Kia Picanto, Daihatsu Sirion, Suzuki Alto.

Slightly larger models available from Chevrolet and Hyundai with proper automatic boxes, also the excellent Suzuki Swift.

Probably best to avoid anything with an automated manual gearbox whatever clever sounding abbreviations they try to give them, so that excludes almost every European car bar the very rare usually larger engined examples, eg previous shape Citroen C3 SX....not just for reliability either, they are simply diabolical for traffic and close manoeuvering, where the Citroen C3 SX box was lovely.

edit...don't forget the tiny Chev Matiz with proper auto, around town a nicer driving car than you might think.

Edited by gordonbennet on 14/08/2012 at 13:12

Honda CVT is excellent... BUT it MUST be serviced regualry and the CVT hearbox oil changed with honda's specific and expensive oil every 24k miles. Fail to do that and £1,000s...

Automated gearbnoxes are pants.

Suzuki Splash/Vauxhall Agila B

good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/mot-data-the-mo.../