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
- Hyundai i10
- Nissan Juke
- Toyota Yaris
- BMW 1 Series
- MG3
- Audi Q2
- Honda Jazz
- Volkswagen Polo
- Mini Hatchback
Skoda Kamiq
- Excellent practicality for its footprint
- Easy to drive and use
- DSG automatic gearbox always has the next gear ready
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
Hyundai i10
- Practical for such a small car
- Decent ride quality
- Automated manual gearbox keeps costs down
The Hyundai i10 is one of our favourite city cars – along with its Kia Picanto cousin. Its tiny sub-3.7-metre length lets you squeeze into nearly any parking spot, and the upright body means there's great visibility. However, the real genius is the amount of interior space Hyundai's conjured from the i10's compact frame. You can sit full-grown adults behind one another – a near-impossible task in a comparable Fiat 500 – and there's enough boot space for weekly shop. The auto 'box does make the car feel a bit slow, but it's easy enough to get along with.
See used Hyundai i10 cars or read our Hyundai i10 review
Nissan Juke
- Bold, dramatic styling
- Usefully practical
- Slick, high-definition infotainment system
The Nissan Juke was a founding member of the small SUV class. Throughout its time on sale, it's stuck to its guns with outlandish, exaggerated styling, lending it a love-it-or-hate-it quality. Wherever you stand on the Juke, the user experience is dramatically improved for this second-generation model. You'll find better materials, a more composed driving experience, and far improved practicality over the old model. Entry-level petrol cars can be optioned with an automatic gearbox, but our favourite is the smooth, efficient self-charging hybrid version.
Shop used Nissan Juke cars, read our Nissan Juke review, or check out the upcoming 2027 Nissan Juke
Toyota Yaris
- Easy to use
- Long 10-year service-activated warranty
- eCVT hybrid setup boosts economy
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
- Sporty handling
- Desirable brand
- Dual-clutch automatic gearbox shifts quickly
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
MG3
- Excellent value for money
- Lots of standard kit
- Three-speed hybrid setup benefits performance and efficiency
MG's lineup has evolved into one of the most competitive currently on sale. It has several cars that are exemplary among their respective classes and the latest MG3 is no exception. This is a small hybrid hatchback competing against the Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz, but the MG is faster than both of those cars, better equipped and thousands of pounds cheaper to buy. There's no sense of bargain-basement status in the cabin either with a modern infotainment system and a clean, simple layout. Plus, it's backed by MG's seven-year warranty.
Browse used MG3 cars or read our MG3 review
Audi Q2
- Desirable SUV image in a small footprint
- Usefully practical
- S Tronic automatic gearbox is smooth
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
Honda Jazz
- Remarkably practical for its size
- Smooth, efficient hybrid engine
- Solid build quality
The Honda Jazz might seem like any other small hatchback, but it's smarter than most, with a clever design that makes the most of its tiny footprint. For starters, the engine is shoved all the way to the front, bringing the front seats forward, and unlocking more rear-seat and cargo space than most cars in this class. Then you have the Jazz's signature Magic Seats, with flip-up bases like theatre seats so you can store tall, bulky items in the massive rear footwell. All recent Jazzes come with an easygoing, responsive self-charging-hybrid engine.
Browse used Honda Jazz cars or read our Honda Jazz review
Volkswagen Polo
- Effortless driver and user experience
- Decent rear-seat space for the class
- Excellent DSG automatic gearbox
There's a reason the Volkswagen Polo has remained so popular for decades. While some small hatches feel tinny on the road and plasticky inside, the Polo is solid and dependable. Its handling is composed and predictable, and the ride is impressively smooth for its size. Plus, it's easy to use in the cabin, with a straightforward dashboard containing fewer awkward touch-sensitive buttons than newer VWs. Most versions use refined turbo petrol engines, which we'd suggest pairing with the slick DSG automatic gearbox.
Check out used Volkswagen Polo cars or read our Volkswagen Polo review
Mini Hatchback
- Sporty handling
- Cool, retro-flavoured design
- Dual-clutch automatic gearbox
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.
