But all hope’s not lost—you might be able to find yourself a used 2016 Beetle with a manual transmission!
The 2016 Beetle Coupe SE came with a 1.8 L engine and a 5-speed manual transmission, not to mention sporting 180 horsepower. The ‘16 Beetle also boasts 28 miles per gallon (combined), giving you plenty of time to go on road trips that bring back memories of the swinging 1960s.
So, why was the gear-shift Beetle permanently retired after 2016? It all comes down to money, man—as automatic transmission has become the norm, demand for manual cars has plummeted, which necessitated the end of the manual Beetle. Of course, the Beetle itself was done in by low sales in 2019, as consumers have become more and more enamored with SUVs and crossovers. Lame—we know.
If you’re dying for that authentic Beetle experience, you’ll have to hunt a manual transmission Bug down on the used car market.