The best small automatic cars - driven and tested

Finding a small car with an automatic gearbox is no longer the tiresome task it once was. 

It wasn’t that long ago when most superminis were predominantly fitted with a manual gearbox, with many forgoing an automatic option altogether because of higher production costs. 

But with the rise of electric and hybrid cars, which are inherently automatic, there has been a paradigm shift away from the manual 'box, with more drivers preferring the convenience, smoothness and added efficiency of an auto. 

Small cars are the ideal choice for urban commutes and inner-city jaunts, their compact size making them easy to thread through narrow streets, while also being affordable and cheap to run. 

An automatic 'box is therefore. much better for a small car, eliminating the need for shifting gears yourself in busy traffic. Plus, thanks to mild-hybrid technology, an auto is often more efficient than a manual.

We think the best small automatic car is the Renault Clio E-Tech, a full-hybrid supermini that blends driver appeal and comfort with affordability and efficiency. 

But there are plenty more small automatic cars to choose from, so read on as we reveal the best cars on sale today.

We’ve excluded electric cars from this list, but you can read about our favourites in our top 10 electric cars here.