Of the three types of automatic gearboxes, generally speaking dual-clutch gearboxes (DCT or DSG in Volkswagen Group cars) have been more problematic, but the reliability of these technologies has improved since they were first introduced in the early 2000s. Given your budget you would be looking at cars under five years old with relative few miles and possibly even with some manufacturer warranty, so you can feel more confident about choosing a car regardless of which type of automatic it has.

The Skoda Octavia would be a good choice for your needs, and Octavias with engine capacities of 2.0-litres and above or more than 400Nm of torque use a wet-clutch variant which has proved to be more reliable than the versions used on smaller-engined versions. You may also want to look at the Skoda Superb, which has even more space and excellent rear leg and headroom.

As for alternatives you could consider the Mazda 6 and CX-5, Ford Mondeo and Kia Optima, all of which offer good rear legroom, comfort levels and are available with an automatic gearbox.