If you're looking for the very best automatic cars and you're on a shoestring budget, you've come to the right place, because these are our favourite used automatic cars. We set ourselves a budget of £6,000 and trawled through our huge database of second-hand cars for sale to see what that money will buy. So whether you want the ideal automatic city car, the best small automatic car, or a surprisingly affordable auto SUV, read on to discover the best used cars with automatic transmissions.
Best Cheap Automatic Cars to Buy in 2023
Hyundai i10 (2014-2019)
It isn't quite as fun or as fashionable as retro offerings like the Fiat 500 or MINI hatch, but the Hyundai i10's beauty is more than skin deep. For starters, it offers a huge amount of space for a such a small car – there is genuinely room to seat four people and it has a decent-sized boot – but all that space is crammed into compact dimensions which, combined with its light controls, makes the i10 ideal for city driving.
Small cars with automatic gearboxes are rarely the slickest around, but the i10's transmission will change gears really smoothly – far more so than most other city cars – and its technology is simpler, which makes it a little more reliable.
Don't imagine the i10 can't offer up a bit of fun, either. The interior is bright, stylish and remarkably well built for such a cheap car. It's also good to drive, with responsive steering, a well set-up chassis and peppy engines, while the comfortable ride and stable handling make it surprisingly capable on the open road.
Throw in an excellent reputation for reliability, and you end up with a hatchback that's endlessly sensible, but one that doesn't skimp on satisfaction from behind the wheel.
Hyundai i10 Review
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Ford Fiesta (2008-2017)
Ford sold bucketloads of this generation of Fiesta supermini, and while most were manuals, you won't have to look too hard to find one with an automatic gearbox. The Fiesta mk7 was sold from 2008 to 2017, but ideally we'd look for a car built after the 2013 facelift. As well as smarter looks, the updated model had a new range of engines that improved what was an already very good car, and it’s a great all-rounder of a supermini.
Many budget Fiestas with an automatic transmission have a 1.6-litre petrol engine (don’t go looking for diesel engines in a car of this size) but the 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol with the Powershift dual-clutch auto would be our choice if you can find one, not least because of its superior fuel economy and low emissions. High-mileage examples hover around the top end of our budget.
Whatever engine it has, the Fiesta is a really enjoyable car to drive, and far more entertaining than a Citroen C3, Honda Jazz, Renault Clio, Vauxhall Corsa, Peugeot 208, Nissan Micra, Skoda Fabia, Toyota Yaris or Volkswagen Polo DSG of the same age, and that’s the case regardless of whether you’re talking about manual cars or the automatic versions. The Fiesta is reasonably practical for a small car, too, with a choice of three-door and five-door hatchback body styles. It's a class act all-round, and our pick as the best small automatic car.
Ford Fiesta Review
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Toyota Verso (2009-2018)
Well built and cheap to buy and run, the Toyota Verso (a compact seven-seat MPV with roughly the same footprint as a Volkswagen Golf) makes a very sensible used buy, and we'd certainly choose one over a Renault Scenic of the same age if reliability is in any way a priority.
The M-Drive automatic is a Continuously Variable Transmission (or CVT for short), which alters the gear ratio across a wide band rather than having set gears. In theory, this should make the Verso very fuel efficient, but in practice, it means there’s lots of engine noise when you accelerate hard. It's matched to a 1.8-litre petrol engine and, although diesels are available, they only come with a manual gearbox.
Despite this reservation, the Verso has a lot going for it. The interior design puts a strong emphasis on practicality, with room for seven (at a pinch) despite the car's relatively small size. There isn’t much room for bags with all seven seats upright, but that's not a problem if you fold the rear seats into the floor. It's not the most exciting family car to drive, but it rides comfortably and promises year after year of reliable service. Find one that’s young enough and has been serviced religiously by a Toyota main dealer, and there’s even a chance it might have some warranty cover left thanks to Toyota’s generosity in this regard.
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Toyota Prius (2003-2008)
Anyone with qualms about whether hybrid cars last should take a look at the ads on CarGurus. Search for the Toyota Prius and you'll find cars that have covered more than 200,000 miles, and a great many with well over 100,000 miles on the clock.
The number of high-mileage examples is partly because the Prius is such a popular choice with taxi drivers. That's usually a good sign, as minicab companies value reliability and low running costs above all else. There's room for five inside, and a decent sized boot despite the slinky coupe-like roofline.
There's no manual option with the Prius, so any example you might think of buying will have a CVT automatic transmission. It makes for a smooth and easy driving experience, especially around town. The Prius is less at home on motorway drives, as the batteries run low and don't have so many opportunities for a boost under braking. Most examples of the Prius are full hybrids, and that’s the case for the second-generation model we’ve picked here, but later versions were available as plug-in hybrids, which can be recharged from a charging socket like an electric car.
Toyota Prius Review
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Lexus IS (2005-2013)
If you can live with a gap or two in the service history and mileage north of 100,000, you can pick up a Lexus IS automatic for around £4,000. A well cared for car with around 50,000 miles on the clock should still cost less than £8,000.
Your money buys a high-quality executive saloon that will still have years of reliable motoring left in it, and you can certainly expect a Lexus to be more robust than an Audi A4, a BMW 3 Series, a Jaguar X-Type or a Mercedes-Benz C-Class of the same age. The majority have an automatic gearbox, which is the better option, because the manual transmission is rather notchy.
The IS 250 petrol is the sweet spot in the range, delivering smooth acceleration and impressive refinement. It's not the most economical petrol engine, though, and you should expect around 30mpg. Other drawbacks include cramped rear seats and limited boot space. However, if you’re after upmarket and reliable transport with a high level of specification on a budget, the Lexus IS is hard to beat.
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Hyundai Santa Fe (2006-2012)
The Hyundai Santa Fe was good value when it was a new car, and it makes a fine and affordable second-hand SUV. With a budget of around £5-6,000, you'll be looking at a Santa Fe that's covered 100,000 miles or so. The thirsty V6 petrol engine with a four-speed automatic tends to be cheaper than the 2.2-litre diesel with its five-speed auto', although for the sake of sensible running costs we'd always go for the diesel. It has plenty of mid-range pulling power, which also renders the Santa Fe a great budget tow car.
Automatic examples are easy to find, as most large SUV buyers tend to prefer them. The transmission in a Santa Fe of this age may not be as responsive as the best modern six-speed or eight-speed automatics, but gear changes are smooth enough.
It doesn’t have the sort of interior quality that’s going to make it feel like a cut-price Range Rover but you get a lot of car for your money with the Santa Fe. It's a big and roomy thing, and there’s a choice of five-seat and seven-seat models. The third row isn't especially roomy if you choose a seven-seater, but it's handy to have. To drive, the Santa Fe puts comfort above agility, but that's no bad thing with a large SUV.
If your budget stretches a little further, then a Hyundai’s sister brand Kia makes an excellent SUV in the form of the Sportage, which is also available as an automatic, and a little more cash might just bag you a 2010-2014 model.
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