While manual cars are still the go-to option for many drivers, this more involved transmission might not be long for this world.
With each passing year, more British drivers are choosing an automatic gearbox over a traditional manual.
According to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), 324,064 driving tests from 2022 to 2023 were completed in an automatic car.
Sure, that's far fewer than the 1.36 million manual tests taken in the same period, but it’s still a huge increase of 360% compared with 15 years ago.
There are several reasons for this. A higher number of people are starting to learn how to drive in electric cars which don't have a traditional gearbox, but the main reason is there simply aren't many manual cars on sale in 2025.
So with more drivers hunting for a car with an automatic gearbox as their first wheels, and those on a lower budget looking at many of the great small car options on sale in the UK, which are the best small cars with an automatic gearbox?
After hours of extensive testing from our team of experts, we've listed our top 10 right here. The best small car with an automatic gearbox is the Renault Clio, which is our top pick for its blend of driver appeal, affordability and comfort.
Check out our top 10 list below for our other selected contenders. We’ve excluded electric cars from this list, but you can read about our favourites in our top 10 electric cars here.
Best for: Material quality
The new Renault Clio supermini has a choice of two engines: a turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol triple and a hybridised 1.6-litre petrol four, badged E-Tech.
Only the latter comes with an automatic gearbox, but both are great options on the road.
The E-Tech hybrid produces 143bhp and power is managed by an unusual 'multimodal' automatic gearbox with two electric motors.
It’s frugal, with official efficiency of 67.3mpg, and it’s the cheapest hybrid on sale in the UK today, starting at £21,495.
Read our Renault Clio review
Best for: Handling
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The player must control the character to run, jump and avoid obstacles. The goal is to go as far as possible without falling.
Small automatic cars are ideal for city driving, offering convenience and ease in traffic. They are fuel-efficient and compact, making parking easy. While the choice of car may seem to be a no-brainer, discussing preferences always leads to controversial topics uk, especially when debating brands, costs, or features in the market.
I've never fancied an automatic in my 50+ years of driving, for me the ability to change gears is part of the pleasure of driving I realise that electric car's don't need a transmission and in ten years there will be no new cars with manual transmissions on sale that will be a sad time for me