Quito - Post Report Question and Answers
What kind of vehicle(s) including electric ones do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, infrastructure, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car or vehicles do you advise not to bring?
While a smaller vehicle is nice in Quito due to small parking lots, narrow streets, and tight turns, a higher clearance vehicle is more helpful in navigating speed bumps, potholes, and the uneven/washed out terrain in the rural areas. A 4x4 vehicle is helpful for camping, hiking, and visits to the rural communities. I’d recommend something like a Mazda CX5, Subaru, or Toyota Rav4. For car parts and repairs, we typically order the parts we need from the U.S. and then bring them to the mechanic. Labor is cheap here, but high-quality/authentic parts are expensive. Electric vehicles and charging stations are becoming more popular here. However, with the weak electrical grid and power outages, I would not recommend as the sole means of transport. - Apr 2026
High-clearance, all wheel drive vehicles are helpful for extensive potholes, speed bumps of varying dimensions, and for venturing out on dirt roads and accessing natural areas. I don't advise bringing an electric vehicle due to the lack of charging stations and unreliable electricity grid. - May 2025
Not sure about electric cars, I have a compact Honda and it is not suitable for the city. Bring something with higher clearance. I’m constantly scraping the bottom of the car because of really high speedbumps. There’s all kinds of vehicle makes here from other countries like China and France. Brands I have never seen in the U.S. There’s a large Toyota dealership. I would imagine you can find parts easily with the most common U.S. makes. - May 2025
4WD, and something that can take a dent or two. Driving skills here are not good. - Apr 2025
An SUV with high clearance is recommended. Landslides, pot holes, etc are abundant as you drive outside of the city. Within Quito, it is important to keep your doors locked and windows up. There have been numerous "reach in" robberies and scams at stoplights. When you park in the city, there are folks that guard your car against break-ins. You pay them/tip them before leaving. - Jul 2023
If you plan on traveling around the country (and you should!) I would advise having some kind of high clearance SUV. The city is built into the mountains and there are a lot of steep climbs and dirt roads. Within the city parking spaces are small and roads are pretty tight but people still drive large vehicles. My advice would be for sure to ship a car in. Car theft didn't seem to be a problem. - Jul 2023