Top 10: Cheapest automatics
You don't need to spend a fortune on a luxury car to be able to enjoy the advantages of an automatic gearbox. Autos are easier and more relaxing to drive, especially if a lot of your miles are covered on congested city streets.
Fortunately, even a modest budget can still take the effort out of motoring with our choice of the cheapest automatics on sale.
Toyota Aygo: £12,080
If you want an automatic Toyota Aygo, you’ll have to spec the robotised manual gearbox. It’s not the most pleasant transmission, but otherwise the Aygo’s a likeable little city car. You can customise its appearance to suit your tastes, while the interior is quirky yet relatively practical.
Citroen C1: £12,205
Back to the Aygo/108/C1 trio. If you want a C1 with an automatic gearbox, you’ll have to spec the Feel specification for £12,205. For that, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, air conditioning and body colour door mirrors.
Peugeot 108: £12,335
The Peugeot 108 is closely related to the Toyota Aygo, hence its shared robotised manual gearbox. While it's easy to spot the differences to the Aygo on the outside, the interior is very similar to the Toyota - complete with a dashboard which mimics an angry Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
Hyundai i10: £12,350
If an automatic gearbox is a must-have in your city car, the Hyundai i10 is a much better choice than the Toyota Aygo or Peugeot 108 - and only marginally more expensive. Rather than a clumsy robotised manual gearbox, the Hyundai uses a conventional four-speed auto, which changes gear smoothly.
Kia Picanto: £12,420
You might think the Picanto is yet another ubiquitous city car, but we described it as ‘a bit special’ when we tried it last year. It’s genuinely fun to drive, while the interior is up there with the best in the class and practicality’s good, too. Opt for the four-speed automatic gearbox and you get a ‘proper’ torque-converter auto that changes gears seamlessly.
Smart Fortwo: £12,585
Proving that you don't need to blow the budget for a fashionable choice, the Smart Fortwo is available with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox for just £995 more than the manual.
Renault Twingo: £13,460
The Renault Twingo shares its underpinnings with the Smart Fortwo. As such, it's fun to drive, quirky and is available with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It's better in town than out of it, but it still represents very good value for money.
Suzuki Ignis: £15,649
Opt for a Suzuki Ignis is SZ5 time, and you can pair the 1.2-litre petrol engine with a five-speed automatic transmission. It's an automated manual gearbox rather than a proper auto, meaning it can be a bit jerky around town - but, being a Suzuki, it's likely to be reliable.
Honda Jazz: £15,680
We like the Honda Jazz - as do our readers. Honda offers a CVT automatic gearbox with both the 1.3- and 1.5-litre petrol engines. While some drivers aren't keen on CVT gearboxes, Honda's is fine - especially for around town driving.
Kia Rio: £15,895
You'd be better stretching to the 1.0-litre petrol engine in the Rio, but the older 1.4 engine represents good value for money and is available with an excellent six-speed torque-converter gearbox. For £15,895, you'll get a '2' model, with 15-inch alloy wheels, cruise control and a seven-inch media display.