09-05-2025
Experts name best non-electric automatic car on sale in UK – and it won't break the bank
Experts name best non-electric automatic car on sale in UK – and it won't break the bank
A group of motoring experts have named the best automatic car to buy in the UK, and while the top three may not be a surprise, the rest of the top 10 may well be
Car reviewers have revealed their favourite automatic car (stock)
(Image: Westend61 via Getty Images )
A team of automotive experts has concluded a thorough test on the UK's top automatic cars for sale, arriving at an unexpected favourite.
The preference for automatic transmissions has grown substantially since the dawn of the 21st century, with nearly every new car model available in the UK providing some sort of automatic gearbox variant.
But when it came to picking the cream of the crop, the reviewing panel—excluding electric vehicles because of their distinct powertrain systems that negate traditional automatic gearboxes—focused exclusively on petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.
Even without considering electric models, the outcome was still quite the revelation, with more budget-friendly options outperforming extravagantly priced luxury cars with limited production runs.
The BMW 3 Series won out as the UK's best non-electric automatic
(Image: Sjoerd van der Wal, Getty Images )
Ultimately, motoring experts from the renowned publication Auto Express crowned the BMW 3 series as the best automatic car up for grabs in the UK, overtaking the illustrious Porsche 992 911 in the rankings.
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Delving into the virtues of the respected Munich-manufactured vehicle, the experts praised: "BMW appears to be trading on wacky, controversial styling as of late, but the latest 3 series remains resolutely sensible – and brilliant."
They went on to critique, albeit lightly: "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."
The Porsche 911 992 came a competitive second behind the BMW
(Image: Sjoerd van der Wal, Getty Images )
While the BMW came in at a much more affordable starting price of £41,220 – nearly three times less than its competitor from Stuttgart at £103,700 – it was the third-place car that truly caught everyone's eye.
Kicking off from a mere £20,115, the latest Citroen C3 is notably five times cheaper than the Porsche and about half the cost of the BMW. Yet it surprisingly landed itself a spot on the podium, surpassing both the Mercedes S-Class and Bentley Continental GT.
The reviewers shared their insight, they stated: "In the supermini class, the Citroen C3 stands out for its focus on comfort and practicality, particularly in the automatic petrol version."
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The Citroen C3 beat much more expensive rivals to the podium
(Image: Sjoerd van der Wal, Getty Images )
They elaborated on the appeal of the Citroen C3: "The C3 is more about comfort than sportiness, with light, precise steering and soft cabin is thoughtfully designed, with clear, user-friendly controls and a spacious feel that ensures comfort for the driver and passengers."
Other cars featuring high up in the rankings included budget-friendly options like the Dacia Duster, MG3, Skoda Octavia, and Renault Clio, all of which also offer manual transmission variants.
