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If you want to shift your own gears in a new car, the options are getting limited. Find new cars with a manual transmission.
Manual Transmissions are On Their Way Out
Rowing through the gears in your car is looking to be a thing of the past. Manual transmissions used to be the cost saving solution for auto manufacturers, but the technology behind automatic options has gotten cheaper. Not only that, but sales volumes for manual transmission cars has dwindled in recent years, sometimes being the last version of a model to sell on dealership lots. There’s also the matter of more cars moving towards electrification in coming years, where hybridized systems commonly rely on automatic transmissions or fully electric vehicles that use a single-speed option and no gear shifts. While the satisfaction of selecting your own gears is on the way out, there are still a few models on today’s market that feature a manual transmission. The outgoing gear shift option is still kicking around on some new models, but it’s reserved for performance cars and a couple off-roaders. If you have the need to put in the clutch and switch gears, these new cars on our list might be your last chance!
New Cars with Manual Transmissions
Acura Integra
The Acura Integra returned in 2022 and has been available with a six-speed manual ever since. To access the manual transmission on the sporty sedan, you’ll need to go past the base trim level and find either the A-Spec with the Technology package or the Type S. Either option gets you the ability to shift through the gears, but springing for the Type S gives you the 320-horsepower turbocharged 2.0L VTEC four-cylinder under the hood that’s derived from the Honda Civic Type R.
Aston Martin Valour
This Aston Martin may be the last true British sports car. The limited edition Aston Martin Valour is available only this year and just 110 examples are being produced. It features a 705-horsepower twin-turbocharged 5.2L V12 engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. If ever there was a modern Aston Martin to get, this one is it. It isn’t the fastest or the most luxurious from the British automaker, but it’s definitely going to offer the most involved and exciting driving experience.
BMW M2
BMW still has manual gearboxes in its lineup, but you’ll have to get a performance M model to find them. First up is the 2024 BMW M2 with its twin-turbocharged 3.0L inline-six that’s pumping out 453 horsepower that’s mated to a six-speed manual transmission.
BMW M3
The BMW M3 has featured a manual transmission since the E30 version came the scene back in 1986 – and the 2024 model is no different. The high-performance 3 Series sedan comes with a six-speed manual paired to the 473-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.0L inline-six found on the base model. M3 Competition models are only available with an eight-speed automatic unfortunately.
BMW M4
The BMW M4 carries a lot of similarities to the M3 under the skin (and not just that giant kidney grille). The coupe variant of the M4 is available with a six-speed manual transmission paired to the same 473-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.0L inline-six unit that’s found in the M3. The M4 Competition and M4 convertible options only feature automatic transmissions though.
BMW Z4
That only other BMW to feature a manual gearbox is the BMW Z4 M40i. The German roadster is gaining a six-speed manual transmission since its Japanese cousin, the Toyota Supra, features one. That gearbox is mated to a 382-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.0L inline-six engine and might be the last BMW roadster to feature this pairing.
Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is an exceptional performance sedan and one of the last of the American four-door sedans worth getting in today’s market. As Cadillac begins its pivot to hybrids and electric vehicles, the Blackwings may be the last Caddys to feature a manual transmission. Paired to this model’s 472-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.6L V6 engine is an available six-speed manual transmission.
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
The other Cadillac that still allows you to manually shift gears is the ludicrous Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. This super sport sedan comes with an available six-speed manual transmission like the CT4-V version, but the CT5-V Blackwing’s is connected to an insane supercharged 6.2L V8 engine that produces 668 horsepower.
Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro is sadly on its way out, but you can still find it with a manual transmission for its last hurrah. While the original versions of this muscle car were available with “three on the tree” or “four on the floor”, the 2024 Chevrolet Camaro features an available six-speed manual. That gearbox pairs with either the 3.6L V6, 6.2L V8, or the ZL1 version’s supercharged 6.2L V8 that makes 650 horsepower. Whatever you choose, it’s going to be the last example of this iconic muscle car to feature a manual gear shifter.
Ford Bronco
The Ford Bronco came back just a couple years ago and it’s a proper off-roader. Crawling over rocks is made a lot easier when you can select your gears, and Ford lets you flip through seven of them. The Badlands, Big Bed, Black Diamond, and Heritage Editions of the Bronco carry a seven-speed manual transmission as long as you stick with the 275-horsepower turbocharged 2.3L four-cylinder engine. While that modest engine isn’t very exciting for outright speed, it’ll work fine for off-roading adventures.
Ford Mustang
The Dodge Challenger is gone, the Chevrolet Camaro is on the way out, and the Ford Mustang is sticking around for a little while longer. Not only is it sticking around for a bit, but its available with a manual gearbox. Get yourself a new Mustang with the GT trim or higher that has the 5.0L Coyote V8 and you get a six-speed manual transmission.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic has been both a great commuter car and a fun ride for car fans over the years. One of this compact Honda’s key components has been the availability of a manual transmission and that’s still true for 2024 models. You can find a standard six-speed manual gearbox on the Sport and Sport Touring hatchback models and the Si sedan, but a better example of the six-speed shifter can be found on the Honda Civic Type R. The performance Type R lets you row through the gears as you push that 315-horsepower turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder.
Hyundai Elantra N
Hyundai used to offer a manual transmission on most of their budget friendly cars, but now you can only find that kind of gearbox on the Elantra N from the Korean automaker. The Hyundai Elantra N is the performance version of their compact sedan that features a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder mated to an available six-speed manual.
Jeep Gladiator
The Jeep Gladiator is a mid-sized truck that’s made to take things off the pavement and into the wilderness. The 2024 Jeep Gladiator received a mild refresh but it still carries a manual transmission making it one of only two available pickup trucks to still carry the transmission option. Paired to the 3.6L V6 under the Gladiator’s hood is a standard six-speed manual that helps this truck traverse challenging terrains.
Jeep Wrangler
Not to be outdone by its Ford competition, the Jeep Wrangler still offers a manual transmission for those slow crawls over treacherous trails. You can find a six-speed manual available on all of the Jeep Wrangler’s extensive catalog of trims, as long as you choose the 3.6L V6 engine though. The 2.0L four-cylinder, 4xe PHEV, and the 392’s 6.4L HEMI V8 can’t be had with a manual.
Kia Forte
The Kia Forte is an affordable compact sedan that doesn’t really fit with the rest of the list in terms of style or performance, but it can manually shift gears and that’s all that matters. If you find a 2024 Kia Forte GT with its turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder, it can be optioned with a six-speed manual transmission. With its starting price of $25,390, it is the second cheapest new car to feature a manual transmission in today’s market. There’s only one model that comes in cheaper with a manual.
Lotus Emira
Ferrari and Lamborghini might have their paddle shifters controlling gearing electronically like a Formula One car, but that isn’t the same as a true manual transmission. Lotus does it right though with their Emira as the mid-engined sports car comes with a six-speed manual transmission mated to its 400-horsepower supercharged 3.5L V6 engine.
Mazda3
Mazda is all about bringing enthusiasts an exciting drive with their vehicles, but only a couple of their cars still carry the ability to manually shift gears still. The 2024 Mazda3 can still be had with a six-speed manual transmission, but you’ll have to stick with the naturally aspirated 2.5L four-cylinder engine on the hatchback model. The sedan and turbocharged versions of the Mazda3 go with automatics exclusively.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Mazda’s iconic convertible sports car, the MX-5 Miata, can still be had with a manual transmission as well. Car enthusiasts can still drop the top, put in the clutch, and switch through the gears on the 2024 model with its six-speed manual transmission mated to the 181-horsepower 2.0L four-cylinder engine.
Mini Cooper
Mini is still out here with their fun hatchbacks and they’re still available with a manual transmission. Whether you choose hardtop, convertible, two-door, or four-door, the Mini Cooper and Cooper S can be had with a six-speed manual gearbox. You can even get the performance spec John Cooper Work edition two-door with the manual paired to the 228-horsepower turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder.
Nissan Versa
The Kia Forte GT is a pretty affordable option when looking for a manual transmission today, but the 2024 Nissan Versa is THE cheapest new car you can get with a manual transmission. The base trim Versa S comes in at a starting price of $16,680 and features a standard five-speed manual transmission mated to a naturally aspirated 1.6L four-cylinder engine. The ride won’t be very fun or fast, but you can select gears and that’s all this list is about.
Nissan Z
Nissan isn’t just leaving us with the sad performance of the Versa for manual fans. The 2024 Nissan Z continues the brand’s Fairlady Z lineage, provides great performance, and has a manual transmission available. The Z has the Performance Manual and Sport Manual trims that offer a six-speed manual transmission paired to a 400-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 engine. Sadly, the high-performance NISMO tuned version of the Nissan Z is only available with an automatic transmission.
Porsche 718
A lot of Porsche’s lineup have moved on to automatic transmissions as electrification and SUVs take hold, but a couple of their great sports cars still carry manual gearboxes. The mid-engined Porsche 718 for instance still can be had with a six- and even a seven-speed manual transmission. Nearly the entire lineup of 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster models with their flat-fours and flat-sixes can be had with a manual attached, just not the Cayman GT4 RS or the Boxster Spyder RS.
Porsche 911
A Porsche 911 without a manual transmission feels blasphemous. Luckily, the successful sports car is still available with a seven-speed manual transmission on the Carrera S, Carrera 4S, Carrera GTS, Carrera 4 GTS, Targa 4S, and Targa 4 GTS. Some of the 911s high-performance trims, specifically the GT3 and GT3 Touring, are available with a six-speed manual mated to the naturally aspirated 4.0L flat-six engine as well.
Subaru BRZ
The BRZ is the odd one out when you look at Subaru’s lineup. It’s a two-door sports coupe that sends power to the rear-wheels rather than all four like all of their other models. It is also on of only two Subaru models to feature an available manual gearbox. Mated to the BRZ’s 2.4L flat-four engine is a six-speed manual transmission.
Subaru WRX
The only other Subaru with a manual is the one with a history in rally racing. The 2024 Subaru WRX in its latest form may not have as much hype surrounding it as the WRX STi models that preceded it had, but it still has rally inspiration backing its design and still carries a manual transmission. Except the for the WRX GT, every trim level on the WRX features the availability of a six-speed manual transmission that’s paired with the standard AWD and the 271-horsepower turbocharged 2.4L flat-four engine.
Toyota GR86
Being based off the same platform as the Subaru BRZ, the Toyota GR86 also is available with a six-speed stick shift mated to the 2.4L four-cylinder engine. The spiritual successor to the iconic AE86 can still be manually shifted as things get sideways like Takumi in Initial D.
Toyota GR Corolla
Another “Toyota Gazoo Racing” performance vehicle is the Toyota GR Corolla. This modern, AWD hot-hatch can be found with a standard six-speed manual transmission paired to a 300-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder engine.
Toyota GR Supra
While it’s technically a BMW Z4 under the skin, the Supra has been back since 2020. Like the BMW its based on, the Toyota GR Supra is available in 2024 with a six-speed manual transmission paired to a 382-horsepower turbocharged 3.0L six-cylinder. The rear-wheel drive sports car might be on the way out as Toyota announced the end of their partnership with BMW, so this might be the last chance to get a manual Supra.
Toyota Tacoma
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma may be all new, but it keeps the manual gearbox and joins the Jeep Gladiator as the last trucks with the dying transmission type. Like other production off-roaders, the Toyota allows drivers to control their gearing as they carefully get over obstacles. To get the six-speed manual transmission you’ll need to get a SR, TRD Sport, or TRD Off-Road trimmed Tacoma and stick with the double cab style. These specific versions mate the six-speed to a turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinder engine.
Volkswagen Golf R & Golf GTI
North American audiences don’t get the base Volkswagen Golf like the rest of the world, but we do still get the GTI and Golf R. Volkswagen’s hot-hatches can be had with a six-speed manual transmission to really enjoy what the Golf is all about. The GTI pairs the six-speed with a 241-horse turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder and FWD while the Golf R pairs the gearbox with a 315-horse turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder and directs power to all four wheels.
Volkswagen Jetta
Lastly, the Volkswagen Jetta is the final new car that can be had with a manual transmission. The Jetta S and Sport trim models are available with a six-speed manual transmission paired with the 158-horsepower turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder. There’s also the performance edition Jetta GLI that takes a standard six-speed manual and puts it with a 228-horsepower turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder.
