Small cars and automatic gearboxes are a match made in heaven if most of your driving is done around town. Whether you need the compact size of a city car or the added space of a supermini, choosing one with an automatic transmission takes much of the effort out of urban journeys.
The efficiency of modern automatics means they can also improve fuel economy and lower emissions, and pure-electric cars do without gears entirely, yet still work like an automatic: just select ‘Drive’ and off you go. Here are our picks of the best small automatic cars that you can buy right now.
The Best Small Automatic Cars 2024
- Audi A1
- Fiat 500 Electric
- Honda Jazz
- Hyundai i10
- Kia Picanto
- MINI
- Renault Zoe
- Skoda Fabia
- Vauxhall Corsa
- Volkswagen Polo
Audi A1 (2018-)
The Audi A1 is among the classiest small cars around and it suits an automatic gearbox to a tee. It uses a seven-speed S tronic automatic transmission mated to the firm’s chirpy 1.0-litre TFSI turbo petrol engine with 95bhp. Coupled to the self-shifting gearbox, the A1 has a good turn of speed off the mark and at higher speeds, so it’s just as happy on the motorway as it is around town. It’s quiet, and the gear changes through the S tronic ’box are all but seamless, underscoring the sense of a luxury car that has been scaled down to make the most of gaps in traffic. Driven with some moderation, the A1 25 TFSI S tronic can return a combined fuel economy figure of up to 48.7mpg and emissions of 131g/km.
Audi A1 Review
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Fiat 500 Electric (2021-)
The mild-hybrid version of the Fiat 500 is a bit cheaper than this fully electric version, but it’s still based on the original car that was introduced in 2007. Choose the new 500, and not only do you get a more modern take on the retro styling, you also get zero tailpipe emissions. This also means there are no gears to change, because the electric motor doesn’t use them. Another benefit is the nippy acceleration, which helps when you need to pull out of a junction into busy traffic. The entry-level Action model comes with the smaller 24kWh battery, so it has an official range of 118 miles on a full charge. Go for the larger and more expensive 42kWh battery, and the range increases to 199 miles.
Fiat 500 Review
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Honda Jazz (2020-)
Every Honda Jazz comes with a CVT (continuously variable transmission) automatic gearbox, and the transmission itself is easy to live with. Unlike most autos, there are no individual gears. Instead, the Jazz has an infinite spread of ratios with its gearbox design. The idea is to offer the perfect response to whatever the driver wants, though it can mean the engine revs are sent very high when you want to accelerate quickly out of a junction or when joining a motorway. Even so, the Jazz is easy to drive and to live with in any guise. The petrol-electric hybrid engine arrangement for the Jazz offers low emissions of 79g/km and 62.8mpg combined economy, so the Honda won’t stress your bank balance.
Honda Jazz Review
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Hyundai i10 (2020-)
The Hyundai i10 is such a cracking city car that it makes you wonder why you would spend more on many larger – and theoretically better – superminis. Even when you eschew the standard manual transmission and add the five-speed automatic gearbox offered with SE Connect and Premium trims, it still looks like very keen value. The 67bhp 1.0-litre engine is a willing participant around town, but it can feel a little breathless at higher speed, so the larger 84bhp 1.2-litre petrol option is the better bet if you routinely travel on motorways. In every other respect, the i10 feels like a larger car, thanks to its refinement, quality, generous space in the rear seats and smooth automatic gearbox. Expect combined economy and emissions of 51.4mpg and 126g/km for the 1.0-litre version, while the 1.2 returns 49.6mpg and 129g/km. All of these low running costs are also accompanied by Hyundai’s appealing five-year warranty.
Hyundai i10 Review
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Kia Picanto (2017-)
Few car makers know their buyers as well as Kia, which is why it offers the Picanto with an automatic gearbox from a low price, which also includes a superb warranty and running costs you could fund with the change you find down the back of the sofa. You’d struggle to buy any other used automatic cars with these qualities for the money, and there’s nothing cut-price about how the Picanto looks, feels, or performs. The 66bhp 1.0-litre engine works a treat with the five-speed automatic gearbox in place of the usual five-speed manual transmission. All of the trim levels use the same engine, but it’s worth spending the extra to upgrade from the 2 to the 3 for the additional equipment it brings. However, all Picantos come with a class-leading seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
Kia Picanto Review
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MINI (2013-)
The BMW MINI hatch remains one of the most appealing superminis on the market thanks to its stylish looks, chic cabin and nimble handling. If you opt for one with the dual-clutch Steptronic automatic over the six-speed manual gearbox, it makes life even easier around town without compromising on the fun of this three- or five-door hatchback. The automatic transmission is as smooth as the rest of the MINI’s driving manners, and there’s also an optional Driving Mode selector to toggle between Sport, Eco, and Mid settings to tailor the car’s responses to your mood and the driving conditions. The 1.5-litre petrol engine in the Cooper gives peppy performance and the MINI will turn in a combined fuel consumption of 51.4mpg and 126g/km of CO2 emissions.
MINI Review
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Renault Zoe (2020-)
The Zoe is still one of the most appealing cars to use an electric motor instead of a petrol engine. This French supermini offers strong acceleration and the latest models will cover a claimed range of up to 239 miles on a single charge. Driving the Zoe could not be easier, as you simply slot the selector into drive or reverse and off you go. The lack of engine noise means it’s really quiet, and it’s refined and stable even at higher speeds. It’s worth noting that the Zoe was re-rated by crash test authority Euro NCAP in 2021 to a no-star score, because Renault relocated the side airbags to integrate them with the front seats.
Renault Zoe Review
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Skoda Fabia (2021-)
Skoda is a master at offering small cars with the perfect balance of practicality, performance, and running costs, and the Fabia 1.0 TSI with DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox is a great example. Cheaper than rivals such as the Ford Fiesta Powershift or Volkswagen Polo DSG, the Fabia’s seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox is quick to change gear to make the car as efficient as possible, yet it will also drop a couple just as swiftly to aid acceleration. The 110bhp 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine has a pleasing note and, together with this gearbox, delivers combined economy of 50.3mpg and 128g/km of CO2.
Skoda Fabia Review
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Vauxhall Corsa (2020-)
The Vauxhall Corsa is the first choice of new car for many after passing their test, and it offers a good driving experience for those with more miles under their belts, too. Anyone who wants the ease of an automatic gearbox will find the Corsa fits the bill and comes with a good eight-speed transmission. It goes up and down the gears largely without hesitation, and having that many ratios to choose from helps with economy and emissions, leading to combined figures of 48.7mpg and 121g/km respectively for the 100bhp 1.2-litre turbo petrol. There’s also the option of a punchier 130bhp version of this engine that delivers better consumption at 50.4mpg but slightly higher emissions of 123g/km.
Vauxhall Corsa Review
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Volkswagen Polo (2018-)
We rate the Volkswagen Polo as one of the best small cars on sale, and it’s got plenty of competition in the likes of the Renault Clio, Peugeot 208 and Toyota Yaris Hybrid. If you want an automatic version of the Polo, you have a choice between the sensible Life trim, the sporty R-Line, or the hot hatch GTI. All use the seven-speed DSG twin-clutch gearbox, but the Life and R-Line share the same 95bhp 1.0-litre engine that gives 51.2mpg and 125g/km CO2 emissions. The GTI, on the other hand, has a 207bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine that dispatches 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds. Most will be very happy with the smooth hum of the three-cylinder 1.0-litre engine that feels ideally mated to the DSG transmission whether you’re picking through busy town traffic or cruising the motorway. You can switch to a manual mode by pushing the DSG lever to the side and moving it fore and aft, but there are no shift paddles on the steering wheel as there are in the GTI. If you fancy a similar mix of abilities, but you’re prefer a bit more flair than you get from the Polo’s smart but undeniably conservative styling, then you could also try the Seat Ibiza DSG.
Volkswagen Polo Review
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