I tested Waymo's self-driving car ahead of Miami rideshare launch
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As Miami awaits the launch of Waymo's autonomous rideshare service, I tested one of the company's self-driving cars Wednesday in Little Havana.
Why it matters: Waymo, which currently operates in five U.S. cities, is expanding into five more cities in 2026, including Miami and Orlando.
My experience: The Waymo team set me up on a preplanned ride starting near Macondo Coffee Roasters on Calle Ocho and ending up at Coral Gate Park, taking about 30 minutes round-trip.
My review: It was a smooth and surprisingly human-like ride.
- I sat in the back seat as the electric Jaguar SUV (Waymo's standard car for Miami) navigated around intersections, pedestrians and stopped vehicles.
- What most surprised me — other than the sight of a steering wheel moving on its own — was how the car's AI brain reacted to obstacles in the road with assertive fluidity.
Case in point: When a delivery truck was blocking the only lane of traffic, Waymo veered into the opposite travel lane, crossing double yellow lines before passing the truck and returning to its lane.
- The car is equipped with 29 cameras and several sensors, including radar and LIDAR technology, so I assume it detected there were no oncoming cars in the way before maneuvering around the truck.
At another tricky intersection — one without a traffic light — the Waymo slowly eased forward to check for cars before taking a left turn across four lanes of traffic.
How it works: After you book a ride, the car remains locked until you unlock it through the Waymo app.
- There's also an optional setting you can enable to unlock it automatically via Bluetooth when you approach the car.
- Once inside, you can pick the music, change the temperature and increase your leg room through the app or touchscreens inside the car.
Friction point: Riders must use seatbelts or Waymo won't complete the trip.
When the car reached Coral Gate Park, it pulled into a parallel parking spot.
- It gives you about two minutes to exit, while audio cues alert you to nearby cars as you open the doors.
- If your drop-off location isn't exactly right — say it's not close enough to the entrance or the car stopped near a big puddle — you can press a button telling it to pull forward and find a new drop-off spot.
The bottom line: It was a delightful ride, but I'd like to test it out as a paying customer to see how the real-world experience compares with Uber or Lyft.