The Best Cars for Delivery Drivers in 2024

The recent pandemic and the onset of online shopping have resulted in huge demand for delivery drivers. 

With an average yearly income of $39000, a delivery driver job is a well-paying sought-after gig for many. 

As good as the profession is, there are things a delivery driver needs, a good vehicle being the most important. 

But what features to consider while buying a vehicle? 

Out of so many available options, how to sort out the best car for delivery gigs? 

Keeping these questions in mind, we’ve written this blog post explaining the importance of a good delivery vehicle and why you should go for the best cars for delivery drivers. 

Keep reading to get the list of the six best cars for delivery drivers. 

Why Choosing the Right Vehicle Matters

Choosing the right car can make a big difference for a delivery driver. A smart vehicle choice impacts your efficiency, costs, and even how much money you bring home. 

Here’s why finding the right fit matters:

Cost-efficiency

Every dollar you save on gas and repairs is a dollar you get to keep. 

Think about it: you’re driving all day, so a car that guzzles gas or needs frequent repairs will eat into your earnings fast. Many successful delivery drivers tell us they look for cars that sip fuel rather than gulp it.

Reliability

Reliability is non-negotiable. Take it from NormanDell, a delivery driver who shared on Reddit: “My Mazda gave me 200,000 miles without major issues—perfect for delivery!” 

That’s exactly what you want—a car that won’t let you down when you’ve got deliveries to make.

It’s important because when your car breaks down, you’re not just paying for repairs; you’re also losing money from missed deliveries.

Comfort, convenience, and space

You’ll be spending hours in your car, so you need something comfortable. 

Look for supportive seats, user-friendly controls, and enough cargo space to store packages easily. Features like a spacious interior and simple access to your storage area will make the job easier and help you stay focused.

Plus, you need enough space to carry orders safely and organize them well. This helps you work faster and keep deliveries in good condition.

Safety

You’ll be on the road a lot, often in different weather conditions and at night. A car with strong safety features, like anti-lock brakes, good visibility, and stability control, will keep you safer on the job. Driving a car built for safety means peace of mind, even in difficult situations.

Best Vehicle Types for Delivery Drivers

Let’s explore the different types of vehicles you can choose from as a delivery driver. Each type has its own benefits, and we’ll help you figure out which one might work best for you.

Compact cars: Your budget-friendly option

Want to keep things simple and save money? Compact cars might be your best bet. They’re great on gas, easy to park, and perfect if you’re mainly delivering food or small packages. 

As Reddit user Alwaysbaked99 points out, “Any basic 4 banger gets the job done—cheap parts and good on gas!” 

Plus, these cars usually cost less to buy and maintain.

SUVs: The all-rounder 

Need something that can handle different types of deliveries? SUVs offer a good mix of everything. 

In SUVs, you get decent space for larger packages, comfortable seating for those long shifts, and better handling in bad weather. Just keep in mind that you’ll spend more on gas compared to compact cars. 

SUVs are especially good if you work in areas with rough roads or deal with winter conditions.

Vans: The space champions 

If space is your top priority, vans are the way to go. 

Vans are perfect if you’re handling large deliveries or multiple orders at once. You can organize your cargo better, and you won’t have to worry about running out of space. 

The downside? They use more gas and can be tricky to park, especially in busy city areas.

Hybrid Vehicles: The future-forward choice 

Hybrid vehicles give you great gas mileage in city driving, which means more money stays in your pocket. While they might cost more upfront, the fuel savings can really add up over time.

Electric Vehicles: The new kid on the block 

With charging stations becoming more common, electric vehicles are worth thinking about too.

Zero gas costs sound pretty good, right? Just make sure your delivery area has enough charging stations and that the vehicle’s range matches your daily driving needs.

Mid-Size Sedans: The middle ground 

Mid-size sedans offer more space than compact cars but are more fuel-efficient than SUVs. They’re comfortable for long hours and have good trunk space for most delivery needs.

The bottom line is that your perfect delivery vehicle depends on your specific situation. Think about:

• What are you delivering most often?
• How much space do you typically need?
• What’s your daily driving distance?
• What’s your budget for fuel and maintenance?
• What’s the weather like in your area?

Remember, the best vehicle type for you is one that helps you do your job efficiently while keeping your costs low.

Key Considerations for Choosing a Delivery Car

A good vehicle is important but making smart decisions while buying one is just as important. 

After all, Lamborghini and Porsche are considered the best vehicles but is it a cost-efficient decision to do deliveries in them?

Hence, although having a good vehicle is emphasized in the delivery man’s profession, keeping costs low is important.

Smart delivery drivers keep their costs as low as possible since they aim to boost revenue and reduce expenses per mile. 

Below are our key considerations:

1. Fuel efficiency

Avoid automobiles that consume a lot of gas or require pricey fuel. Your bottom line is impacted by a powerful car that requires premium fuel. On the other hand, hybrid and diesel-powered vehicles can work to your advantage.

2. Cargo space

Avoid hybrid sedans with a rear seat that cannot be folded down if you plan to transport bulky objects. The Prius V wagon offers a lot of cargo room while also fuel-efficient.

3. Maintenance and reliability

Delivery vehicles are prone to rigorous use, making it important to choose reliable ones. Prefer delivery vehicles renowned for their durability and reliability so there is minimum downtime to ensure uninterrupted operations.

4. Purchase and resell at the right times

1. Professional delivery drivers should know when to enter and exit a vehicle on better standing. Examine the depreciation curve of a model.
2. Hundreds of reliable miles can be accumulated, but the automobile must be sold while still in favor and before any repairs can be made.
3. If the vehicle’s drivetrain warranty covers you, you won’t have to pay for the most expensive repairs.

The other important features to be considered while buying the best car for delivery drivers are:

• Leather seats: Delivery drivers have to sit in their cars for long durations, and their seats must be durable and comfortable.
• Sunproof: While doing deliveries or even normal driving, who would like to have the sun glazing into their eyes. Therefore make sure your vehicle has soundproofing in it.
• Heated seats: They provide luxury comfort, relaxation, and physical health benefits, but they also improve safety. Heating chairs and backrests provide a high degree of comfort while preventing constricted posture.
• Backup camera: A backup camera is a small video camera mounted on the back of the car attached to a screen inside the cabin. These are installed to save the expenditures of tooling, hardware, software, and testing required to integrate the display/feature into other vehicle portions.
• Navigation system: Navigation systems assist delivery drivers by storing maps, determining a vehicle’s or vessel’s location using sensors, charts, or information from other sources, and presenting suggested instructions to a human in control of a vehicle via text.
• Remote start: A remote starter is a radio-controlled device that the factory or an auxiliary installer installs in a car to warm or cool the automobile before the owner gets in it. It starts the automobile automatically for a predefined period after being initiated by pressing a button on a unique key chain remote.
• Blind-spot monitoring: Blind Zone Monitoring (BSM) tries to decrease collisions when altering lanes with a car in your blind spot.

Top Car Recommendations for Delivery Drivers 2024

A. Economy and hybrid options

Hybrid vehicles combine the capabilities of both gasoline-powered and electricity-powered vehicles. These let you save on fuel costs while ensuring you don’t fully depend on charging unlike in fully electric vehicles, increasing the flexibility required for long travels. Plus, these vehicles help you make an impact by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and tax credits.

1. Prius (Toyota)

The Toyota Prius is not just the greatest automobile for nationwide delivery, but it’s one of the most desirable four-door hatchbacks. 

Delivery men have the best of all worlds with the Prius: fuel economy and cargo room. Owners claim their Prius’ lasted well beyond 200,000 miles without any repairs, indicating that this four cyl 1.8 L automobile will last forever (nearly).

It can be an ideal delivery driving car that provides the drivers with decent gas mileage, cargo space, and minimal repair costs. 

Toyota vehicles are designed to last. In addition, getting 50 miles/gallon in the city is not outlandish. Toyota charging points are also becoming more common in many cities so that you won’t run out of juice on the way.

You can also look for an electric car provided by Toyota as a reliable and great alternative to gas-based delivery cars. Toyota Camry Hybrid can also be a great option for delivery service as it provides good gas mileage, helps you save money, and has decent safety features.

Also, look at some of the other Toyota Prius family models, such as

• The Prius liftback models
• The Yaris-inspired compact Prius C (for smaller cargo)
• The large Prius V

2. Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid tops the field regarding trunk size and fuel efficiency among hybrids. You can cross the city traffic easily while minimizing your fuel costs. It’s one of the most reliable cars for a vehicle owner and provides great mileage with cost-effective major repairs.

In the city, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid achieves 36 mpg and gets 40 mpg on the interstate. New models, on the other hand, get more. You can provide regular maintenance to the car, which can help you simplify making deliveries and ensure that you avoid an unreliable car.

A typical Sonata Hybrid should cost roughly $15,000 on the internet. Because the market is swamped with hybrids such as the Sonata, lesser pricing is almost certain to be found.

B. Electric vehicles

Electric delivery vans are ideal for people living in heavily populated areas with short distances between stops. Hybrids will be much better if you drive more than 200 miles daily.

3. Chevrolet Bolt

Fuel-efficient automobiles provide an obvious advantage over huge box trucks for delivery drivers. If you can’t afford a huge truck, swapping a large cargo room for a vehicle that can go days without needing to be refueled is even more vital. 

The Chevy Bolt EV is an all-electric automobile with the best fuel efficiency in the industry.

The Bolt gets roughly 240 miles/charge on average. If your routes include intercity or long-distance travel, that’s not much. On the other hand, last-mile or neighborhood couriers should be able to complete a day’s worth of deliveries on a single charge.

Refurbished Chevy Bolt EVs may be found in plenty online and in real life. They frequently sell for less than $16,000.

4. Nissan Leaf

The 2024 Nissan LEAF comes with a flexible cargo space of up to 23.6 cubic feet when you have all the seats up and 30 cubic feet when you have the rear seats down. It also offers cargo covers to hide your cargo from others to ensure their safety while you drop off goods. 

It offers two battery options, the larger being a 60kWh battery that provides an EPA range of up to 212 miles on a single charge. There is also an Eco Mode which boosts this vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Another great feature that Nissan Leaf provides is the B-mode to convert the braking energy into charge when downhills to recharge the battery for reuse.

C. Light-duty trucks and vans

Light-duty trucks, commonly known as midrange or two-ton trucks (because of their two-ton capacity), are an excellent alternative to SUVs and cargo vans. Light-duty trucks have a longer bed liner length (5-7 feet) than midsize vans. Furthermore, the open vehicle bed sends bigger loads and unevenly shaped freight. Light-duty trucks should work well for retail delivery. You get more space that can help you earn more money. It’s the right vehicle for heavy deliveries because of the extra space and can easily pass the dirt roads.

If you’re a delivery driver who requires more capacity than a five-door sedan, a standard-size cargo van like the Ford Transit Connector Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is the ideal alternative.

Most cargo vans will include side and rear doors to make retrieving large and medium-sized packages easier.

Compact cargo vans, such as the Ford Transit Connect, are ideal for working in crowded places, but the Mercedes is more like a multi-stop truck.

If you upgrade to cargo vans again for the best card for delivery drivers for delivery, you’ll compromise fuel efficiency. They’re more difficult to park and may necessitate additional bending and lifting. However, cargo vans are the way to go if you’re making big shipping and are a good driver; cargo vans are the way to go.

Here are some popular light trucks and cargo vans:

5. The Honda Ridgeline

With a towing capacity of up to 5000 pounds, Honda Ridgeline comes with a seating capacity of 5. Equipped with a truck-bed cargo net, utility hooks, door sill protection film, and all-season floor mats, it forms a perfect lightweight delivery van for your delivery business. 

The dual-action tailgate that lets you open the door down or sideways provides the much-needed flexibility to unload cargo based on its type.

6. Ram ProMaster City

The latest 2025 RAM 1500 boasts a massive towing capacity of 11,550 pounds. It features a secured, versatile, and lighted exterior storage system with a 115-volt AC outlet. The multifunction tailgate can swing open up to 88 degrees, swing down to the standard 180 degrees, and carry up to 2000 pounds. 

Coming to security, the 2025 Ram ProMaster offers the Active Driving Assist System that notifies drivers of overspeeding and entry of vehicles in blindspots through visual and audible alerts to ensure safety and security. 

Regional Best Picks for Delivery Drivers 

A. Europe

1. Volkswagen Golf and Jetta Sportwagen- Diesels

You could believe that VW’s older Golfs and Jettas had vanished after the company’s new line of diesel failed to launch in 2015. In reality, many delivery people can locate reasonably priced VW hatchback diesel automobiles for sale around the country.

Diesel cars are the greatest choice for delivery since they last longer and are generally less expensive than standard gasoline vehicles. It’s one of the best delivery cars that can be used for bulk food delivery because of its great storage space, decent mileage, and minimal vehicle requirements.

You’ll lose a little fuel economy because they typically get 2-5 mpg less than in the city/highway. However, the advantage of having a large truck compartment with a solid structure for larger loads is undeniable.

2. Mercedes Benz E-Sprinter

With a battery capacity of up to 113 kWh and a maximum cargo volume of 488 cubic feet, eSprinter forms a good choice for your deliveries. Fitted with 270-degree rear doors and 90-degree stop, it is great for loading and unloading cargo of various sizes fast and flexibly. 

It also features a digital rearview mirror, blind spot assist, and an Activ Brake Assist to ensure drivers stay safe and alert while driving to avoid any major accidents. When it comes to efficiency, the multifunction steering wheel converts the braking heat back into electricity, making it suitable for long distances. 

B. Asia

3. Toyota Corolla

Toyota Corolla comes with a maximum payload of 456 kg, load length of up to 1.6 m, and load width of up to 1 m. The rubber-lined loading area ensures extra safety for delicate cargo items while reversing cameras help check surroundings for safety to prevent any collisions.

It also provides a warranty for up to 10000 miles and 5 years of roadside assistance, making it easy and reliable for drivers and fleet managers alike. The overall cargo capacity is 1.3 cubic meters and has a payload range of 405-535kg.

3. Suzuki Carry

Suzuki Carry comes with the ability to carry cargo as long as up to 2.5 meters and a breadth up to 1.6 m. The best part is that you can access the bed from all three sides to load and unload cargo without requiring much manual intervention and straining. 

The height of 1.6 m that it provides makes it a suitable fit for tall cargo items like almirahs. It comes with a payload capacity of up to 940 kg and 22-rope hooks and offers the entire bed fitted with galvanized steel plates for protection against rust and corrosion. The turning radius of just 4.4 meters ensures it is easy to navigate sharp corners.

How Different Delivery Types Influence Vehicle Choice

Let’s match your delivery type with the right vehicle. Your choice of car should match what you’re delivering. It’s that simple.

1. Food delivery 

For food delivery, smaller is better. You don’t need a big car to deliver pizzas or takeout orders. A compact car works great here. These cars save you money on gas. They’re also easier to park in busy restaurant areas.

2. Package delivery 

Delivering packages needs more thought about space. You’ll want room for multiple packages. A bigger vehicle helps you organize deliveries better. SUVs or small vans work well here. They let you handle heavy boxes and large items easily.

3. Grocery delivery 

Grocery delivery has its own needs. You need space for multiple bags. Temperature control is important too. A mid-size car with good trunk space works well. You want easy access to load and unload bags quickly.

4. Mixed deliveries 

Do you handle different types of deliveries? Think about what you deliver most often. A mid-size vehicle might be your best choice. It gives you flexibility for various delivery types.

5. Special deliveries 

Some deliveries need special care:

• Furniture delivery needs a van or large SUV
• Delicate items need smooth suspension
• Multiple large orders need organized cargo space
• Your area matters too 

Think about where you deliver:

• City driving? Smaller cars work better
• Rural areas? You might need something bigger
• Lots of hills? Get something with good power
• Bad weather? Consider all-wheel drive

Remember, the right vehicle makes your job easier. It helps you deliver faster and save money. Choose based on what you deliver most often.

Ownership Models: Buy, Lease, or Rent?

Choosing the right way to get your vehicle can impact your earnings and flexibility as a delivery driver. Here’s a breakdown of the options to help you decide:

Buying used 

The good:

• You own the car completely
• No monthly payments after you pay it off
• No mileage limits
• You can modify the car as needed
• Lower insurance costs
• You can sell it when you want

The not-so-good:

• Higher upfront cost
• You pay for all repairs
• Older cars might need more repairs
• You’re stuck with the same car

Leasing 

The Good:

• Lower upfront costs
• Predictable monthly payments
• Newer cars with the latest features
• Most repairs are covered by warranty
• Easy to switch to a new car

The not-so-good:

• Strict mileage limits (bad for delivery work)
• Monthly payments never end
• Higher insurance costs
• Can’t modify the car
• Charges for excess wear and tear

Renting 

The good:

• Very flexible
• No long-term commitment
• Repairs handled by the rental company
• Try different vehicles

The not-so-good:

• Not cost-effective long-term
• Limited vehicle choices
• Frequent paperwork

Which Model is Right for You?

Each option has its benefits depending on your driving habits, budget, and how long you plan to drive. 

• Buying used is great for long-term drivers who want a budget-friendly choice. 
• Leasing works if you want a newer car and don’t mind mileage limits.
• Renting is ideal for short-term or seasonal drivers. 

Choose the model that best matches your delivery needs and financial goals.

Why is the Means of Transportation an Important Aspect for a Delivery Driver?

As mentioned above in the job duties section, most delivery drivers’ work heavily depends on their vehicle. 

He uses the vehicle to navigate, carry goods, and so on. To mention further, the importance of a good vehicle for a delivery driver can be explained as follows:

1. Transport of Goods

One of the most significant functions of delivery drivers is to bring all required raw materials to the business and, finally, deliver all finished goods to the clients promptly and properly.

A good vehicle aids in this process. Think about a situation where you’re making a time-bound delivery, and your vehicle suddenly breaks down. 

Now rare instances happen, but what if this becomes a frequent deal? 

Won’t that hinder your work process?

Moreover, a late delivery will result in a bad reputation for a business that works primarily on making contacts. 

Therefore it’s important to invest in a good vehicle that reduces the chances of a late delivery as much as possible.

2. Maximizing Profits

A good vehicle won’t need frequent visits to the mechanic, saving your time and money. 

This will inevitably help you maximize your profits. In addition, a good vehicle won’t become a hindrance when traveling long distances to do deliveries. 

As mentioned above, timely deliveries help make good contacts and get more clients and work.

3. A Plan for the Future

Think about a situation where being a delivery guy doesn’t interest you anymore, and you want to shift to another transport profession.

This could be Uber, food trucks, selling household items, etc. These professions are just as profit-making and need a good vehicle as a raw material. 

A good vehicle will also get you a good amount when you resell it. 

Choose Ideal Vehicles for Delivery Drivers with Upper Route Planner

In the above article, you read about the importance of the best cars for delivery drivers.

Just as a good car aids a delivery operator’s business, apps like Upper Route Planner help navigate the optimum delivery routes. 

Upper Route Planner is a route optimization software that allows you to keep track of your deliveries, save clients’ contact information, manage your time, etc. The software can help you achieve same-day deliveries and ensure there’s no compromise in the quality of the delivery operations.

Conclusion

Before we conclude this blog, we hope now you know which are the best cars to consider for your drivers. So, make your decision wisely while keeping the above-mentioned points in mind. In case if you want to level up your delivery process, we recommend you choose the right delivery route planner like Upper.

Now, since you have the best car for delivering packages, why not get the best route planner for easy route navigation. Explore route planning and optimization features on Upper by booking a demo with us.