, the detachable third-row seats enable even more configurations for space, deepening on the requirement. 

Renault Triber - Key specifications  

Renault Triber - Key features  

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8. Tata Tigor (₹6.7 – ₹8.9 lakh)

The Tata Tigor comes with the best-in-class four-speaker Harman sound system, which makes this an enjoyable journey for the taxi riders (this feature is also available in its hatchback twin, the Tata Tiago). Another segment-leading feature is the 419-litre boot space of the Tata Tigor. It is one of the most well-priced compact sedans, given the variety of features it offers. The Tata Tigor, just like the Tiago, has an impressive four-star GNCAP rating for safety.

Tata Tigor - Key specifications  

Tata Tigor - Key features 

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9. Tata Tiago (₹5.6 – ₹8.9 lakh)

Tata Tiago is one of the highest-rated hatchbacks in terms of safety, with a four-star GNCAP safety rating. This spacious five-seater also has plenty of boot space for a hatchback, including ample shoulder room in the rear seats, making it a comfortable choice for longer journeys. It has a powerful engine, which makes it not only a good city traffic car but also makes for a good ride on longer highway drives. 

Tata Tiago - Key specifications  

Tata Tiago - Key features  

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10. Maruti Suzuki Wagon R (Tour H3) (₹5.5 – ₹7.2 lakh)

The Wagon R is arguably one of the leading hatchbacks in the entry-level segment of the country, due to its affordability and range of features. Apart from the affordable purchase price, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is a popular choice for the taxi business in India due to its efficiency which leads to high mileage and cost-effective maintenance. The Wagon R’s size makes it a nimble and agile car, enabling it to breeze through city traffic with ease. Combined with Maruti’s reputation for accessible after-sales services, the Wagon R is one of the top choices for cabbies.

Maruti Suzuki WagonR (Tour H3) - Key specifications  

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R (Tour H3) - Key features  

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11. Maruti Suzuki Celerio (₹5.3 – ₹7.1 lakh)

For its size, the Celerio has spacious interiors in the segment, making this easy-to-manoeuvre, zippy car a good choice for a city taxi. The Celerio is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the country today, and this is possibly why it is one of the more frequently seen hatchbacks on cab aggregator apps like Uber and Ola.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio - Key specifications  

Maruti Suzuki Celerio - Key features  

Check out our collection of Used Maruti Suzuki Celerio Cars in India 

12. Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 (Tour H1) (₹3.5 – ₹5.1 lakh)

One of the smaller hatchbacks by Maruti Suzuki, the latest Alto K10 offers much better space and fuel efficiency than its predecessors. This makes the Alto K10 a cost-effective option for purchasing and maintaining as a taxi. The last on our list for the best taxi cars, it is also the cheapest option on the list for taxi car prices in India.

Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 (Tour H1) - Key specifications  

Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 (Tour H1) - Key features 

Check out our collection of Used Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 Cars in India 

Conclusion

When it comes to answering the question, which car is best for taxi in India, Maruti Suzuki leads the board with the most models in this segment. This list has been created keeping in mind which cars offer good value for money in terms of the mileage, the comfort of the drivers, and the performance of the cars. While this list can provide prospective buyers with some additional details or possible comparisons between models, the final buying decision depends on personal preferences. While this list contains some of the best options, it is not exhaustive. Based on personal preferences, one can turn other cars into taxis.

FAQ

Q. Which car is ideal for a taxi business?

Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire is probably the most prominent car used as a taxi in India, owing to its low maintenance cost.

Q. Is the taxi business profitable in India?

While the taxi business is growing well in India, profitability depends on a variety of factors. These may include the routes that the driver plies on, the cost of cars in the fleet, how well they are maintained, and the charges of regular maintenance, in addition to the fuel costs. Along with this, the skill of the drivers is also important to ensure that all cars are in top notch running condition and do not incur heavy repair costs. 

Q. Can I give my car to a taxi business company?

Yes, it is possible to convert a private car into a taxi and rent it out. To do this, one must apply for a taxi permit at the local Regional Transport Office (RTO).

Q. Which is the best 7-seater taxi car in India?

There are many 7-seater cars in India, but for taxis, the Toyota Innova Crysta, Mahindra Marazzo, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga (Tour M), and Renault Triber are some of the preferred choices.

Q. Which is the best car for Ola and Uber?

Any car that meets the legal documentation requirements can be used commercially with Ola and Uber.