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It's no secret that the old manual transmission is becoming a rarity, as buyers uneducated on the stick shift flock to automatic-only cars, and budget-wary automakers use those declining sales numbers as a reason to discontinue their manual offerings. On top of that, the industry is gradually moving in the direction of EVs, which forgo a transmission completely. But there are still many new cars that still offer a manual transmission, though most of these three-pedal offerings are performance cars that focus themselves completely on the driver experience. This list consists of ten manual-friendly cars that offer nearly everything their automatic counterparts have––but without the automatic, of course.
#1 | Acura Integra
The Civic-based Acura Integra isn't quite a performance car, unless you opt for the 320-hp Type S model, which happens to come with nothing but a six-speed manual. Meanwhile, the regular Integra four-door also has a six-speed stick shift option, though it's limited to the top-of-the-line A-Spec model. Regardless, that makes it the only non-performance luxury car to still offer a manual.
#2 | Ford Bronco
The Ford Bronco can be had in a multitude of different trim levels and configurations, and among those many options is a manual transmission. For those who want a more traditional off-roading experience, the Bronco comes standard with a seven-speed manual on the Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, and Badlands trim levels. And ever since the 2022 model year, the manual can also be paired with the Sasquatch package, which adds gargantuan 35-inch tires. Unfortunately, models with the more powerful 2.7 liter V6 engine are left out from having the manual, which means you're stuck with the smaller 2.3 liter inline-four.
#3 | Honda Civic Hatchback
Like its more premium Acura cousin, the Honda Civic has a six-speed manual buried deep into its vast model lineup. The stick shift is a hatchback-only affair for regular models, as the only Civic sedan to offer a manual is the sporty Si. The Civic hatch pairs its six-speed to both of its engine options, depending on which trim you choose. The Sport model connects its optional manual to a 158-hp 2.0 liter four-cylinder, while the pricier Sport Touring features a more powerful turbocharged 1.5 liter four-cylinder that produces 180 hp. If that isn't enough power for you, then go all out with the manual-only, 315-hp Civic Type R hatchback, but that's a different story for another day.
#4 | Jeep Gladiator/Wrangler
Jeep's staple off-roaders, the Wrangler SUV and its mechanically-related Gladiator pickup, will both let you row your own gears as you crawl across daring landscapes. The manual is available in any model that comes with the 3.6 liter V6, which means you're out of luck if you wanted the 2.0 liter inline-four, 3.0 liter TurboDiesel V6, or plug-in hybrid 4xe powertrains. But there are still a ton of models with the manual-equipped V6 in the Wrangler and Gladiator lineups, from the entry-level Sport to the pricier Rubicon and Willys.
#5 | Kia Forte GT
The Forte sedan is the last manual holdout from Kia, as the larger K5 went automatic-only after replacing the Optima in 2021, while the smaller Rio lost its manual all the way back in 2019. But it isn't exactly obvious that the Forte is Kia's final sedan to offer a manual gearbox, as the six-speed manual is found solely in the GT model. On top of that, you'll have to opt for the GT Manual package. Aside from the manual option, the Forte GT offers several other performance upgrades, including larger front brakes and an upgraded exhaust system. The GT gets power from a turbocharged 1.6 liter inline-four, which makes 201 hp.
#6 | Mazda 3 Hatchback
The Mazda 3 is not the only Mazda to feature a manual on the spec sheet, as the MX-5 Miata comes with a stick shift option as well, but the Miata is considered to be more of a performance car. This leaves the humble Mazda 3 as the brand's last mainstream model to offer a manual transmission. The 3's six-speed manual is exclusive to the hatchback body style, and is only offered for the Premium trim level. This rather rare build also features a 2.5 liter four-cylinder under the hood, with the manual sending 186 hp to the front wheels only.
#7 | Nissan Versa
The Nissan Versa is one of just a few subcompact cars still available in the U.S., and it's part of an even smaller number when it comes to offering a manual transmission. The Versa's five-speed gearbox comes standard on the entry-level S model, while every other trim must make do with a CVT transmission. The Versa has been refreshed for 2023, though it still uses a 1.6 liter four-cylinder that produces 122 horsepower.
#8 | Toyota Corolla
The track-oriented GR Corolla isn't the only Corolla model with a manual on offer, as the more pedestrian sedan and hatchback still offer a stick shift as well. The regular Corolla's six-speed manual is exclusive to the SE trims for both body styles, though the hatchback also includes a manual option in its sportier XSE trim. Either way, the six-speed is paired to a 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine making 169 horsepower, which is the more powerful engine in the Corolla's two-pronged powertrain lineup.
#9 | Toyota Tacoma
The Tacoma is one of two pickup trucks that still have a manual in 2023, and that trend will continue on with the midsize truck's redesign for 2024. As for the current generation, truck buyers looking for a manual will find a six-speed gearbox in the TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro trim levels. These models are powered by a 278-hp, 3.5 liter V6 engine, and they also feature 4WD. For the 2024 model year, the Tacoma will get Toyota's second-generation intelligent manual transmission but limits it to the TRD Off-Road and the entry-level SR trims.
#10 | Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen is rumored to be pulling the plug on all its manual transmission offerings sometime in the near future, but for now you can still get a Jetta with a six-speed manual. The stick shift is only offered on the cheaper S and Sport trim levels, which are powered by a 1.5 liter four-cylinder with 158 horsepower and front-wheel drive. Alternatively, you can opt for that same six-speed in the more powerful Jetta GLI, or you can spring for the similar performance-oriented Golf GTI and Golf R.
Lists
Jun 30, 2023
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10 Everyday Cars That Still Offer A Manual Transmission In 2023
Manuals are getting rare, but you don't necessarily need a BMW M3 to have one.
It's no secret that the old manual transmission is becoming a rarity, as buyers uneducated on the stick shift flock to automatic-only cars, and budget-wary automakers use those declining sales numbers as a reason to discontinue their manual offerings. On top of that, the industry is gradually moving in the direction of EVs, which forgo a transmission completely. But there are still many new cars that still offer a manual transmission, though most of these three-pedal offerings are performance cars that focus themselves completely on the driver experience. This list consists of ten manual-friendly cars that offer nearly everything their automatic counterparts have––but without the automatic, of course.
#1 | Acura Integra
The Civic-based Acura Integra isn't quite a performance car, unless you opt for the 320-hp Type S model, which happens to come with nothing but a six-speed manual. Meanwhile, the regular Integra four-door also has a six-speed stick shift option, though it's limited to the top-of-the-line A-Spec model. Regardless, that makes it the only non-performance luxury car to still offer a manual.
#2 | Ford Bronco
The Ford Bronco can be had in a multitude of different trim levels and configurations, and among those many options is a manual transmission. For those who want a more traditional off-roading experience, the Bronco comes standard with a seven-speed manual on the Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, and Badlands trim levels. And ever since the 2022 model year, the manual can also be paired with the Sasquatch package, which adds gargantuan 35-inch tires. Unfortunately, models with the more powerful 2.7 liter V6 engine are left out from having the manual, which means you're stuck with the smaller 2.3 liter inline-four.
#3 | Honda Civic Hatchback
Like its more premium Acura cousin, the Honda Civic has a six-speed manual buried deep into its vast model lineup. The stick shift is a hatchback-only affair for regular models, as the only Civic sedan to offer a manual is the sporty Si. The Civic hatch pairs its six-speed to both of its engine options, depending on which trim you choose. The Sport model connects its optional manual to a 158-hp 2.0 liter four-cylinder, while the pricier Sport Touring features a more powerful turbocharged 1.5 liter four-cylinder that produces 180 hp. If that isn't enough power for you, then go all out with the manual-only, 315-hp Civic Type R hatchback, but that's a different story for another day.
#4 | Jeep Gladiator/Wrangler
Jeep's staple off-roaders, the Wrangler SUV and its mechanically-related Gladiator pickup, will both let you row your own gears as you crawl across daring landscapes. The manual is available in any model that comes with the 3.6 liter V6, which means you're out of luck if you wanted the 2.0 liter inline-four, 3.0 liter TurboDiesel V6, or plug-in hybrid 4xe powertrains. But there are still a ton of models with the manual-equipped V6 in the Wrangler and Gladiator lineups, from the entry-level Sport to the pricier Rubicon and Willys.
#5 | Kia Forte GT
The Forte sedan is the last manual holdout from Kia, as the larger K5 went automatic-only after replacing the Optima in 2021, while the smaller Rio lost its manual all the way back in 2019. But it isn't exactly obvious that the Forte is Kia's final sedan to offer a manual gearbox, as the six-speed manual is found solely in the GT model. On top of that, you'll have to opt for the GT Manual package. Aside from the manual option, the Forte GT offers several other performance upgrades, including larger front brakes and an upgraded exhaust system. The GT gets power from a turbocharged 1.6 liter inline-four, which makes 201 hp.
#6 | Mazda 3 Hatchback
The Mazda 3 is not the only Mazda to feature a manual on the spec sheet, as the MX-5 Miata comes with a stick shift option as well, but the Miata is considered to be more of a performance car. This leaves the humble Mazda 3 as the brand's last mainstream model to offer a manual transmission. The 3's six-speed manual is exclusive to the hatchback body style, and is only offered for the Premium trim level. This rather rare build also features a 2.5 liter four-cylinder under the hood, with the manual sending 186 hp to the front wheels only.
#7 | Nissan Versa
The Nissan Versa is one of just a few subcompact cars still available in the U.S., and it's part of an even smaller number when it comes to offering a manual transmission. The Versa's five-speed gearbox comes standard on the entry-level S model, while every other trim must make do with a CVT transmission. The Versa has been refreshed for 2023, though it still uses a 1.6 liter four-cylinder that produces 122 horsepower.
#8 | Toyota Corolla
The track-oriented GR Corolla isn't the only Corolla model with a manual on offer, as the more pedestrian sedan and hatchback still offer a stick shift as well. The regular Corolla's six-speed manual is exclusive to the SE trims for both body styles, though the hatchback also includes a manual option in its sportier XSE trim. Either way, the six-speed is paired to a 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine making 169 horsepower, which is the more powerful engine in the Corolla's two-pronged powertrain lineup.
#9 | Toyota Tacoma
The Tacoma is one of two pickup trucks that still have a manual in 2023, and that trend will continue on with the midsize truck's redesign for 2024. As for the current generation, truck buyers looking for a manual will find a six-speed gearbox in the TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro trim levels. These models are powered by a 278-hp, 3.5 liter V6 engine, and they also feature 4WD. For the 2024 model year, the Tacoma will get Toyota's second-generation intelligent manual transmission but limits it to the TRD Off-Road and the entry-level SR trims.
#10 | Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen is rumored to be pulling the plug on all its manual transmission offerings sometime in the near future, but for now you can still get a Jetta with a six-speed manual. The stick shift is only offered on the cheaper S and Sport trim levels, which are powered by a 1.5 liter four-cylinder with 158 horsepower and front-wheel drive. Alternatively, you can opt for that same six-speed in the more powerful Jetta GLI, or you can spring for the similar performance-oriented Golf GTI and Golf R.
