Used Car Buyer's Guide: Best Automatic Family Cars 

While there will always be driving purists that will ardently champion the manual gearbox, it’s true that many out there have been won over by the easy-going nature of an automatic.   

In fact, an automatic gearbox is the ideal accompaniment for a used family car with modern advancements in technology assuring a silky-smooth experience for the driver and a relaxing ride for passengers. 

Used automatic family cars come in all shapes and sizes, but which are the best you can buy right here at Vertu today?  

Small Automatic Family Car – Honda Jazz 

Don’t be fooled into thinking a supermini isn’t up to the task of transporting a whole family, because the ground-breaking Honda Jazz has been dispelling those myths for years with its superb TARDIS-like packaging.  

With its tall roofline and generous wheelbase, the Jazz offers class-leading interior space. Better yet, its so-called ‘Magic Seats’ can do all sorts of acrobats that allow you to carry five passengers and cargo with room to spare… and all without taking up much space on the city streets. 

Which is just as well, because the Jazz excels as a frugal city car, either with a CVT gearbox or the more modern e:HEV system which toggles between petrol and two small electric motors for improved efficiency and almost 60mpg fuel economy.  

Automatic Family Car – Volkswagen Golf  

For decades the go-to reference point for families, the Volkswagen Golf takes on a more relaxed tone in automatic trim. 

With seven-speeds, the Golf automatic offers brisk acceleration and a hushed driving experience to complement the high-quality and spacious interior. 

There is also wealth of choice throughout the range, including its refined 1.5-litre four-cylinder available in 115PS and 150PS guise. 

Better yet, the Golf’s automatic gearbox comes with the option of making manual changes using paddles behind the steering wheel. 

Automatic Family SUV – Volvo XC40 

Lean towards the Volvo XC40 automatic and you’ll take advantage of a wonderfully smooth eight-speed transmission that perfectly suits the Swedish model’s effortlessly desirable character. 

Beyond the refined automatic-propelled driving experience typical of any Volvo, the XC40 remains a fashionable choice thanks to its understated, yet well-judged styling, and sumptuously appointed interior. 

Not only one of the UK’s most popular SUVs, the XC40 is also one of the UK’s most popular cars outright. With such good availability, getting your hands on such an acclaimed premium SUV like a used Volvo XC40 automatic has never been easier. 

Electric Automatic Family Car – Kia EV6 

If your heart is already set on an electric vehicle as your next car, then you’ll be making use of an automatic transmission by default because of its gearchange-free linear torque. 

With electric becoming increasingly common on our roads, there is now a wealth of talented EVs on the used car market, but for families you’d be hard-pressed to find a more capable option than the Kia EV6. 

One of the forerunners of the electric revolution, the EV6 remains one of the most accomplished with the slinky coupe-like saloon profile offering sports car-rivalling performance in a spacious, well-built and refined package. 

Better yet, get your hands on a used Kia EV6 and the multi-award-winning model could return you up to 360-miles of range.  

Sporty Automatic Family Car – BMW 3-Series 

Family cars don’t get plusher and more premium than the BMW 3-Series. 

Now well into its eighth generation, the 3-Series has never been more accomplished with its understated, yet well-judged, styling looking classy from every angle and a sophisticated, solidly built interior that is brimming with technology. 

While the latest generation model is now available only as an automatic, the gearbox has won plaudits for its innate ability to pre-empt your driving style and its smooth shifts. 

It certainly does nothing to take away from the driving experience, with the sporty-tuned 3-Series considered to be the best-balanced sports saloon on the market.