If you're going to conquer the small posh saloon class, you'll need a great automatic gearbox, which is exactly what the latest Mercedes-Benz C-Class has.

All C-Class models have a peachy nine-speed automatic gearbox as standard. It's a conventional torque converter with buttery-smooth gear changes and none of the jerky manoeuvring you can get with a twin-clutch auto. 

Nine gears sounds excessive, but it means the C-Class is barely ticking over on the motorway, while you never drop out of the power band when you accelerate. The downside is it can take a little longer than a lesser-geared automatic to pick a ratio when you stamp on the throttle, but it's not a huge issue here. 

Comfort is the Mercedes C-Class' speciality and the car's luxuriously quiet cabin and plethora of driving aids mean it's also a very relaxing car to drive. The C220d might be the entry-level diesel, but with loads of power and near 60mpg fuel economy, it's an accomplished all-rounder that gets our vote.  

It doesn't matter which version of the latest BMW 5 Series you buy, you'll be getting an automatic gearbox. Kind of. Whether it's the entry-level 520i mild hybrid, or the 530e or 550e plug-in hybrids, you'll be getting a brilliantly slick and responsive eight-speed automatic transmission. If you go for the all-electric i5 version, then technically, you won't be getting a gearbox at all (being an electric car, it only needs a single gear), but you still just put the car into Drive and off you go.

BMW has been honing the 5 Series formula since the early 1970s, and so it's so surprise that the German firm has become quite good at it by now. The latest Five is fabulous to drive, with a brilliant blend of a comfortable ride and surprisingly agile handling, while the cabin has all the space, practicality, quality and technology that you'd expect from a modern-day BMW executive car. It's not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but it's competitive on that score with rivals, and it feels worth every penny.

Proving you don’t need to drive a huge luxobarge to enjoy a premium car, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is one of the most desirable family hatchbacks on the market, beating even the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series in the classiness stakes.

It has a frankly stunning interior, while lots of clever technology (included augmented navigation) will keep you entertained for ages. It also represents good value for money (only marginally more expensive than a Volkswagen Golf) and it won’t cost a fortune to run, either.

You actually get the choice of two dual-clutch automatic gearboxes in the A-Class: a seven-speed unit, and an eight-speed ’box. We rate the seven-speed gearbox highly: this is available with A 180, A 200, A 250 and A 180 d models.

If you’re after a fashionable crossover SUV with an automatic gearbox, the Volkswagen T-Roc should be up there on your shortlist alongside rivals like the Ford Puma and MINI Countryman.

There’s a T-Roc for everyone, including petrol and diesel models, as well as the hot range-topping T-Roc R (for those who like their hot hatch a little less, well, hatched). All of them get a decently finished, spacious interior, good kit levels and a comfortable and refined driving experience. 

Both the 1.5-litre TSI petrol and 2.0-litre TDI diesel are available with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. This suits both engines very well indeed, taking the hassle out of driving and making your life a little easier, while the shifts are very quick. There’s also a 2.0-litre TSI available with the DSG transmission, including the incredibly rapid 300PS T-Roc R.

The Hyundai Tucson combines masses of street cred with family-friendly practicality, and the result is a cool and sophisticated SUV. Hybrid power means it'll be cheap to run, and there are a wide range of engines to pick from, all of which come with an automatic.

We’d recommend going for the full hybrid or plug-in hybrid model because pulling away in electric-only mode is smoother than it is in the self-charging hybrid engines.

A swish-looking interior makes the Tucson a nice place to sit for extended periods and noise is kept to a relative minimum. There’s plenty of room everywhere, too, for both people and luggage. The secondhand market has a good selection of nearly-new Tucsons at eye-catching prices if you’re looking to save money.

The Toyota Yaris Cross is a little bit of an unsung hero. It’s fab to drive, has a solid interior and comes with plenty of features as standard. A pumped-up version of the standard Yaris, the Cross is - as the name suggests - a crossover SUV, so you get slightly more rugged looks and a raised ride height.

It’s also only available as an automatic, with a 1.5-litre petrol engine attached to an electric motor resulting in brisk performance around town. Efficiency is good, too, thanks to the hybrid powertrain.

The Yaris Cross has a stylish yet functional interior, with enough space to transport a quartet of adults and their luggage. The infotainment system works well, plus there’s Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

With a hard-wearing and spacious interior, heaps of advanced technology and sharp looks, alongside keen pricing, the Skoda Octavia is so good that it’ll make you think twice about buying the latest Volkswagen Golf.

It comes with the usual range of Volkswagen-Group petrol and diesel engines, most of which are available with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox, or sold exclusively with one. There's not a bad one among them, but if you cover a lot of miles, you’ll want either the 1.5 TSI petrol mild hybrid or the 2.0 TDI diesel.

There's also the Skoda Octavia vRS, offering a sportier drive without sacrificing practicality. Prices for the new Octavia with an automatic gearbox start in the region of £25,000, but you'll save some wedge by going for an example that's a couple of years old. 

Purists will tell you you must have a manual gearbox with your Porsche sports car, but that doesn't mean that the brand's PDK gearbox is a dud. In fact, it's one of the finest automatic gearboxes at any price point, and it’s available in the relatively affordable Porsche 718 Cayman.

The 718 Cayman was a bit controversial when it arrived in 2016, dropping the six-cylinder engines in entry-level models in favour of four-cylinder turbocharged units (2.0-litres in the standard Cayman and 2.5 in the Cayman S). These still provide impressive performance, though, and will prove relatively cheap to run: the standard Cayman returns around 36mpg in the real world with the PDK gearbox.

If you simply must have a six-cylinder engine, then you'll need to move up the range, looking at the fantastic Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 or the track-focused Cayman GT4 or GT4 RS models. All of which can be had with that PDK gearbox.

All versions of the Porsche 718 Cayman are a lot of fun to drive, with the kind of agile and exciting handling and everyday usability that the Cayman has attracted a strong following for. As standard, the rapid-shifting gearbox comes with paddles behind the steering wheel, so you can take control when you’re in the mood.

Most electric cars don't actually come with gearboxes as such, because they actually have a single gear, but they drive in the same way as a conventional automatic car: you put the car into Drive and off you go. In fact, EVs are often even more smooth, with no gearshifts and instant, silent acceleration.

Most mass-market EVs fit this criteria, but one of our favourites is the latest Kia Niro EV. With funkier looks than the drab older model it ticks the desirability box, but also offers a high-tech yet functional and spacious interior, a good all-round driving experience and strong value for money. 

With a range of up to 285 miles, the Kia Niro EV might be all the car you ever need, so long as charging at home isn't problematic. It's reasonably affordable by electric standards, and if you find a good used example, you can save even more.

The Honda Jazz has a bit of a fuddy-duddy image but that’s not entirely justified. The latest model, launched in 2020, is loaded with technology and comes with hybrid power as standard, while its certainly more sharp-suited to look at than older versions. 

The hybrid-only Jazz includes a slick automatic gearbox and an electric motor, which enables the petrol engine to kick in and out around town, making for a very relaxed drive in heavy traffic. It’s also surprisingly quiet and refined on the move, and the Honda Jazz is well up to the job of darting in and out of motorway traffic.

Of course, most people buy a Honda Jazz for its strong reliability record, low running costs and huge amount of practicality. It’s technically an alternative to the likes of the Vauxhall Corsa, only its clever Magic Seat arrangement means it’s more versatile than bigger cars like the Volkswagen Golf.