>This question tends to polarize many car owners, especially enthusiasts – what gets better gas mileage – stick or automatic? Autobloggreen had an article touting the virtues of the automatic transmissions, and pointing out why according to its article many automatics now get better gas mileage than their equivalent standard counterparts. The arguments boils down to one: automatic transmissions can now convert torque almost as efficiently as standards. Why? Two main reasons, the change from 3-speed automatic transmissions to 6-8 speeds in contemporary cars, and the introduction of electronic controls that change gears in a hair of a second, faster than a human mashing through the gears.
Now all of these arguments very obviously depend upon the particular car in question, but the general trend is that newer cars have more efficient automatic transmissions.