In the old days, you'd only find auto gearboxes on pricier cars, but now they're available on all sorts of models.
If you want a small car to slip through city traffic and don't fancy fussing with a clutch pedal, check out our 10 favourite small automatic cars on sale.
Most are available with big discounts as nearly new and used cars from Motorpoint.
Skoda Kamiq
Don't let the Skoda Kamiq's SUV styling fool you; this is a compact car with a shorter footprint than a Volkswagen Golf. Despite its small stature, you'll find there's plenty of passenger space in the Kamiq and a big 400-litre boot. That makes it an easy choice for small families, with enough space to wrestle kids into their child seats and to stow pushchairs in the boot. Both the Kamiq's 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbo petrol engines are available with the swift-shifting DSG automatic gearbox, making easy work of city driving.
Browse used Skoda Kamiq cars or read our Skoda Kamiq review
Kia Picanto
The Kia Picanto – as well as its Hyundai i10 sister car – are two of our favourite ultra-compact city cars. No parking space is too small with the Picanto measuring barely over 3.6 metres long. However, its clever packaging and tall body means there's space to squeeze four adults into its cabin, plus a respectable amount of luggage too. Great visibility and a tight turning circle mean the Picanto is ideally suited to city driving, so why not make life even easier by picking the optional auto gearbox to take the strain off your clutch foot?
See used Kia Picanto cars or read our Kia Picanto review
Mercedes A-Class
Despite being the smallest model in the lineup, the Mercedes A-Class still delivers an experience worthy of the three-pointed star on the bonnet. Ride comfort is impressive for a car this size, and its turbo petrol engines make a natural pairing with the A-Class's dual-clutch automatic gearbox, allowing for smooth, swift progress with just a brush of the accelerator. Plush materials feature extensively throughout the cabin, as does Mercedes' high-tech infotainment system, which features glossy graphics and fast loading times.
Check out used Mercedes A-Class cars or read our Mercedes A-Class review
Toyota Yaris
The current Toyota Yaris is automatic-only, as it's only sold in the UK with its efficient 1.5-litre full-hybrid engine. That means you get zippy off-the-line response from the electric motor, so you can always snag that gap in traffic, with the fuel-sipping petrol engine joining in as speeds increase. Economy figures north of 60mpg are readily achievable, even if you cover mostly stop-start urban traffic, and there's no faffing around with batteries to recharge. The cabin is simple but intuitive, making it easy to get your head around.
View used Toyota Yaris cars or read our Toyota Yaris review
BMW 1 Series
Like the A-Class, the BMW 1 Series distils the brand's sporty, premium character down into a city-friendly hatchback. It's easily one of the most entertaining cars in this class to drive, with agile handling and predictable, accurate controls. This is especially true if you choose one of the punchy 128ti or M135i versions, which offer real hot hatch performance. A manual gearbox is available on older versions, but the 1 Series suits the automatic option best as it makes it a more complete all-rounder.
Shop used BMW 1 Series cars or read our BMW 1 Series review
MG4
The MG4 is one of our favourite electric family hatches thanks to its modern and spacious cabin, smooth electric motor, and well-judged ride quality that feels instantly at home on Britain's craggy road surfaces. Despite its modest dimensions, its electric-only platform means the axles are pushed all the way to the car's edges, unlocking loads of passenger room between them. Long Range MG4s should return comfortably more than 200 miles on a full charge, which should be plenty if you can charge your EV at home.
Browse used MG4 cars or read our MG4 review
Audi Q2
Of the 'big three' posh German brands, Audi is the only one with a competitor in the small SUV class. The sharply styled Q2 is just a shade over 4.2 metres long, making it shorter than a Volkswagen Golf and very easy to drive on tight urban roads. Despite its compactness, you can just about use the Q2 as a small family car with acceptable rear-seat space and a 405-litre boot. It's optionally available with Audi's S Tronic auto gearbox, which is slick and responsive, and rarely gets caught out in the wrong gear.
Shop used Audi Q2 cars or read our Audi Q2 review
Peugeot 208
The most recent Peugeot 208 sought to shake off the mass-market image of its predecessors and move upmarket. It mostly achieves this goal thanks to the impressively plush materials used in its cabin, and a refreshingly modern design compared to more conservative rivals. Earlier models use the firm's punchy 1.2-litre turbo engine with an optional eight-speed automatic gearbox, while later versions swapped to a mild-hybrid version of the engine with a six-speed dual-clutch auto for slightly better fuel economy.
Browse used Peugeot 208 cars or read our Peugeot 208 review
Volkswagen T-Cross
Look at the Volkswagen T-Cross in isolation and you'll probably think it's a pretty standard SUV, until you park it next to any other car and realise it's barely any bigger than a Volkswagen Polo. As a result, it's fairly tight in the cabin, but the T-Cross has a clever trick up its sleeve thanks to a sliding rear passenger bench that lets you prioritise either a larger boot or more rear seat space as needed. Like the Kamiq, both 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbo petrol engines are offered with the snappy DSG auto, which suits the T-Cross' easygoing character.
Check out used Volkswagen T-Cross cars or read our Volkswagen T-Cross review
Mini Hatchback
The latest Mini Cooper is automatic-only but the older Mini Hatchback was widely offered with an optional auto. Purists might feel this sporty hatch works best with three pedals, but it's a much easier everyday proposition when equipped with the self-shifting 'box. Desirability is the name of the game inside and out, with iconic retro-inspired styling on the outside, and funky details in the cabin like the circular central dashboard pod and the satisfying chromed toggle switches in the centre console.
Take a look at used Mini Hatchback cars or read our Mini Hatchback review
Find an awesome automatic car
Browse Motorpoint's wide choice of used automatic cars for sale. For even more options, take a look at our picks for the best cars for city driving and the best fuel-efficient cars.
