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June 01, 2022

Ranking the best cars to eat fast food in and the takeaways that are the most suitable to eat in the car

According to management consultancy McKinsey & Company, food delivery has developed into a global market worth more than $150 billion, with this number having tripled since 2017.

For some, the ultimate takeaway experience might be a leisurely walk to a nearby Chinese restaurant, but for many, this is simply not an option, particularly if they're on the road for work or pleasure. This is when people might prefer sampling some of the many delights that a takeaway has to offer from behind the wheel.

Here at DiscoverCars.com, we, therefore, aimed to discover what the best cars are to eat fast food in and which takeaways are the most well-suited to eat in your car.

Methodology

We took Auto Expresses' best-selling cars of 2022 and looked at several ranking factors for the most premium model available, using the official vehicle specification to ascertain the comfort and practicality of eating within the car.

These specifications include the size of the car, whether the seats are adjustable, if there are front-seat cupholders, if it has keyless entry or not, if the seats are black leather - to aid cleaning up any potential spills - and also how easily the car is to access (in case you have a lot of food!). We retrieved all of this information from the manufacturers' official websites.

We also looked at the most popular fast food spots in the UK that offer either collection and/or drive-through services, to find out which one is the most suitable to eat in your car. Then we looked at several factors, including if they provide sauces in sachets or pots, the type of drinking cup they provide you with and their most popular kinds of packaging. We added or deducted points based on how practical we deemed the packaging to be used in a car to find which brand was the most appropriate.

What are the best cars for eating takeaways in?

Nissan Qashqai (Tekna+)

The Nissan Qashqai Tekna+ ranked in first place for the best cars to eat fast food in, scoring 103 out of 110. According to UK car discount, this model is the best-selling crossover vehicle in the UK and is Nissan's flagship model in their range, meaning it's likely you will spot many of them out on the open road.

This car has excellent handling, which provides drivers with a smooth ride. It also includes lots of new technology, gadgets and equipment.

  • Height (MM): 1,625
  • Width (MM) With Mirrors: 2,084
  • Number of Doors: 5
  • Front Cupholders: Yes
  • Back Cupholders: Yes
  • Front Armrest: Yes
  • Rear Armrest: Yes
  • Fabric/Leather/Both Seats/Interior: Leather
  • Standard Interior Colour: Black
  • Keyless Entry: Yes
  • How Adjustable Are The Front Seats?: 4-Way

Tesla Model 3 (Performance)

In second place was the Tesla Model 3, which scored 99 out of a possible 110 points. This model is the cheapest electric car Tesla has to offer. Having said this, like most electric vehicles, it's still more expensive than petrol and diesel cars.

Car experts at carwow said: "The Tesla Model 3 isn't just one of the most high-tech electric cars on sale, it's also one of the best saloons you can buy–if only it wasn't so expensive."

  • Height (MM): 2,088
  • Width (MM) With Mirrors: 1,443
  • Number of Doors: 5
  • Front Cupholders: Yes
  • Back Cupholders: Yes
  • Front Armrest: Yes
  • Rear Armrest: Yes
  • Fabric/Leather/Both Seats/Interior: Leather
  • Standard Interior Colour: Black
  • Keyless Entry: Yes
  • How Adjustable Are The Front Seats?: 8-Way

Tesla Model Y (Performance)

Ranking in third place was the Tesla Model Y, which scored 98 out of 110 points. It is an all-electric SUV designed for families that has extra space than the Tesla Model 3.

The Tesla Model Y is the US manufacturer's best-selling car in the UK. It has fast charging capability, plenty of space for a takeaway (or two) and accessible technology.

  • Height (MM): 1,600
  • Width (MM) With Mirrors: 1,850
  • Number of Doors: 5
  • Front Cupholders: Yes
  • Back Cupholders: Yes
  • Front Armrest: Yes
  • Rear Armrest: Yes
  • Fabric/Leather/Both Seats/Interior: Leather
  • Standard Interior Colour: Black
  • Keyless Entry: Yes
  • How Adjustable Are The Front Seats?: 12-Way (Driver)

Kia Sportage (Sportage GT Line-S)

In fourth place is the Kia Sportage, which scored 97 out of 110 points. It is the best-selling Kia model globally and its interior has the latest technology, such as the integrated Kia Connect app.

The Sportage model was developed in Europe and specifically designed for buyers in this territory. The car has plenty of boot space to fit all the extra takeaways you may have for your family and friends. This model also has low carbon emission levels, making it a brilliant choice for environmentally conscious individuals.

  • Height (MM): 1,650
  • Width (MM) With Mirrors: 1,865
  • Number of Doors: 5
  • Front Cupholders: Yes
  • Back Cupholders: Yes
  • Front Armrest: Yes
  • Rear Armrest: Yes
  • Fabric/Leather/Both Seats/Interior: Both
  • Standard Interior Colour: Black
  • Keyless Entry: Yes
  • How Adjustable Are The Front Seats?: 10-Way (Driver) and 8-Way (Passenger)

Kia Niro (Niro EV '4')

The Kia Niro ranked in fifth place and scored 92 out of a possible 110 points for how suitable the car is for eating a tasty takeaway. It's available as a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid and an EV.

According to Autocar, the vehicle is 5mm longer and 20mm wider than its predecessors. This benefits the car's stance and interior space, meaning more space for those cups of soda and pizza boxes.

  • Height (MM): 1,585
  • Width (MM) With Mirrors: 1,825
  • Number of Doors: 5
  • Front Cupholders: Yes
  • Back Cupholders: Yes
  • Front Armrest: Yes
  • Rear Armrest: Yes
  • Fabric/Leather/Both Seats/Interior: Leather
  • Standard Interior Colour: Black
  • Keyless Entry: Yes
  • How Adjustable Are The Front Passenger Seats?: Adjustable but unspecified

The vehicles that ranked in the top 10 for how suitable they are for eating takeaways and their points out of 110 were:

  1. Nissan Qashqai Tekna+ (103 points)
  2. Tesla Model 3 Performance (99 points)
  3. Tesla Model Y Performance (98 points)
  4. Kia Sportage GT Line-S (97 points)
  5. Kia Niro EV '4' (92 points)
  6. Hyundai Tuscon Ultimate (89 points)
  7. Vauxhall Mokka E 5 Door Ultimate (74 points)
  8. MINI Electric Resolute Edition (73 points)
  9. Vauxhall Corsa-e (72 points)
  10. Ford Puma ST Line-E (72 points)

Which are the best takeaways to eat in the car?

Greggs

In first place is Greggs, which is a food chain based in the United Kingdom and is associated with the north of England. Greggs scored 56 out of 70 points and is a bakery and sandwich shop which offers tasty delights such as bakes, pasties, sausage rolls and donuts.

  • Can You Get Drive-Through?: Yes
  • Sauce Pots or Sachets: Pots
  • Outer/Delivery Packaging (Bag or Box): Bag
  • Packaging Type 1: Paper bag
  • Packaging Type 2: Cardboard Box
  • Packaging Type 3: Cardboard Tub
  • Drinks Packaging Type: Plastic Bottles

Domino's

Domino's is a successful pizza restaurant chain that is available in 85 countries around the world and scored 50 out of 70 points. The founder of Domino's, Tom Monaghan, originally owned three branches in different locations in Michigan, which are represented in the three dots in the logo.

  • Can You Get Drive-Through?: Yes
  • Sauce Pots or Sachets: Pots
  • Outer/Delivery Packaging (Bag or Box): Box
  • Packaging Type 1: Cardboard Box
  • Drinks Packaging Type: Plastic bottles

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut placed third and scored 49 out of 70 points. On May 31, 1958, Pizza Hut's first restaurant was opened in Kansas by two brothers. According to Pizza Hut, they have over 16,000 restaurants around the world and 350,000 team members. They don't just sell pizzas, they also have items like drinks and sides.

  • Can You Get Drive-Through?: No
  • Sauce Pots or Sachets: Pots
  • Outer/Delivery Packaging (Bag or Box): Box
  • Packaging Type 1: Cardboard Box
  • Drinks Packaging Type: Plastic Bottles

    Pizza Express

    Ranking in joint third place is Pizza Express, which specializes in handmade pizza and scored 49 out of 70 points. The restaurant has 470 restaurants in the United Kingdom and 100 in countries like Hong Kong, China, India, Indonesia, Singapore and Saudi Arabia. They have a range of food items on their menu, ranging from the obvious pizza to dough balls and alcoholic beverages like wines, beers and spirits.

    • Can You Get Drive-Through?: No
    • Sauce Pots or Sachets: Pots
    • Outer/Delivery Packaging (Bag or Box): Box
    • Packaging Type 1: Cardboard Box
    • Drinks Packaging Type: Plastic Bottles

      KFC

      In fifth place is KFC, scoring 48 out of 70 points for how suitable their products are for eating in the car. The first KFC franchise was founded in 1952 in Utah by Colonel Sanders and Pete Harman. Nowadays, the fast food giant is home to over 22,000 stores in 150 different countries. The restaurant is known for its renowned chicken, seasoned with its famously secret blend of 11 herbs and spices.

      • Can You Get Drive-Through?: Yes
      • Sauce Pots or Sachets: Pots
      • Outer/Delivery Packaging (Bag or Box): Bag
      • Packaging Type 1: Cardboard Box
      • Packaging Type 2: Cardboard Tub
      • Packaging Type 3: Cardboard Sleeves
      • Drinks Packaging Type: Cardboard Drinks Cup

      The overall ranking for how suitable different takeaways are for eating in the car and their points out of 70 were:

      1. Greggs (56 points)
      2. Domino's Pizza (50 points)
      3. Pizza Hut (49 points)
      4. Pizza Express (49 points)
      5. KFC (48 points)
      6. Costa Coffee (46 points)
      7. McDonald's (45 points)
      8. Burger King (45 points)
      9. Toby Carvery (44 points)
      10. Krispy Kreme (43 points)
      11. Harry Ramsden's (43 points)
      12. Subway (42 points)
      13. Nando's (42 points)
      14. Starbucks (38 points)
      15. Caffe Nero (37 points)

      We're sure we've got you in the mood for a takeaway, but waiting for the delivery driver to arrive can definitely be a bore.

      Please consider choosing us for your travel (and takeaway) needs as we are a leader in online car rental bookings. This is because we compare car rental deals from many companies so that you can choose the best deal for your individual family needs.

      We also operate in over 145 countries and 10,000 locations, so we're sure to have the car rental deal for you when those food cravings kick in.

        Sources

        Aleksandrs Buraks

        Head of Growth at DiscoverCars.com
        Aleksandrs has over 10 years of experience in marketing with a focus on creating stellar content that provides topical insights using data. Having taken five road trips across Europe and one in the U.S., he is passionate about traveling by car. His favorite countries to visit are Denmark and Thailand. You can find him on Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter.