12 Best Automatic First Cars for Beginners (Cars & SUVs)
First cars with automatic transmission make life easier for new drivers gaining experience behind the wheel.
Stick shifts are fun for spirited driving, but these cars’ auto gearboxes help provide a smoother and more fuel-efficient drive.
Best Small Automatic First Cars (Sedan & Hatchback)
#1 Hyundai Elantra (Sedan)
Hyundai vehicles are great on value, and the compact and stylish Elantra comes loaded with features and segment-best warranty and costs less than most rivals.
Quick acceleration isn’t Elantra’s strength, but its continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) delivers a smooth driving experience with little of the notorious droning noise that CVTs typically have.
The system uses special components and adaptive-style shift logic that provides a shifting feel similar to a manual but with better fuel economy.
Clocking an impressive close-to-40-mpg in mixed driving, the Elantra is a leader in its class and a compelling first car for those wanting an automatic one.
Even older Elantras with the non-CVT automatic transmission can achieve more than 30 mpg city/highway.
It is popular among young drivers, partly due to the automatic’s easy-to-drive nature and its stature as one of the safest first cars.
#2 Kia Forte (Sedan)
Kia isn’t as famous as the Japanese brands or even its corporate cousin, Hyundai, but it is another carmaker providing substantial value in its vehicles.
Though it isn’t as refined as a Honda Civic, the Kia Forte’s value easily makes up for it with plenty of features, a generous warranty, and a punchy yet fuel-efficient engine paired with a CVT automatic gearbox.
Fuel economy in the latest Forte is an impressive 35 mpg combined, better than many established players in the compact car segment and second only to the newest Elantra.
Pre-2019 Forte models do not have CVT.
Still, those Fortes achieve great mileage that nears mid-30s-mpg.
The Forte is one of the most popular cars among young drivers and a thoroughly affordable first car with its segment-lowest starting price.
#3 Nissan Sentra (Sedan)
You don’t get this economy car to be the quickest off the line, but the Nissan Sentra’s smooth and composed driving demeanor is a strong reason for first-time drivers to own one.
Sentra is one of the earliest small cars to adopt the CVT auto transmission in their gas-powered models, and its fuel efficiency matches class heavyweights like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
Newer Sentras return low-30s-mpg overall, while the older models have no trouble reaching 30 miles per gallon with their auto gearboxes.
The Sentra’s four-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission won’t thrill, but it will let you commute comfortably, economically, and with minimal drama.
#4 Honda Civic (Sedan & Hatchback)
The Honda Civic is consistently the priciest among small economy cars but has solid credentials to support your investment.
Honda Civic in both the sedan and hatchback body styles will excite and meet your first car needs in equal measures.
It is a superb compact vehicle that does many things well:
- Expertly balanced comfort and athleticism.
- Roomy cabin with modern design and high-quality materials.
- Above-average fuel economy.
- Many standard advanced tech and safety features.
Crucially, the Civic’s four-cylinder engine with the CVT auto transmission drives smoothly and accelerates effortlessly.
Even newer models with the optional turbocharged engine return an impressive mileage that surpasses the gas-powered version.
New male drivers who love the Civic’s long-standing attributes but want a speedier first car, the Honda Civic Si and Civic Type R hot hatch are worth considering.
Opting for an auto-equipped Honda Civic as your first car will not disappoint as it has these qualities in spades:
#5 Mazda 3 (Sedan & Hatchback)
While it doesn’t offer best-in-class interior space or the thriftiest engine, the Mazda 3 does everything else remarkably well.
Newer Mazda 3s – sedan or hatchback – come with strong powertrains paired with the automatic transmission, and the car corners like a champ and is fun to drive.
Just as crucially, this Mazda compact has an optional all-wheel-drive for wet-weather traction and a premium-quality interior that makes your daily commute a comfortable and pleasing affair.
Although a stick shift version is available for male teens who like to row their own gears, the automatic-equipped Mazda 3 is the go-to choice for most young drivers.
#6 Subaru Impreza (Sedan & Hatchback)
Another model on this list that’s available in sedan and hatchback, but the Subaru Impreza has all-wheel-drive (AWD) as standard.
Even if you don’t expressly need AWD, the Impreza is still worth checking out, manual or automatic.
Apart from the easy-to-drive auto transmission, it features the latest tech gadgets and driving aids that first-time drivers expect.
Although acceleration and fuel economy aren’t strong suits, it has secure handling, a quiet cabin, and enough room for four adults to ride comfortably.
Additionally, the Subaru Impreza is an impeccably safe first car and is as rock-solid as the Honda Civic.
#7 Kia Rio (X-Small Hatchback)
If you’re looking for a small and cheap automatic first car, the subcompact and economical Kia Rio is ideal.
It is straightforward to drive with excellent visibility, getting you from point A to point B reasonably comfortably.
As you’d expect from the diminutive size, the Kia Rio gives you plenty of fuel economy (30-plus mpg average, even in models stretching as far back as fifteen years old) after a low upfront investment of under $16k brand-new.
Suppose you have an even smaller budget, cheap automatic-shot used Kia Rios are available:
- A ten-year-old Rio costs below $8k, and
- A fifteen-year-old automatic Kia Rio can be yours for less than $5k.
The Cheap First Cars post has several small, inexpensive options that come with an automatic transmission.
Best Midsize Automatic First Cars (Sedan)
#8 Toyota Camry (Sedan)
The Toyota Camry is one of the primary options in the midsize segment new drivers think of when affordability and reliability come to mind.
After decades of filling the American roads and long-running sales success, the notion still holds true.
Newer Camry models have gone automatic for all trim levels, and they, including the older ones, are some of the most reliable first cars and easy-to-drive vehicles – perfect for new drivers.
Its fuel economy often nears or tops the segment, alongside ride comfort and cabin and cargo space.
The Camry is a worthy pick if you want a safe but solid choice for an automatic midsize first car.
#9 Kia Optima/K5 (Sedan)
The K5 replaced Optima in 2021, but both are compelling options in the automatic first car category.
The K5 and Optima do what Kia does best:
- Generous amount of standard equipment.
- Stylish yet remarkably inexpensive.
- Strong engine and is a fun-to-drive car.
- Comfortable and quiet interior.
- Excellent warranty coverage.
While the older Altima’s 2.4-liter engine paired to a six-speed automatic won’t get your heart racing, the newer K5’s turbocharged four-cylinder with an eight-speed shiftable automatic pulls strongly yet is easy to drive.
Crucially, the Kia K5 has the Honda Accord’s impressive performance for several thousand dollars less.
A used Optima is an excellent buy for less than $10k.
Best Automatic First Cars (SUV)
#10 Mazda CX-30 (SUV)
While the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 have ruled the sales charts in the compact SUV class, the relatively new, extra-compact Mazda CX-39 is an excellent alternative for teenage drivers after an even smaller SUV.
Its six-speed automatic-shot four-cylinder engine is one of the most capable in the segment, accelerating smoothly and powerfully, and the sharp steering makes the car easy and enjoyable to drive.
Plus, newer CX-30s (after 2021) have all-wheel-drive as standard.
The CX-30’s diminutive dimensions make it a suitable choice for young female drivers wanting an SUV with less imposing proportions.
#11 Honda CR-V (SUV)
This compact entrant is Honda’s flag bearer in the SUV sales and one of the best, if not the best, small SUVs for the money.
It performs impressively in many first-car aspects:
- Strong yet thrifty engine.
- Athletic handling.
- Excellent visibility.
- Spacious interior and storage.
- Good ride comfort.
- Solid crash safety.
- Impeccable reliability.
Unlike most CVTs, the CR-V’s continuously variable automatic transmission delivers a fairly natural response while achieving better fuel efficiency.
#12 Subaru Forester (SUV)
While economy cars typically have front-wheel-drive, Subaru stands out as the only automaker that provides all-wheel-drive in its vehicles, bar the rear-wheel-drive BRZ sports coupe.
Besides equipping all its trim levels with an automatic transmission since 2019, the Forester is arguably the safest first car among small SUVs, winning a string of IIHS safety awards since 2007.
Other Forester pluses include a roomy cabin with ample cargo space and a smooth-riding quality that keeps its occupants comfortable over long distances.
Off-road enthusiasts will be happy to find Forester’s better-than-average ground clearance handy when paired with all-wheel-drive.
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