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Which small conventional auto?

Working in a garage we have various customers who have issues with small hatch back cars with automatic gearboxes. So many of them seem to have issues with, for example, the MMT fitted to Aygos, 107s and C1s, and other issues with the automatics fitted to Nissan, Ford, Fiat where the whole drive experience is ruined by poor gear changes and delay in moving forward etc.

My sister in law has now had an issue with her Aygo MMT whereby it could cost around £1400 to fix so she has asked me what is the best small hatch to buy where it has a conventional automatic transmission with a torque convertor and no electronic actuators etc. but I do not know of any.

One of the most reliable cars I can think of is the Honda Jazz, although it has the CVT which I also know had issues. Is there a small hatch you could recommend that has a more conventional automatic transmission?

Asked on 11 September 2012 by sarobowe

Answered by Honest John
Automated manuals are almost universally pretty awful. FIAT's Dualogic works the best because FIAT has the most experience of these boxes. Mitsubishi Colt automated manuals are probably 2nd best. Generally, actuator and clutch problems seem to start occurring after 4 year or so.

The smallest hatch with a 'proper' torque converter autobox is a Hyundai i10. Others are KIA Picanto, Suzuki Splash and Vauxhall Agila.
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