What are the best automatic cars you can buy?

We chose these ten automatic cars based on popularity with UK drivers, fuel efficiency (including hybrid options), affordability, practicality, and genuine joy behind the wheel. You’ll find everything from compact city cars to luxury SUVs and even high-end sports cars.

In 2023, over 70% of new cars sold in the UK had an automatic gearbox (up from 49% in 2019), and the rise of hybrids and electric cars has only helped “shift” (excuse the pun) away from manuals. With so many UK drivers embracing automatics, we’ve zeroed in on the models that excel in everyday use and beyond. Below, you’ll see why each of our ten picks stands out.

1. Mini Cooper (Mini Hatch)

Small automatic cars are great for scooting around the city, helping to make stop-start traffic a bit less of a chore. Choose a Mini Cooper (known as the Mini hatch until 2024) with an automatic gearbox and you’ve not only got a great companion on urban roads, however – get out on the open road and it’s a joy to drive thanks to its responsive steering and legendary ‘go-kart handling.

The latest model retains the Mini’s retro style but adds some up-to-the-minute touches inside, with a distinctive round touchscreen, digital display and fabric-covered dashboard. Rear-seat space is tight and the boot capacity is limited, but you get more of each if you opt for the longer five-door version over the standard three-door model.

2. Volkswagen Polo

Of all the small hatchbacks you can buy, the Volkswagen Polo feels like one of the best suited to an automatic gearbox. It’s a great fit for the Polo’s smooth, comfortable drive, and also a good match for its classy interior and upmarket vibe.

If you’re buying a current Polo model there are lots of versions that combine a petrol engine with an automatic gearbox, ranging from cost-effective models that give more than 50mpg (according to official figures, of course) to the sporty Polo GTi hot hatch. One thing they all have in common is a surprisingly spacious interior and the kind of equipment you expect of a larger, more expensive car – even the cheapest version has LED headlights, a wireless phone charger and electrically folding door mirrors as standard.

3. Honda Civic

The Honda Civic has been around since 1972 but it’s a car that evolves dramatically every few years, as each new version is introduced. The latest, eleventh-generation model – which arrived in 2022 – is an absolute belter. Every version (apart from the wild Type R hot hatch) is now a full hybrid, with an automatic gearbox as standard. It’s an effortless car to drive, and the powerful electric motor can drive the car by itself for much of the time. The Civic has a playful side, too, being unusually fast and fun for a mid-size hatchback.

This is also the largest Civic yet and it offers masses of passenger and boot space, while the interior has a refreshingly simple design and a high-quality look and feel. Prices start at more than £35,000 new, but the Civic is well-equipped, feels built to last and there are plenty of used versions out there if you’re on a tighter budget.

4. Citroen C3

‘Cheap and cheerful’ isn’t always meant as a compliment, but it certainly is in the case of the latest Citroen C3. 

You can’t argue with the ‘cheap’ part because it costs thousands less than most similar cars. The ‘cheerful’ bit comes from the feelgood factor the C3 has in abundance. For a start, it doesn’t look or feel like a low-cost option thanks to its chic, SUV-like looks and smart interior. And you don’t miss out on toys, because even the base version has LED headlights, air conditioning and rear parking sensors. Then there’s the cushy seats, comfortable ride and low running costs. Automatic versions have mild-hybrid technology and give 56.6mpg, according to official figures.

5. Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage is a regular fixture in list of the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars and all those buyers can’t be wrong, can they? Well, no – the Sportage is one of the best mid-size SUVs around. While a bold exterior design plays a part in the Sportage’s appeal, it’s also spacious, good value for money and has a very stylish interior. 

If you’re buying new, there’s a choice of mild hybrid, hybrid or plug-in hybrid power. An automatic gearbox is standard for the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models and an option for the mild hybrid. It’s a good fit for the Sportage since it’s a car with a definite focus on comfort and ease of use, offering a smooth ride, a roomy and versatile interior, and a larger boot than most similar cars.

6. Skoda Superb

The best family cars help to make journeys with lots of people – and stuff – as stress-free as possible. And there’s no doubt that the Skoda Superb is one of the best family cars around. It’s incredibly spacious, for a start, with enough legroom in the back to stop little (or large) legs kicking the seats in front. There’s lots of storage space to keep everything clutter-free on board, too.

As for ‘stuff’, the Superb has one of the largest boots in the business,especially if you go for the estate version, which has a larger load space than any other new estate car you can buy. Automatic versions help to make things as zen-like as possible when you’re behind the wheel and you get the choice of petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power, as well as the option of four-wheel drive for certain models.

7. BMW 4 Series

Picture a BMW, and the 4 Series is probably the type of car that comes to mind – sleek and sporty, with a luxurious feel inside. Not everyone is a fan of its huge front grille, but the 4 Series certainly has presence, with a muscular, purposeful look. It walks the walk, too, with powerful engines and a drive that inspires real confidence on any road. 

Every new 4 Series has a smooth automatic gearbox and there are rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive versions, depending on which engine you go for. There’s also a choice of body styles, taking in the two-door coupe or convertible models or the 4 Series Gran Coupe, which has four side doors and a practical hatchback boot lid.

8. Skoda Kodiaq

You can spend a fortune on a classy seven-seat SUV but the Skoda Kodiaq proves you really don’t need to. For the same price as many five-seat SUVs (or hatchbacks, for that matter) the Kodiaq gives you space for up to seven in a car that feels built a cut above many rivals for quality.  

Brand-new models come with an automatic gearbox as standard and the choice of petrol, plug-in hybrid or diesel power. The previous model (sold new until 2024) is available with a range of petrol or diesel engines and the vast majority come with an automatic gearbox. Every Kodiaq is supremely roomy and comfortable, but make sure you go for the seven-seat (rather than five-seat) model if you want maximum people-carrying capacity.

9. BMW X5

Most BMW models are available only with automatic gearboxes nowadays, and its large SUV, the X5, is no exception. You’d expect nothing less from a car that costs well over £70,000 in its cheapest form, but the X5 backs up its price tag by providing an irresistible blend of luxury, sportiness, practicality, and tech. 

Climb up into the X5’s cabin and it feels like a true luxury car, with sumptuous materials and all the latest gadgets. Gesture control, anyone? Yep, you can do things like setting a navigation direction or accepting a phone call simply by waving your hand in front of the dashboard in the right way. The X5 feels imperious on the road, with four-wheel drive as standard and a commanding driving position, along with the kind of responsive feel that BMW is famous for.

10. Porsche 911

The Porsche 911 is a brilliant sports car, offering outrageous performance and a scintillating drive. But it’s also a very usable everyday car, especially if you get one with an automatic gearbox.

Opt for the auto and you can potter around town with minimum effort, letting the car do the work for you. Once you get out on the open road you can really enjoy what the 911 can do, and to make the most of you can change up and down yourself using ‘paddle shifters’ behind the steering wheel. And if you want the added thrill of open-air motoring there’s the 911 Cabriolet, with its beautifully engineered folding fabric roof.