Public transportation is the major means most Nigerians commute from one place to another. It provides an affordable and relatively easy means of transport, since most Nigerians can hardly afford to buy a car due to the economy. Truth is, transport business in Nigeria is lucrative and it has been a means of gainful employment to quite a number of Nigerians. Now, if you are looking to enter into the public transport business in Nigeria, you need to read this article. This is because running a successful public transport business in Nigeria is strongly tied to using the best type of cars. Knowing the peculiarity of Nigerian roads and the hike in fuel price, you can’t just use any type of car for public transport, otherwise, you will run out of business. This is why, http://carmart.ng have put together this article, to guide you on the best cars you can use for public transport in Nigeria.
Table of Contents
Factors To Consider In Cars For Public Transport In Nigeria
Fuel economy: Knowing the cost of fuel in Nigeria now, the best car for public transport is the one that will use up fuel like water.
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Maintenance: Cars develop faults over time, hence, they become due for repair. The best cars for public transport are those that the mechanics are readily available.
Availability and cost of spare parts: It won’t do you any good if you have to import the spare parts your car needs abroad over and over again. The cars on transport in Nigeria must have their spare parts readily available within Nigeria, and your vicinity at affordable prices.
Nigeria road: If you are a Nigerian or a foreigner who has lived in Nigeria long enough, you will know smooth road networks in Nigeria are extremely few. Hence, you need a car that can drive well on rough and uneven terrains and yet remain sound.
The number of seats available: In order to make maximum gain in your transport business, the best car should be able to convey at least four passengers. Using a coupe isn’t the best option for public transport in Nigeria.
Having listed all the factors, let’s dive in into cars for public transport in Nigeria:
Volkswagen Golf 3
The Volkswagen Golf 3 also called the MK3 is a small vehicle suitable for public transport in Nigeria. The Volkswagen Golf 3 is the third generation of the Golf series and the Volkswagen Golf Mk2’s successor. comes available with 3 versions including the estate, the GT, and the convertible dubbed “Cabrio”.
Inside, the car has seating capacity for 5 people, however, it can only sit four adults comfortably. Passengers can enjoy upright sitting position while in the Golf 3, hence no back aches complains. The cargo space measures 18 cubic feet but by folding the rear seatbacks, it can provide up to 41.8 cubic feet for loading luggage. All variants come equipped with a decent package of standard features, consisting of an engine immobiliser, central locking, CD sound, aircon, seat-belt pre-tensioners, anti-skid brakes and dual front airbags.
Speaking of engine, Volkswagen Golf 3 is powered by a standard 2.0 L 4-cylinder 115 hp engine. An option for a 1.8 L 180 hp turbocharged engine is offered for the GTI 337 and the GTI 1.8T. All engine versions work in conjunction with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
Generally, the Golf 3 offers excellent fuel economy, great handling, and balance to drivers behind the wheels. It is affordable and easy to maintain.
Price of Volkswagen Golf 3 in Nigeria
- Nigeria used Golf 3 price in Nigeria: ₦700,000 – ₦1,200,000
- Foreign used Golf 3 price in Nigeria: ₦900,000 – ₦1,600,000
Nissan Micra
If you intend to establish your public transport business along the Southwest region of Nigeria, then the Nissan Micra comes highly recommended as it’s the car commonly used.
Though small on the outside, the Nissan Micra is a reliable and strong car perfectly befitting Nigeria’s road network. It comes in three different variants including S, SV and SR. All are equipped with a 1.6-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine with a four speed Automatic transmission except the S variant which comes with a five speed manual.
Nissan Micra is incredibly spacious on the inside compared to how you would have imagined if you judged from the exterior frame. This is because the wheels are at the far corners of the frame, hence making the wheelbase slightly longer. This increases passenger space, making the subcompact vehicle surprisingly big on the inside, offering plenty of legroom for passengers. In public transport in Nigeria, your passengers will feel more comfortable and relaxed if they have enough room to stretch their legs.
Nissan Micra is easy to drive and handle. With a fuel economy of: City – 8.7 L/100 km and Highway – 6.8 L/100 km; you know your fuel expense is manageable.
Features available on the Nissan Micra include all-round visibility and turning radius, electric power steering and a standard rear-view monitor. Standard safety systems include vehicle dynamic control and traction control.
Price of Nissan Micra in Nigeria:
The price of used Nissan Micra in Nigeria ranges from ₦350,000 – ₦600,000
Mazda 323
The Mazda Familia, also marketed prominently as the Mazda 323 and Mazda Protegé, is a small family car that was manufactured by Mazda. The car provides a very reliable and comfortable means of public transport in Nigeria.
Body styles for the Mazda 323 included a four-door sedan, five-door S-Wagon (sold as the Protegé5 in the United States and Canada, and Astina NU in some Asian countries) and a three-door hatchback. However, in Nigeria, the four-door sedan is more popular and used for public transport.
The car is powered by a 1.5 L ZL-DE DOHC I4 mated to a four-speed automatic. Front wheel drive is available as standard, all-wheel-drive is optional.
A Mazda 323 comes recommended for use in public transport in Nigeria because of the following reasons:
- Cheap maintenance
- Good fuel economy
- Speediness
- Ruggedness
Price of Mazda 323 in Nigeria
- Nigeria Used Mazda 323 in Nigeria comes from prices ranging from ₦450,000 – ₦800,000
- Foreign used Mazda 323 have a price ranging from ₦500,000 – ₦950,000
Volkswagen Vento
Volkswagen Vento is a 5-seater vehicle that is suitable for public transport in Nigeria. The first model of the Volkswagen Vento was manufactured in 1992, and it was called the Volkswagen Vento A3.
The Volkswagen Vento is designed to have accommodating four doors and the bonnet in every model of Volkswagen Vento is almost the same. Both manual and automatic models of this Vento are available. For safety, the Volkswagen Vento comes equipped with airbags. Since it is fuel efficient, you can easily make a lot of profit from using it as a commercial vehicle. It’s averagely low to maintain and the spare parts are available within Nigeria.
Price of Volkswagen Vento in Nigeria
It’s hard to find a brand new Volkswagen Vento in Nigeria. However, used models are readily available. The prices for Vento vary from models, and it ranges between ₦400, 000, and ₦1.5 million.
Conclusion
You can make a lot of profit from your public transport business when you use the right cars. The car models listed available are very affordable. You should consider one of them if you need a car for the public transport business in Nigeria.
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