The best small automatic cars – driven and tested
As more drivers switch to an automatic gearbox, we run through the best smaller options
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by Jack Warrick
6 mins read
10 January 2025
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While manual cars are still the go-to option for many drivers, this more involved transmission might not be long for this world.
With each passing year, more British drivers are choosing an automatic gearbox over a traditional manual.
According to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), 324,064 driving tests from 2022 to 2023 were completed in an automatic car.
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Sure, that’s far fewer than the 1.36 million manual tests taken in the same period, but it’s still a huge increase of 360% compared with 15 years ago.
There are several reasons for this. A higher number of people are starting to learn how to drive in electric cars which don’t have a traditional gearbox, but the main reason is there simply aren’t many manual cars on sale in 2025.
So with more drivers hunting for a car with an automatic gearbox as their first wheels, and those on a lower budget looking at many of the great small car options on sale in the UK, which are the best small cars with an automatic gearbox?
After hours of extensive testing from our team of experts, we’ve listed our top 10 right here. The best small car with an automatic gearbox is the Renault Clio, which is our top pick for its blend of driver appeal, affordability and comfort.
Check out our top 10 list below for our other selected contenders. We’ve excluded electric cars from this list, but you can read about our favourites in our top 10 electric cars here.
1. Renault Clio
9
- Design8
- Interior7
- Performance8
- Ride & Handling8
- Costs10
Pros
Plush, premium interior
Seemless hybrid drivetrain
Cons
Ride can feel lumpy at times
Rear space is in short supply
Best for: Material quality
The new Renault Clio supermini has a choice of two engines: a turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol triple and a hybridised 1.6-litre petrol four, badged E-Tech.
Only the latter comes with an automatic gearbox, but both are great options on the road.
The E-Tech hybrid produces 143bhp and power is managed by an unusual ‘multimodal’ automatic gearbox with two electric motors.
It’s frugal, with official efficiency of 67.3mpg, and it’s the cheapest hybrid on sale in the UK today, starting at £21,495.
Read our Renault Clio review
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2. Seat Ibiza
9
- Design8
- Interior7
- Performance8
- Ride & Handling9
- Costs8
Pros
Responsive and refined engine
Practical for its size
Cons
Firm ride in the sporty FR model
Noisier ride than rivals
Best for: Handling
The Seat Ibiza is another great option if you’re after a small car with an automatic gearbox.
While the Spanish supermini is sold with a five-speed manual gearbox as standard, sporty FR trim and above get the option of a seven-speed automatic.
This is partnered with the Volkswagen Group’s excellent 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, which produces 113bhp and offers a 0-62mph time of 10.3sec.
It’s pricier than the Clio E-Tech, starting at £23,590, but you do get some decent equipment as standard, including LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, lots of safety systems and cruise control.
Read our Seat Ibiza review
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3. Skoda Fabia
9
- Design8
- Interior8
- Performance8
- Ride & Handling8
- Costs9
Pros
Great ride quality
User-friendly interior
Cons
Uninvolving to drive
Scratchy plastics
Best for: Price
Like the Seat Ibiza, the Skoda Fabia is a Volkswagen Polo underneath, so you’ve got the same 1.0-litre TSI petrol offering with a seven-speed automatic gearbox.
It comes in at £21,780, though, which represents a slight saving over the Seat.
We’re big fans of the Fabia because it’s roomy and practical and has a genuinely user-friendly interior.
What’s more, it rides better than some luxury cars on the market – a big boost to its appeal as an everyday runaround.
It’s not quite as fun to drive as the Ibiza, but it’s a great small car in its own right.
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4. Mini Cooper
10
- Design8
- Interior8
- Performance4
- Ride & Handling9
- Costs8
Pros
Unmistakeably Mini design inside and out
Entertaining handling
Cons
No manual mode for the automatic
Busy central touchscreen
Best for: Character
Mini’s evergreen hatchback gained a substantial update in 2024, returning for its fourth generation.
Thankfully, it retained its eye-catching, characterful design, but the brand also chose to keep a choice of petrol or electric power.
Drivers can choose between Cooper C, Cooper S and John Cooper Works variants.
Power starts at 154bhp in the C, jumping up to 201bhp in the S, and the JCW will pump out a punchy 229bhp when it arrives later this year.
Mini’s decision to drop the manual gearbox for this generation will be disappointing to some. It’s a shame, for sure, but it doesn’t stop the British-built car from offering one of the most fun driving experiences in its class.
It’s the best-handling hatch besides the rally-bred Toyota GR Yaris, with brilliant traction and accurate steering. The ride is a bit firm, though.
Read our Mini Cooper review
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5. Toyota Yaris
8
- Design8
- Interior8
- Performance6
- Ride & Handling8
- Costs9
Pros
Class-leading economy
Excellent around town
Cons
Poor rear and boot space
Engine isn’t one for the enthusiast
Best for: Economy
Yet another great supermini on this list, the Toyota Yaris is offered with an automatic gearbox as standard – but things are slightly different here.
It’s an e-CVT, meaning there’s just one continually variable ‘gear’. Thankfully, on the surface, it works the same as a traditional automatic.
The Yaris is priced from £22,640, which makes it one of the cheapest of its kind on sale today. Things are made even more simple because there’s just one engine option: a hybridised 1.5-litre petrol.
It matches 114bhp of power (for a 9.7sec 0-62mph time) with class-leading frugality, with up to 70.6mpg officially on offer and achievable in reality.
Read our Toyota Yaris review
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6. Jeep Avenger
7
- Design8
- Interior7
- Performance7
- Ride & Handling8
- Costs8
Pros
Good energy efficiency
More rounded than the Avenger Electric
Cons
Other mild hybrids are more engaging to drive
Practicality isn’t its strong suit
Best for: Boot space
After its heralded arrival as an EV, Jeep’s compact crossover gained a mild-hybrid petrol option, which brings a near-£10,000 saving and – you guessed it – an automatic gearbox.
It’s the same six-speed dual-clutch automatic as in the Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208 (all are part of the vast Stellantis stable) with a gearbox-mounted electric motor.
The motor-and-gearbox combination boosts performance by 30% in the mid-range, but it can be slow to change up or down when you want it to.
That said, it’s still a good alternative to the petrol manual and electric options also offered in the Avenger line-up.
Power stands at 127bhp and torque is 151lb ft, which should be more than enough for most drivers.
Read our Jeep Avenger review
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7. Hyundai i20
7
- Design8
- Interior7
- Performance6
- Ride & Handling8
- Costs7
Pros
Roomy cabin and boot
Plenty of equipment and space
Cons
Less than spritely performance
Ride and handling are only just passable
Best for: Style
The Hyundai i20 is a stylish option that isn’t the driver of sales it once was but still has an important role to play.
It’s available with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and although it isn’t the most spritely option, it is nevertheless fairly frugal, offering 52.3mpg.
The gearbox is mated to a 1.0-litre turbocharged engine with just 99bhp.
It’s a pleasant small car; just don’t expect fireworks.
Read our Hyundai i20 review
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8. Toyota Aygo X
7
- Design8
- Interior7
- Performance7
- Ride & Handling7
- Costs8
Pros
Comfortable over long distances
Lots of safety tech as standard
Cons
Very, very slow
Expensive compared with rivals
Best for: Visibility
The second Toyota on our list of the best small cars with an automatic gearbox is the Aygo X, a compact crossover best described as an Aygo on stilts.
It packs a 1.0-litre petrol engine (no turbocharger here, mind) with 70bhp, which on paper looks a bit measly and underpowered. It’s not bad in town, but that claimed 0-62mph of 14.8sec is telling.
Because it’s not a hybrid, it’s much cheaper than the larger Toyota Yaris. You will need to spend just £17,245 for the basic 1.0-litre engine with an S-CVT – or ‘small’ CVT.
In our view, the Aygo X’s interior is value motoring perfected, with brilliant ergonomics and technology. Refinement is great too.
Read our Toyota Aygo X review
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9. Honda Jazz
7
- Design7
- Interior8
- Performance7
- Ride & Handling8
- Costs7
Pros
Exceptional, effortless fuel economy
Practical interior
Cons
Relatively high price
Bland to drive
Best for: Passenger space
There’s just one powertrain available on the Honda Jazz and just one gearbox option too.
The Jazz comes with an e-CVT and is priced from £26,395. That makes it one of the more expensive options on this list.
It’s a full hybrid, unlike the Jeep Avenger and Vauxhall Corsa, so it can deliver electric-only driving at low speeds, with the engine effectively working as a generator to charge the battery that feeds the motor.
You will get good fuel economy too, with Honda claiming a combined average of 62.8mpg.
Read our Honda Jazz review
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10. Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa
7
- Design8
- Interior8
- Performance7
- Ride & Handling7
- Costs7
Pros
Stylish choices
Torquey, keen and decently economical
Cons
Not engaging to drive
Firm ride
The Peugeot 208 is mechanically very similar to the Vauxhall Corsa, and that includes its six-speed automatic transmission, which is fitted with an electric motor.
They’re both popular choices, thanks to the option of petrol, hybrid and electric power. The cheapest automatic will be equipped on the hybrid variant of either.
Vauxhall’s automatic supermini comes in slightly cheaper than its French counterpart, costing at least £23,595, compared with £25,375.
Regardless, both are refined, comfortable and good to drive, so it will come down to how stylish you are.
