Small and reliable automatic car for around £7,000?

Dave5

In your experience, what automatic small car has been the most reliable and least problematic? Also, what cars have been complete nightmares for you that should be avoided at all costs?

knightstyle

How small is your small? Reason I ask is that we have a Smart for2, it is automatic, the 4th we have had and after many thousands of miles use only the MHD one has ever given any trouble plus they are great fun to drive!
We also have a Ford Cmax with the powershift auto box, now on 45k miles and no problems. Plus it is the smoothest non-torque converter box we have ever owned.

loskie

My Aunts Yaris auto was very poor I think they called it something like E_shift. It was an 08 so things may have changed. Something like the Jazz CVT is supposed to be ok

Tokk

We're right into Yaris hybrid territory here, great little cars and since you already want an automatic it should be on the list.

Goudy

There aren't too many small cars with proper automatic gearboxes, nearly all now use automated manual, CVT's or dual clutch affairs, that do seem to suffer more than a few issues.
They go under various names and acronyms, like Powershift, DSG, Dualogic, EGS, EDC and so on.

A couple that spring to mind that do have torque converter 'boxes are the Kia Picanto 1.25 and the Hyundai i10 1.2.
They are basically the same car under the body and both get reasonably good reviews.

£7000 should get you a 2015/16 model, so you should be able to pick one up still under manufacturers warranty (Kia have 7 years, Hyundai 5 years).

You can also get a Mazda 2 and a Suzuki Swift with torque convertor autos if you fancy Japanese rather than Korean, though both would more than likely be out of manufactures warranty on your budget.

iolanthe07

A couple that spring to mind that do have torque converter 'boxes are the Kia Picanto 1.25 and the Hyundai i10 1.2.
They are basically the same car under the body and both get reasonably good reviews.

These cars have trusted and reliable auto boxes and decent engines, with the added bonus of a 7 year manufacturer's warranty for the Picanto, so a 2014 one would still have a couple of years left.

Goudy

Tokk wrote: »

We're right into Yaris hybrid territory here, great little cars and since you already want an automatic it should be on the list.

That's a great shout, I've been banging on about them for a while, dull but brilliant all in one small package.
They run a CVT 'box, but it's geared rather than belted and connects via the electric motor.
Rock solid reliability.

You might struggle to find a good low mileage one for 7k though.

Dave5

Tokk wrote: »

We're right into Yaris hybrid territory here, great little cars and since you already want an automatic it should be on the list.

Have you had any experience with one? Another poster doesn't think too highly of the Yaris range.

Dave5

iolanthe07 wrote: »

A couple that spring to mind that do have torque converter 'boxes are the Kia Picanto 1.25 and the Hyundai i10 1.2.
They are basically the same car under the body and both get reasonably good reviews.

These cars have trusted and reliable auto boxes and decent engines, with the added bonus of a 7 year manufacturer's warranty for the Picanto, so a 2014 one would still have a couple of years left.

Is it possible to extend the warranty?

Tokk

goudy wrote:

You might struggle to find a good low mileage one for 7k though.

True, depends what mileage you want to do...

If you're planning on 5-10k a year then one with 60-80k already on the clock (realistically what £7k buys you) is hardly a deal-breaker?

Tokk

Dave5 wrote: »

Have you had any experience with one? Another poster doesn't think too highly of the Yaris range.

A couple of friends have them and have had no trouble at all.

To drive, Goudy nails it with "dull" but they're very reliable and cheap to run.