'We tested the best automatic cars on sale in the UK and one model stood out'
A group of motoring experts assessed several models to find the best non-electric automatic car on sale, and revealed that the winner was much cheaper than its premium rivals
A panel of car experts has delivered an intriguing verdict after looking into the best non-electric automatic cars. The team assessed cars from across the price spectrum to decide the winner.
The automatic transmission revolution has seen a sweeping rise in popularity since we hit the 2000s, and nowadays, nearly every car UK comes with an automatic gearbox option.
Choosing the cream of the crop, however, saw the judges at Auto Express leave out electric cars due to their distinct powertrains lacking traditional automatic gearboxes, leading to a ranking dominated solely by petrol and diesel models.
Despite the exclusion of electric cars, the outcome was nothing short of unexpected, as cheaper models came out on top of much more expensive cars on sale.
After extensive testing, it was the BMW 3 series that took the crown of the UK's top automatic, beating the iconic Porsche 992 911 for the win.
Auto Express pundits praised the BMW model. They said: "BMW appears to be trading on wacky, controversial styling as of late, but the latest 3 series remains resolutely sensible – and brilliant.
"Modern BMWs go a little too heavy on the touchscreen-based controls, but it's hard to fault the cabin's quality of design. The 3 is a big car these days, so passenger accommodation is now pretty good."
While the BMW was a much cheaper prospect than the sports car it beat, with a starting price of £41,220, nearly three times lower than its Stuttgart-based competitor's £103,700, it was the third-place car that truly turned heads.
The latest Citroen C3 shines through, with its starting price of just £20,115, five times cheaper than the Porsche and almost half the cost of the BMW. Yet, this didn't stop it from outperforming other high-end cars like the Mercedes S-Class and Bentley Continental GT to complete the podium.
The reviewers said: "In the supermini class, the Citroen C3 stands out for its focus on comfort and practicality, particularly in the automatic petrol version.
"The C3 is more about comfort than sportiness, with light, precise steering and soft suspension...the cabin is thoughtfully designed, with clear, user-friendly controls and a spacious feel that ensures comfort for the driver and passengers."
The top ten list also featured budget-friendly models such as the Dacia Duster, MG3, Skoda Octavia, and Renault Clio, which are available with manual transmissions as well.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Top Gear
27 minutes ago
- Top Gear
Lotus Emeya 900 vs Porsche Taycan Turbo GT: which is the best EV super saloon?
Can the Emeya 900 dethrone the Taycan Turbo GT as our favourite fast EV with four doors? There's more than one way to cut a super fast electric saloon. There are two. You can follow Porsche's Taycan template, sling it low, build it lean and athletic. Or you can do a Tesla (so far as anyone wants to 'do a Tesla' right now), build it comfy, but keep the motors massive so it still does zero to vanishing point in nothing flat. Now there's a third way, which we can call the Lotus position. A four door that promises things we are used to from Norfolk (crisp dynamics, proper pace and performance), but also things we really aren't (top notch build quality and luxury that extends further than optional carpets). Advertisement - Page continues below So, has Lotus built a car to outstrip the Taycan and claim the title of Best EV Super Saloon? Jack, why don't you kick this one off? Jack Rix: I'll be honest, the Lotus badge had me rattled, so I thought I'd better bring along the meanest Taycan available. A car that brings proper handling and finesse alongside a dump truck of horsepower. The Turbo GT, lest we forget, has a 7m 07.55s 'Ring time (the record for series production EVs) to its name. It also seems to have come dressed as a zebra today, or possibly a barcode, which is hard to forgive, but it has up to 1,092bhp and does 0–62mph in 2.2secs, which helps. Ollie Marriage: Hmmm, I'm packing 905bhp. I didn't expect to be so comprehensively outstripped. Anyway, this is the Emeya 900, it used to be the Emeya R but Lotus thought the power figure was worth boasting about. Which, until you turned up, it was. Advertisement - Page continues below It's got a 102kWh battery, tri-motor setup with two on the back axle and bodywork that looks like it was done by Lamborghini. Plus it's got a massive wheelbase, so plenty of space in the back. How much lounging space does yours have? JR: Masses of lounging space, on account of there being no back seats. OM: So what are the back doors for? JR: Polishing your carbon fibre or pure deception. Speaking of which, how British is yours? Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Time Out
5 hours ago
- Time Out
Sydney toll road relief rebates: Here's how to claim back your cash
In news that should come as no surprise to savvy motorists who make regular journeys across Sydney's many toll roads, since January 1 2024, toll fees in NSW have been capped at $60 per week. Keen to cash in on your toll rebate for the last quarter? You'll need to claim before Monday June 30. Since the $60 toll cap was introduced in January 2024, more than $139 million has been distributed. A further $130 million, covering the period from January 1, 2024 to March 30, 2025, remains unclaimed. The toll cap was introduced to make Sydney's toll system fairer for drivers in the city's west where the majority of the city's more expensive toll roads are located. The Sydneysiders set to benefit most from the rebate scheme are those based in Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Auburn and Merrylands, with Western Sydney suburbs dominating the list of eligible claimants. According to Transport for NSW, 6,392 drivers based in Blacktown have already claimed back their rebate, with Blacktown-based drivers receiving an average rebate of $358 for the most recent quarter.'These are the parts of Western Sydney where paying a toll is not a choice and in many cases relying on public transport is not a viable choice either,' explained Minister for Transport John Graham. From now until June 30, account holders can begin to reap the benefits of the toll cap, with $130 million waiting to be claimed. To be eligible for a rebate, account holders must be a NSW resident, hold a personal toll account, and spend more than $60 per week on tolls using their personal licence plate for eligible personal trips. If you meet those requirements, logging on to your MyGov account could bring you a little mid-week boost, with rebates of more than $330 available in certain suburbs. When last quarter's rebates were issued, Transport for NSW estimated that drivers who spend on average $200 per week on tolls should receive approximately $7,280 in rebates each year – so if you haven't already, it's worth taking a minute or two to set up your account and start claiming back your journey fees. You can learn more about the journeys included in the toll cap scheme, and how you can register and process your rebates over here, and you can learn more about the upcoming toll increase on the Harbour Bridge over here.
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
What's the BEST motor to own in the UK? Thousands of car owners reveal top choice rated for space, safety, value & more
Two Vauxhall models make up the top three RESULTS ARE IN What's the BEST motor to own in the UK? Thousands of car owners reveal top choice rated for space, safety, value & more THOUSANDS of new car owners across the country have taken part in a survey to help determine the best motor money can buy in 2025. Auto Express have revealed the results of their Driver Power owner satisfaction survey - and it's seen a plush SUV take top spot. 5 The luxury Mercedes GLE SUV tops the Driver Power survey with a 92.24% score, excelling in driving pleasure, safety and overall quality 5 Owners rave about its luxurious interior, advanced tech and smooth ride 5 Seen as an all-rounder, the Vauxhall Grandland secures second place with a spacious interior and great value 5 Ranking third, the Astra impresses with its smooth ride, advanced tech and timeless style Credit: PA 5 Rising to fourth place, the Kuga scores high for safety, practicality and versatile boot space Driver Power, which is the Carwow Group's flagship research study, asked thousands of new car owners to share their thoughts and real-life experiences of the vehicles they newly bought. They're asked to judge their motor's reliability, interior space, safety features, value-for-money and driving experience, in a bid to help car experts determine which set of wheels offers owners the ultimate satisfaction. Last year, the winner was the delightful Dacia Duster - championed for being roomy, well-built and great value for money. This year's winner, though, was the classy Mercedes GLE - which topped the tables across six categories, including driving pleasure and overall quality. The GLE reached a score of 92.24% overall, scoring highly across the board apart from in the economy and running costs category, where satisfaction with fuel economy sinks to 43rd place. If you want to run this car, you may need deep pockets. However, the GLE's key wins included driving pleasure, safety attributes, climate, audio and sat-nav function, as well as overall quality. Its exterior style, sat-nav and the balance of digital and touchscreen controls were all highly rated by owners, too. Owners said: 'The GLE's luxurious interior, smooth ride, and advanced tech make it a joy to drive, but it's roomy enough for family and luggage. 'Its powerful engine, spacious cabin, and sleek design blend comfort with performance perfectly.' Vauxhall Mokka hybrid is a smarter, greener & better equipped version of old motor… but small detail really lets it down Coming in just behind the GLE was the Vauxhall Grandland with a score of 90.55% - topping one category and taking second place in five others. Indeed, it failed to score outside of the top 10 in any of the categories, proving to be an excellent all rounder. 'It is high off the ground, with plenty of room inside,' said an owner. 'Quiet and comfortable on long journeys, and the boot is amazing. 'I like absolutely everything; it's comfortable, easy to use and I look forward to driving it. It's good value, too.' Another Vauxhall – the most recent Astra - came in third place with a score of 89.97%, racking up six category 'top fives' - including first place in the ride and handling category. For generations, the Astra has been one of Britain's favourite family cars, with the latest iteration adored for its ride and handling, through to ride quality and road handling. Owners also love the exterior style, ranking it third, while front seat comfort is fourth and interior style sixth. An owner said: 'It is smooth, quiet, very comfortable, it has an impressive range of driver assistance technology and it looks stunning, even after three years and 50,000 miles.' Despite the Ford Puma continuing to enjoy a run as the nation's best-selling car, in fourth place is another Ford - the Kuga - which has risen six places since last year after scoring highly for safety, practicality and interior - notably for boot space and seating versatility. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has also gone up by five places to rank fifth, thanks to especially good scores for infotainment and value for money. One owner said: 'I like the luxurious interior and the smooth ride, the advanced safety features, the strong performance and the elegant design.' Talking about the results, Paul Barker, editor of Auto Express, said: "Driver Power is Carwow Group's leading car ownership survey, brought to life by Auto Express. 'It reveals what owners genuinely think - and how they feel - about their cars. 'That unique perspective gives unrivalled insight into what prospective customers can expect, and tells manufacturers exactly what their own customers think of the cars they sell. "From running costs to quality and infotainment, we get the views of people living with these cars day-to-day, and the results show the cars that offer the best chance of a very satisfying ownership experience."
