Which Chevrolets Have a Manual Transmission?

As most carmakers are phasing out manual transmission vehicles, Chevrolet still has four manual cars in its lineup—Camaro, Spark, Sonic, and Corvette.
Written by Jason Tushinski
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
With four models sporting manual transmission, Chevrolet is one of just a few carmakers left with several manual options in its lineup. That said, manual transmission cars are quickly becoming relics of the past, so if you’re a gearshift enthusiast, you might want to grab yourself a stick shift Chevy while you still can.
Now, some self-respecting car enthusiasts wouldn't touch an automatic vehicle if their lives depended on it. Still, it's becoming more of an impossible dream every day to live and die by manual transmission—a staggering 99% of new cars sold in the U.S. are automatics.
So, if you’re pining for a chance to land a great manual transmission Chevy,
car insurance
broker and comparison shopping app
Jerry
has put together this handy guide to Chevrolet’s remaining stick-shift options—the Camaro, the Spark, the Sonic, and the iconic Corvette. We'll also show you how to save on
Chevrolet insurance costs.
icon
Make safe driving pay
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning now

Does Chevrolet still make a manual?

Why, yes, Chevrolet does still make manual cars!
If you’re looking for an efficient Spark or Sonic with a third pedal, or you’re dreaming of a gear shift Camaro or Corvette to (try and) impress your friends, you are in luck!
With automatic transmissions de rigeur these days, no one is quite sure how much longer Chevrolet will keep pumping out manual cars. So get your hands on one of these driving pleasures while you still have time!
MORE: How to drive stick or manual cars

Camaro

Starting price: $25,000
If you like muscle cars, you’re gonna love the stick-shift
Camaro
. This storied muscle car continues to make tongues wag with its ability to go 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 4.6 seconds.
A 6.2 L naturally-aspirated V8 engine pumps out 447 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque, enabling the Camaro to reach a top speed of 180 miles per hour (which we know you’d NEVER try to do, the responsible driver that you are). The Camaro offers rear-wheel drive and boasts a 6-speed manual transmission.

Spark

Starting price: $13,600
This spritely ride gets great mileage, clocking 46 miles per gallon, and is the perfect size for shifty city driving. Granted, you won’t win any races in the
Spark
(the max speed is 96 miles per hour), but its naturally-aspirated inline 4-cylinder engine and 5-speed manual transmission can get you where you need to go.
The Spark’s engine boasts a wholesome 67 horsepower and 68 pound-feet of torque. The stuff of legends? Not quite. But a shift-stick, front-wheel drive ride perfect for urban errands? Yes!

Sonic

Starting price: $16,720
The
Sonic
is another manual Chevy hatchback that is great for getting around town—and having fun while doing so. Its mileage isn’t as good as the Spark, but the Sonic has more power, with the base model sporting a 1.8 L I-4 engine with 138 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.
There’s an option for a turbocharged 1.4 L I-4 engine with 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque, and a 6-speed manual for this boosted Sonic.

Corvette

Starting price: $60,000
If you like speed—not to mention the visceral feeling of manually shifting a car from merely fast to supersonic—you’ll love the manual
Corvette
. This iconic speed machine goes 0 to 60 in a blazing 4.2 seconds and can reach a top speed of 180 miles per hour (which, again, we’re sure you will never attempt to reach).
The Corvette sports a rumbling, naturally aspirated V8 engine and sports an eye-popping 460 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque with a 7-speed manual transmission. Rear-wheel drive powers this Made-in-America classic. The perfect set of wheels for inducing whiplash on lucky-but-unlucky passers-by.

Benefits and drawbacks of a manual transmission

Now, despite what hardcore manual-driving nuts will tell you, there are indeed a few drawbacks to driving stick (but not many). So here’s a rundown of both the pros and cons of driving a gear shift car.
  • Pro: Manual transmissions are usually less expensive.
  • Pro: Your manual car is less likely to be stolen because between 44% and 84% of U.S. drivers don’t know how to drive a stick.
  • Pro: It generally costs less to repair a manual transmission than an automatic one.
  • Pro: They’re a blast to drive.
  • Cons: In bumper-to-bumper traffic, three-pedal driving is not…fun.
  • Cons: Learning to drive a stick shift is challenging, and with fewer and fewer manual cars on the market, it will be that much harder to learn.
  • Cons: Nowadays, automatic vehicles get better fuel efficiency than manual transmissions.
Key Takeaway Manual transmissions are a treat to drive and usually carry lower service costs, but they can be harder to learn to drive and more difficult to find.

How to find affordable Chevrolet insurance

No matter your stick-shift Chevy of choice, finding a great and affordable
car insurance
policy has never been easier than when you use Jerry, the
licensed broker
and shopping app.
Sign-up takes just 45 seconds and is a snap—
Jerry
compares more than 50 top quotes for you, and once you pick your policy, this car super app will sign you up to your new plan and cancel your old one, just like that. Best of all, Jerry automatically searches for better rates on your behalf before each renewal period!
“The savings are real!
Jerry
saved me almost $1000 a year for my car insurance. Was I surprised? Yes. Was I happy? Yes!” —Sonia Z.
rating reverse-full
"I’m earning
awesome rewards
every week, just for driving safe!”

FAQs

This of course depends on you! If you are a driving obsessive that likes to feel your car shift from gear-to-heart-pounding-gear, not to mention lower retail prices and service costs, then we here at Jerry suggest you find yourself a manual car. But if you like your car to do all the work—no judgment—an automatic car is probably the choice for you.
You’ll usually see lower repair costs with a manual Chevy than with an automatic one. Manual gear boxes tend to be simpler and less prone to breakdown than automatic ones.
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
Try Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings