Best automatic cars for Motability 2026

There are plenty of reasons to choose an automatic car over a manual, especially in modern conditions where congestion is heavier than ever, city streets are often choked and difficult to manoeuvre around and two-pedal transmissions are as good as they’ve ever been.

Gone are the days where an automatic gearbox meant worse fuel economy, higher maintenance costs and worse reliability than a manual, as today they’re often some of the most frugal and inexpensive models in the range to buy.

Automatic cars have always been popular on the Motability scheme, too, where self-shifting models are often the go-to choice for drivers with reduced mobility or those who are looking for something which is easier to drive. 

Here’s our pick of the best automatic cars for Motability customers that you can get right now. 

Kia Picanto

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• Model: Picanto 1.0 67 GT-Line 5dr Auto 
• Advance payment: nil
• PIP weekly cost: £76.45
• Car size: city car
• Fuel type: petrol
• Gearbox: automatic

On the outside the Kia Picanto looks like a basic, no-frills city car. But scratch beneath the surface and you’ll quickly discover that this dinky run-around is brimming with character.

The Picanto is an Auto Express New Car Award winner and thanks to its functional, spacious and well-equipped cabin and tall wide-access doors, it should appeal to many Motability buyers. 

The automatic gearbox is actually an automated sequential manual, which means quick and responsive changes but just the two pedals. With no advanced payment and a weekly cost of just over £76, it’s one of the least expensive automatic cars currently available on the Motability scheme. 

Ford Puma Gen-E

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• Model: Puma Gen-E 123kW Premium 43kWh 5dr Auto
• PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
• Advance payment: nil payment
• Car size: small SUV
• Fuel type: electric
• Gearbox: automatic

The Ford Puma has been a hit with car buyers since arriving in 2019 thanks to its economical powertrains, comfortable ride, fun handling and intuitive on-board tech.

The car we’ve chosen here is the Ford Puma Gen-E, the electric version of Ford’s big-selling small SUV. Not only is the Puma Gen-E available for nil advance payment, but you can get it with the Comfort/ Advanced Driver Assist pack. Included in this pack is an electric tailgate, as well as a 360-degree camera which we found really handy when parking or navigating tight spaces.

The 43kWh battery might sound small compared to rivals but it has a very efficient powertrain with an official range of 233 miles which should be plenty for most people. When we tested the Puma Gen-E against the Renault 4 in July 2025, we saw an efficiency figure of 4.7 mi/kWh. Efficiency shouldn’t take too much of a hit in colder weather, either, as the Puma Gen-E comes with a heat pump as standard.

When you do need to stop and charge, the Puma Gen-E’s battery can go from 10-80 per cent capacity in as little as 23 minutes when using a fast charger.

Hyundai Kona Electric

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• Model: Kona Electric 160kW Advance 65kWh 5dr 
• PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
• Advance payment: £999
• Car size: small SUV
• Fuel type: electric
• Gearbox: automatic 

There’s nothing dramatic or jaw-dropping about the Hyundai Kona Electric, unlike its bigger sibling, the Ioniq 5, but as a highly usable introduction to electric motoring the compact Korean SUV takes a lot of beating. 

The Kona Electric It has a fast-charging 65kWh battery pack which can be topped up from 10 to 80 per cent in 41 minutes and up to 319 miles WLTP on a single charge. 

We really like the Hyundai Kona because despite being a small SUV, it’s very spacious for its size, functional and easy to drive with a tall cabin, good access and excellent visibility which make it an ideal candidate for Motability customers. 

Hyundai Ioniq 5 

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• Model: Ioniq 5 125kW Advance 63kWh
• PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
• Advance payment: £2,249
• Car size: SUV
• Fuel type: electric
• Gearbox: automatic

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is one of the most distinctive cars currently on the road, and also a highly usable electric model with 273 miles of range available (WLTP). 

Its futuristic exterior and vast size is matched by an equally spacious and high-tech cabin, packed with digital functionality and advanced safety features. It’s a fascinating, interesting vehicle, as well as one that offers great practicality, which is essential for many Motability users. 

Skoda Kodiaq

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• Model: Kodiaq 1.5 TSI e-TEC SE 5dr DSG [7 Seat]
• PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
• Advance payment: £3,399
• Car size: SUV
• Fuel type: petrol
• Gearbox: automatic

The Skoda Kodiaq is one of the best SUVs on the market and it isn’t hard to see why.

With an advanced payment of around £3,700, Motability buyers can get the Kodiaq with the sprightly 1.5-litre petrol engine which comes with a snappy sequential DSG gearbox. If you cover more miles then you can spec the Kodiaq with a diesel engine, although you will have to pay a higher advanced payment. 

The Skoda is a very classy, refined and capable SUV with lots of cabin storage and a large boot. What makes it even better is that you can also get it as a seven-seat family car should you need to haul around more passengers.

Best automatic cars for Motability

• Kia Picanto
• Ford Puma Gen-E
• Hyundai Kona Electric
• Hyundai Ioniq 5
• Skoda Kodiaq

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