More and more drivers are turning to automatics in recent years, with the sales in manual cars dropping. Those of us who drive manual cars have to manually shift gears up and down, whereas people with an automatic can let the car's internal computer and hydraulic system do it for you.
With the rise in popularity of automatics in mind, a group of motoring journalists have put together a list of the best automatic cars on sale.
Coming in first, with prices starting from around £42,000, is the BMW 3 Series. The car by Auto Express for being good to drive, having an “excellent infotainment” system, and having engines that were “frugal yet potent”.
It was criticised for being quite expensive, “lifeless” steering, and the fact all electric rivals are becoming a bigger threat.
Of the car’s gearbox, the reviewers remarked: "Automatic is now standard in the 3 Series, but it doesn’t take away from the level of driver engagement on offer in this compact executive saloon.
“The eight-speed transmission is refined and preempts your driving exceptionally well, smoothly shifting into the right gear when you need it to.”
Coming in second behind the BMW was the venerable Porsche 911 that was praised for good performance, the quality of its interior, and how engaging it was to drive.
However, the car was criticised for the sound of its turbocharged engines, how expensive it was, the fact that prices start from around £103,700, and that 992 version of the car has grown compared to previous generations.
Of the car’s gearbox, the experts gave it rave reviews. They said: “The latest PDK automatic gearbox is one of the best you’ll find in any car, feeling better calibrated at low speed than a lot of dual-clutch automatics, but also being lightning fast when flicking through the gears.”
Coming in third behind the Porsche and the BMW was the Citroen C3 Hybrid, a small SUV hatchback that starts from a much lower price point than the Porsche at £21,100.
The reviewers said the interior was spacious, that it had a soft right, and that it was “great value for money”. Those were the positive points.
However, on the flip side, they said the car had “vague steering”, had a lot of body roll in corners, and that it’s hybrid system wasn’t “the smoothest”.
When it came to the gearbox however, things were much better, but they said that if drivers really wanted an automatic C3 they would have to get the hybrid version. However, a positive side effect of that was good fuel economy.
They said: “This powertrain combines a 1.2-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to deliver a smooth and effortless driving experience via its six-speed transmission. A natural result of hybrid power is sensible fuel economy.”