Used cars: TOP 5 economical cars with automatic transmission

When a car manufacturer determines fuel consumption for new models, it uses a special, officially recognized methodology. And this is no coincidence, because the car’s appetite is very dependent on traffic conditions and driving style. This applies equally to cars with “mechanics” and trim levels with “automatic”. In this publication, we will operate with the technical data of automakers, and this passport expense in the vast majority of cases is actually accessible to the average driver – although not without nuances.

Why automatic cars are gluttons

Firstly, this is not always the case. And secondly, you have to pay for everything – and for a comfortable transmission too. In fact, only one of the four types of automatic transmissions have strong design reasons for excessive fuel consumption – classic automatic transmissions with planetary gears and a torque converter. It is the torque converter, due to slippage of oil flows, that entails noticeable power losses. The rest of the “automatic machines” do not have such fundamental reasons for gluttony.

Renault Megane III

It’s not for nothing that we put this model in first place – “Megan” is today one of the leaders on the Ukrainian market. The model is, in principle, very successful, in Ukraine it is most common in the Grandtour station wagon and as a 5-door hatchback, although there are other options – the 3-door Coupe hatchback, the Megane SS convertible coupe with a hardtop and the sedan with its own name Fluence. All bodies have so far successfully resisted corrosion, meaning the model can be recommended not only for its well-known engine and successful transmission. It is the 1.5 dCI diesel (85-110 hp) that is the most common power unit. The engine is not only economical, but also reliable and durable, and is also very powerful with its 200–260 Nm. The automatic transmission is technically a modern preselective EDC robot with six gears and two clutches; it is also known under the names Getrag and Powershift. The declared fuel consumption is from 4.0 l/100 km, and experts confirm this figure, although you need to try to achieve it.

Volkswagen Golf VII

The 1.4-liter engine is the most trouble-free in the entire TSI family, and its 125-horsepower version is the most economical option. The seven-speed preselective “robot” DSG is ready to compete in efficiency with pure “mechanics” with an experienced driver behind the wheel. Fuel consumption in this configuration is up to 5.0 l/100 km in the combined cycle, despite the fact that, if necessary, such a Golf can shoot from a standstill in 9.1 seconds to the first hundred. Let us remind you that the Volkswagen Golf VII is not just any baby, but a fairly roomy universal C-class car.

Smooth R2

For a long time, this compact car was the cheapest new car in Ukraine, and also the cheapest model with an automatic transmission. Moreover, the automatic transmission here is a full-fledged classical hydromechanics, reliable and durable. The gearbox is not very modern, only 4-speed, but for a light B-class car this is quite enough. The engine is also not a miracle of technology, but it is powerful (85 hp) and, due to its simplicity, trouble-free. In fact, the entire car was recently a Chevrolet – the Spark model was sold all over the world. Average fuel consumption according to the manufacturer is 6.7 l/100 km. More than other colleagues in our selection, but if you consider the price of the machine itself…

Citroen C4 II

The model is available primarily as a 5-door hatchback, although for some markets the car was also produced in a sedan version. Paired with an economical 1.6-liter diesel engine, there could be as many as two types of automatic transmissions – a slightly “jerky” single-disc “robot” and almost flawless classic hydraulic mechanics from Aisin. Both gearboxes are 6-speed, both promise fuel consumption of 3.5–4.4 l/100 km, respectively, in highway and city modes. And in terms of dynamics, both automatic versions are also almost equal (11.2 s and 11.1 s to 100 km/h).

Smart ForTwo III

Not quite typical for Ukrainian roads, the car is, however, indicative in terms of fuel consumption – according to the passport data, in the combined cycle it needs only 4.2–4.5 liters of gasoline per 100 km. The three-cylinder engine has a turbine and 90 horsepower, which, however, does not turn the 900-kilogram car into a racing car. Maybe that’s a good thing, because in terms of geometry and handling, it’s also not a street racer’s dream. Instead, there is an advanced automatic transmission, this is a pre-selective 6-speed “robot” with two clutches – it is he who should be thanked for the modest appetite of this car.

In short

It looks like it’s time for motorists to reconsider their attitude towards automatic transmissions. Of course, automatic transmissions have their disadvantages, but higher fuel consumption is far from the most significant of the disadvantages of automatic transmissions. You should be much more wary of, say, a short service life and more expensive repairs. But even here, when choosing a car, you will need to carefully understand each specific model.