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.