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 2025
- 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
Fiat 500 Electric (2021-)
The mild-hybrid version of the Fiat 500 is a bit cheaper than this fully electric version, but it’s essentially the same car that was introduced way back in 2007. Choose the new 500 Electric (also known as the 500e) 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 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
Honda Jazz (2020-)
Every version of the latest Honda Jazz comes with hybrid power and a CVT (continuously variable transmission) automatic gearbox. The transmission itself is easy to live with and, unlike most autos, there are no individual gears.
Instead, the Jazz has an infinite spread of ratios with its CVT 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 full hybrid engine arrangement for the Jazz offers low emissions of 79g/km and 62.8mpg combined fuel economy, so the Honda won’t stress your bank balance. And because the Jazz can run on purely electric power at low speeds, it’s whisper-quiet in a traffic jam..
Honda Jazz Review
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 fuel 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
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. You’d struggle to buy any other used automatic cars with such a long warranty, high equipment levels and low running costs for the money, and there’s nothing cut-price about how the Picanto looks, feels, or performs. In fact, the Picanto was given a sharp new exterior look in 2024, making it more appealing than ever.
There's a choice of a 1.0-litre or 1.2-litre petrol engine and both work a treat with the optional five-speed automatic gearbox in place of the standard five-speed manual transmission. This is a small car with big-car features – as of February 2025, even the entry-level version has automatic headlights, heated door mirrors, a reversing camera and a touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation and support for Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. All Picantos come with a class-leading seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty too.
Kia Picanto Review
MINI (2013-2023)
The previous-generation BMW MINI hatch remains one of the most appealing superminis on the market thanks to its stylish looks, chic cabin and nimble handling. And 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
Renault Zoe (2020-2024)
The new Renault 5 might have stolen its thunder but the Renault Zoe is great value and remains a very appealing option if you want a small car with an electric motor instead of a petrol engine.
This French supermini offers strong acceleration and higher-spec 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
Skoda Fabia (2021-)
Skoda has mastered the art of creating 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.
The Fabia is cheaper than rivals such as the Ford Fiesta Powershift or Volkswagen Polo DSG and its 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 fuel economy of 50.3mpg and 128g/km of CO2.
Skoda Fabia Review
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 fuel economy and CO2 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
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 a used 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 prefer a bit more flair than you get from the Polo’s smart but undeniably conservative styling, then you could also try its Volkswagen Group sibling, the Seat Ibiza DSG.
Volkswagen Polo Review
