f you're looking for the very best cheap cars with automatic gearboxes, you've come to the right place, because these are our favourite used automatic cars. We set ourselves a budget of £8,000 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 2025
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 some other city cars such as the Toyota Aygo – 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. Most i10s came with air conditioning, and later examples could even be had with a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. 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. If you don’t fancy the i10, why not try its platform-mate, the Kia Picanto, which comes with many of the same strong points, plus a seven-year warranty?.
Hyundai i10 Review
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.
You might think the best version to choose would be the more modern 1.0-litre petrol engine with the snappy Powershift gearbox. Trouble is, both that engine and the gearbox have question marks over their reliability — which is why our top tip with the Fiesta is to choose an earlier model, with the old-fashioned four-speed automatic. It’s not as quick-shifting, but it’s still smooth, and you should get all the things we love about the Fiesta in a more reliable package.
After all, 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
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, even if it isn’t quite one of the cheapest cars in its class.
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.
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, and because it’s a hybrid, you get excellent fuel economy.
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
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 30 mpg. 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.
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 (and CO2 emissions, if you care about the environment) 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, even with entry-level versions. 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. From behind the steering wheel, 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.
