We at Automatic Car Hire appreciate that guaranteed automatic vehicles are considerably more expensive than manual vehicles. Although we have many suppliers fighting it out to give you the best deals on automatic car hire on the web but the cost of a automatic gearbox as standard relates to the higher cost of a guaranteed automatic vehicle – fact.
Thus we give you in association with the AA a guide to the top five mini automatics on the market. Handy if given the choice at the counter as well as giving you a guide to what to expect from the smaller cars shown on our site.
In five…
The Nissan Micra
Yes hailing from Sunderland in the North East of England but originally from Japan, this super mini boasts an electronically controlled four speed with extended slip lock control.
This gives excellent performance for an automatic especially in the 1.6 C+C model although the 1.2 and 1.4 models are not under powered. Unfortunately at this time the automatic Diesel is not availabkle at this time.
Cost for automatic is an additional 1,200 euro on the guide price.
In four…
The Ford Fiesta
Henry Ford and his model T were no match for the production qualities and wide spread appeal of the Ford Fiesta which has been around for over 20 years now.
The Durashift EST automatic gearbox of this range is a real testament to Ford engineering. Couple this with the 1.4 Zetec engine and you have a 0 – 60 time of only 13.7 seconds. Certainly nothing to be sniffed at in a a car on the road for less than 16,000 GBP.
Is this an automatic I hear you cry? Well yes, although you can still control the shifting of the gear box, it is controlled by electronic motors allowing seemless control with the ease of an automatic.
In three…
The Honda Jazz
A good friend once told me that once you drive a Honda you never go back. I am yet to experience this impulse to stay true to the Japanese car maker but I may once I have tried the Jazz.
Do not take the Honda Jazz lightly, the 1,4 litre with the CVT automatic gearbox and the Formula 1 style paddles gives an impressive driving performance.
0 – 60 in only 14.5 seconds on this little rocket but with an additional 1,000 GBP to fit the standard CVT on top of the guide price is considerable though.
In two…
Citroen C2
We have heard complaints about the luggage space in the Citroen C2 but the French have made a formidable automatic. So if you like the idea of a strong small French made car and are less concerned about fitting the sink in the back then this may be the car for you.
0 – 60 in only 13 seconds the Citroen C2 1.4i Stop and Start Sensodrive is an excellent buy with both F1 paddles and a “up-down” stick shift if you like as well conventional automatic driving.
In one…
The Toyota Yaris
Also voted The Top Gear SuperMini of the year, the Yaris has fitted the Toyota MultiMode automatic gearbox and is a worthy winner of our automatic awards.
This has to be the ultimate mini automatic to hire with an excellent gearbox this “automatic manual” vehicle is a pleasure to drive in both 1.3 and 1.4 models
Toyota also claim that their MultiMode vehicles are more economic and cleaner to drive than their manual counterparts. So not only do you have the pleasure of driving an automatic but you also save money and the environment to boot.
Now there is an endorsement of Automatic Car Rental!