The world's top 10 coolest taxis

BLACK CAB, LONDON

Lots of legroom, enough height to accommodate a top hat, a turning circle tight enough to navigate the entrance to the Savoy Hotel, and an old-fashioned silhouette make the hackney cab delightfully retro – although they’re not all black now. Forget satnav: cabbies must pass the legendary Knowledge exam by memorising thousands of routes and points of interest, which makes them the best taxi drivers in the world. See visitlondon.com

MERCEDES-BENZ, MUNICH

It was a German who invented the taximeter in 1891, and German automobile companies have supplied many of the taxis in Europe (and elsewhere) over the decades. Mercedes-Benz has led the way in providing taxis since 1927, with its first diesel model arriving in 1936. Hop into the latest incarnation in Munich, where sleek, high-class taxis are painted cream and invariably polished to a shine. See muenchen.de

VINTAGE PEUGEOT, ADDIS ABABA

Photo: Getty Images

The Peugeot 404 and 504, built in the mid-20th-century as good-value, durable family cars, are still operating – just about – in Ethiopia, though slowly vanishing thanks to lack of replacement parts and their appalling fuel efficiency. The cars are invariably painted sky blue and often have a handy roof rack for your suitcases or chickens. The eastern city of Harar has perhaps the biggest surviving fleet. See ethiopia.travel

VW BEETLE, MEXICO CITY

Photo: Getty Images

The iconic green taxi with its white roof was phased out by city authorities in 2012, but unlicensed Beetles still prowl the byways. This is one of the world’s few two-door taxis and hence most squeezed taxi ride, though some drivers remove the passenger seat to provide extra legroom. Belching exhaust fumes and the chance of getting mugged are other downsides, but what price nostalgia? See cdmxtravel.com

STANDARD TAXI, SINGAPORE

Forgo premium and limousine taxis for what Singaporeans call standard taxis, because they’d be impressive anywhere thanks to stiff competition and stringent regulations. Taxis are cheap, air-conditioned, clean, driven by courteous English-speaking drivers and painted in lollypop colours (yellow, pink, red) depending on the company. This is one of few cities with sedate taxi drivers, since warning beeps sound if the speed limit is exceeded. See visitsingapore.com