Best Manual Transmission Cars
Manual transmission cars are still on offer, despite near-universal moves towards automated driving in autos. Here are some of the best manual transmission cars
Written by Alex Reale
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
As we march inexorably toward a world where robots run the automotive show, buying a
manual
transmission car is a rage against the dying of the light. People are working hard to remove the human element from car travel, and yet some drivers still prize the feel of a quality shifter. And it’s hard to blame them for that.
If you’re among the group that refuses to go gentle, here are some of the best manual transmission cars on the market today.
Best manual transmission cars: The pragmatists
For the stick driver seeking the reasonably priced, (mostly) practical sedan or hatchback, options abound.
HiConsumption
gives us a few to consider. First up is the Hyundai Veloster, which is technically a hatch but doesn’t do much to disguise its sport qualities. Six-speed stick-shift is standard for the Veloster, and it comes with either a 1.6L four-cylinder turbo engine or a 2L four-cylinder, depending on the version you choose. It will happily churn out between 147 and 201 hp.
The Volkswagen Jetta sports similar stats to the Veloster, with its 1.4L four-cylinder turbo or 2L four-cylinder turbo engine choices and range of 147 hp to 228 hp. Unlike the Veloster, however, manual isn’t an automatic for this car. You’d have to insist.
Two solid sellers in the U.S. make the list of best manual transmission cars as well: the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla. HiConsumption reports that the Civic gives drivers lots of options to go manual, with the Sport, Sport Touring, and Type R models in the lineup. Engines available include 1.5L four-cylinder and the 2L four-cylinder turbo, and you could be looking at horsepower anywhere from 158 to 306.
The Corolla, frequently a chart topper in terms of overall sales, offers the GR for the manual enthusiasts, says
Road and Track
. Its 6-speed and 1.6L three-cylinder turbo engine will help you churn out 300hp. Car and Driver
calls it a “little terror.” Not too shabby for a car of the masses. Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
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Sports, of course
It stands to reason that a lot of sports cars sport manual transmissions: these are drivers’ cars.
HiConsumption praises the Chevrolet Camaro for its availability of stick shift options in all of its 2021 class. Engines for your manual Camaro come in the flavors of 2L four-cylinder, 3.6L V6, and 6.2L V8, and you could achieve anywhere from 275 hp to 650 hp. Just imagine that shift to sixth gear.
Next up is the Mazda MX-5, which has always been known for its manual transmissions, reports HiConsumption. The latest iteration of this fun convertible follows tradition. A 2L four-cylinder produces 181 hp, which isn’t the wildest stat, but what you might lack in power you certainly make up for in zippiness.
The inclusion of a Subaru should surprise no one—the company has always been committed to letting drivers take the reins. The Subaru BRZ offers six-speed manual as standard, and HiConsumption praises it as “one of the most driver-forward cars in recent memory,” citing its sporty suspension and finely tuned balance.
A (not comprehensive) list of manual sports cars could never be complete without a couple Porsches, those emblems of fun on the road. Models from both the Porsche 718 and Porsche 911 levels offer manual transmissions.
The 718 models have an optional six-speed and have engines in the style of 2L four-cylinder turbo, 2.5L four-cylinder turbo, and 4L six-cylinder turbo. Enjoy 300 hp to 394 hp. The 911, assuming you’ll be on the Autobahn, pushes it all the way to a seven-speed offering. A 3L six-cylinder twin-turbo contributes 443 horses to make this possible.
Medium to large
If small and city dwelling isn’t your style, rest assured that the off-roader community isn't going to let you down. The newly revamped Ford Bronco offers an option for a seven-speed manual transmission, coupled with a turbocharged 2.3L four-cylinder engine. It will generate 270 hp, and HiConsumption points out that the ultra-low gear that precedes first is ideal for slow and steady bouldering.
Of course, if Bronco does manual, it follows that two Jeeps would make the list as well. Both the Wrangler and Gladiator offer six-speeds tethered to a 285 hp 3.6L V6 engine. Having one hand on the wheel and one on the shifter does make doing the Jeep wave slightly more complicated, but it’s all part of the fun.
Finally, in a land where the top three best-selling cars of 2021 were all pickup trucks—the Ford F-Series, the Ram Pickup, and the Chevrolet Silverado, according to
Car and Driver
—we couldn’t possibly leave off the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, which is one of the only pickups that will still indulge manual needs. A 3.6L V6 engine produces 285 hp, and you get the dubious bragging rights of complicating each tow. The best manual transmission cars need car insurance.
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