The best automatic first cars
If you’re a new driver, but want an automatic as your first car, what are the best options for you?
The Cazoo editorial team
Published on 02 December 2025 | 1 min read
If you’ve just passed your driving test and you need a car to get around, an automatic vehicle could be the perfect solution.
Automatics are a lot easier to drive than manuals as they don’t have clutch pedals and gear levers. Instead, they simply require you just to use the accelerator and brake, and the automatic gearbox does the job of changing the gears for you.
Automatics have become a lot more popular in recent years, and there are some great used examples available at Cazoo.
So, if you’re in the market for your first car and want an automatic, here are the best options available on the second-hand market.
Ford Fiesta
What better car to start your motoring career than with the Ford Fiesta? For more than a decade, it was Britain’s best-selling car, with its dynamic chassis, frugal engines and superb handling.
The latest Fiesta is available with three and five-door body styles and the automatic model comes with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged ‘Ecoboost’ petrol engine that delivers a claimed 49mpg and sits in insurance group 10, making it very cheap to run.
The Fiesta has always been one of the best superminis to drive, thanks to its direct steering, well-set-up chassis and superb road holding.
Look to spend around £7,995 for a six-year-old example that’s covered 62,000 miles, and £10,250 for a low-mileage Titanium model.
Search for used Ford Fiesta on Cazoo
Hyundai i10
The i10 is a no-nonsense, back-to-basics city car that provides ultra-low running costs and is available with an automatic transmission.
The i10 comes as standard with five doors and a 1.2-litre petrol engine that delivers a claimed 61mpg and sits in a rather low insurance group five.
All models come with a decent amount of standard kit, while this little Korean alternative delivers an engaging driving experience and a surprisingly good amount of interior space.
Second-hand prices for the latest third-generation car stand at £10,500 for a 2020 example with less than 10,000 miles on the clock.
Search for used Hyundai i10 on Cazoo
Kia Picanto
The Kia Picanto sits on the same underpinnings as the Hyundai i10, but comes with more eye-catching exterior styling.
The Picanto is a cheap-to-run, well-specced city car that has gained a reputation for being a solid and dependable choice.
It’s available with an automatic gearbox and there is a choice of 1.0-litre three-cylinder and 1.25-litre four-cylinder petrol engines.
The former can do a claimed 54mpg and sits in insurance group one, making it one of the cheapest cars to run on this list, while the latter can deliver a claimed 47mpg on the combined cycle and sits in insurance group six.
The Picanto is great to drive and is a good-looking little car that has lots of charm and makes a sensible choice for those looking for their first car.
Used prices start at around £9,500 for a low mileage ‘2’ specification car, while 1.25-litre models sit around the £10,000 mark.
Search for used Kia Picanto on Cazoo
Skoda Fabia
The Skoda Fabia is a practical and sensible supermini for those looking to buy their first car.
The Fabia is available with a dual-clutch automatic transmission, known as a ‘DSG’, and it shares its underpinnings with the Seat Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo.
The Fabia offers lots of space inside and is available with 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines that are frugal and cheap to run.
What’s more, prices on the second-hand market are more than affordable, with a three-year-old 16,000-mile example priced at £12,800, and a 1.5-litre model can be yours for £18,000.
Search for used Skoda Fabia on Cazoo
Suzuki Swift
The Suzuki Swift is a fun and funky Japanese offering that comes with bucket loads of character and decent equipment levels.
If you fancy an automatic, then Suzuki has you covered, with the Swift available in 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engines.
The Swift is also great to drive thanks to its responsive handling, taut chassis and peppy powertrains.
If you go for the 1.0-litre, it returns a claimed 53mpg, while the 1.2-litre model can achieve a claimed 55mpg.
Second-hand prices stand at £10,995 for a 2020 car with the 1.0-litre engine, while 1.2-litre models are on the market for £12,200
Search for used Suzuki Swift on Cazoo
Toyota Yaris
The Toyota Yaris is a good-looking, sensible, well-built option that comes with rock-bottom running costs.
That’s thanks to its standard hybrid powertrain which combines a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor to return a claimed 68mpg and sits in a relatively low insurance group 13.
The Yaris is now in its fourth generation and this latest model provides an entertaining driving experience with responsive steering, a good turn-in, a smooth CVT automatic transmission and decent acceleration.
Used prices for a 2021 model with 30,000 miles on the clock can be yours for £13,350, making the Yaris great value for money.
Search for used Toyota Yaris on Cazoo
Volkswagen Polo
The Polo is one of the most grown-up superminis on the market, with its big car-like feel and high-quality materials throughout the cabin.
It's available with Volkswagen’s direct-shift automatic gearbox, or ‘DSG’ for short, and it provides quick gear shifts, taking the strain out of changing gear manually.
The Polo also provides an impressive amount of interior space, while running costs should be kept to a minimum with the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol returning a claimed 53.3mpg on the combined cycle, and it sits in a low insurance group nine.
Prices on the used market start at around £14,000 for a four-year-old example that’s covered 43,000 miles.
Search for used Volkswagen Polo on Cazoo
