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Why are there so few small cars offered with automatic gearboxes?
I am thinking of buying a small car but would prefer automatic. The choice seems very limited - can you advise why this is. The Volkswagen Up is no longer available in automatic. The Hyundai i10 has very good reviews but warns against the automatic?
Asked on 20 September 2019 by Pat Stagg
Answered by
Andrew Brady
Small automatics emit more CO2 (especially under new WLTP fuel economy tests www.honestjohn.co.uk/what-is-wltp-new-fuel-economy.../) so some manufacturers are dropping them to prevent them affecting their average emissions (which would prevent them meeting strict targets). This is especially true for those with torque-converter gearboxes, which are much better to use than robotised manual transmissions but aren't very efficient. I'd buy a Kia Picanto or Hyundai i10 - both are available with reliable automatic gearboxes.
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