12 automatic cars you can buy in South Africa for under R250,000

·17 Dec 2022

A car with an automatic transmission (AT) can make driving a lot easier, especially in built-up and heavy traffic areas – which has led to vehicles that offer an AT becoming very popular in South Africa.

According to data from AutoTrader, there has been a considerable shift from manual cars to automatic transmissions, reported News24. The data showed that of the 13% of prospective car buyers using the gearbox type search filter, 82% selected the automatic filter.

Additionally, in August 2020, manual transmission cars made up 54% of the used car market listings, while automatic transmission listings comprised 46%. But by August 2022, the automatic share had risen to 55%, while the share of manual cars dropped to 45%, AutoTrader CEO George Mienie told News24.

In the past, manual transmissions were known to get better fuel economy than their automatic counterparts – which, in the early days, could use up to 10% more fuel than their manual equivalent. However, modern developments in automatic transmissions and variations have meant that this is longer the case.

Among the technological advancements of automatic transmissions came the automated manual transmission (AMT) – also called a semi-automatic gearbox because it marries the clutch and gears of a manual with a set of actuators, sensors, processors and pneumatics.

This type of transmission is used in most cars on this list. Using an AMT system, the driver does not have to do anything, as the system operates the clutch and selects the right gear for the driving situation – although the driver can elect to use the gears manually.

While operating like an automatic, on paper, an AMT gearbox offers the same, if not better fuel-saving benefits as a traditional stick shift transmission.

Unfortunately, automatics often cost thousands of rands more than their manual counterparts. However, the good news is that there are still many small affordable cars on the market with the option of an automatic transmission.

Included in the list is one of Naamsa’s top-selling vehicles in November 2022, the Suzuki Swift, which sold a total of 1,751 units.

The new model features chrome lines that divide the grille into two sections, a new mesh pattern on the grille, and front fog lights for the GL and GLX trims.

The range-topping GLX features a reverse camera, climate control, keyless entry with a start/stop button, a touchscreen infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and 15-inch alloy wheels.

The Swift is fitted with Suzuki’s K12M engine, a naturally-aspirated petrol engine that produces 61kW of power and 112Nm of torque. The combined fuel consumption is rated at 4.9l/100km.

The top 12 automatic vehicles you can buy in South Africa right now for under R250,000 are listed below.

Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition auto