Save the Manuals: Every Stick Shift Car/Truck You Can Buy New in the US (as of 2023)

Lamborghini got rid of manuals with the Gallardo’s demise, and McLaren didn’t even consider a three-pedal transmission for the 12C of 2011. How did it come to this? Two words: better numbers. Everyone and their dog are mad about zero-to-60 acceleration. What’s more, DCTs and well-sorted automatics (think ZF 8HP) improve lap times over manual trannies due to quicker upshifts and downshifts.

Mass-market automakers couldn’t ignore this paradigm shift, and the pun is fully intended. On the one hand, the costs associated with developing and calibrating a manual for a given vehicle are higher than before. On the other hand, volume brands are much obliged to rake in bigger profits by offering CVTs, ATs, or DCTs as standard. In some cases (looking at you, BMW!), the manual is an extra that costs more than the auto.

Due to tightening emissions and fuel economy regulations, the manual isn’t long for this world. Given these circumstances, we compiled a list of the manual cars and trucks you can purchase today in the US market. The following list doesn’t include the Aston Martin Valour and Pagani Utopia, for both sold out before their debuts. That being said, let’s go through said vehicles alphabetically.

Acura Integra

The DB8 Integra Type R wasn’t sold in the United States, but Acura made up for that by introducing the DE5 Integra Type S. The brand’s go-faster compact is joined by the DE4 Integra, which is best described as a Civic Si with a nicer interior.

There are, however, two problems with said vehicles. The Integra Type S ($50,800) costs way more than the Civic Type R ($43,795), whereas the regular Integra can be had with a manual as long as you’re prepared to pay a lot of money for the A-Spec w/Technology Package. How big of a difference are we dealing with over the CVT?

That’s $36,500 versus $31,500 (not including the destination charge). It’s remarkable that Honda’s premium-oriented subsidiary offers a manual in this day and age, but said MSRPs are definitely prohibitive for most prospective customers.

BMW M2, M3, and M4

The current-gen M3 and M4 are based on the Bavarian automaker’s CLuster ARchitecture, meaning that BMW had to switch from the Getrag dual-clutch transmission of the previous-gen M3 and M4 to the ZF 8HP torque-converter auto. Thankfully, the CLAR platform is compatible with a six-speed manual supplied by ZF as well.

Heavier than its forerunner, the 2023 BMW M2 is the final M car to sport a manual transmission. With the G87 to be discontinued in July 2029, the clock is definitely ticking for the three-pedal box.

The ZF GS6-53BZ manual is exclusive to non-Competition variants of the M3 and M4, which are rated at 473 ponies and 406 pound-feet (550 Nm) of torque. By comparison, the M2 sports 453 horsepower and the very same peak torque rating. Most likely limited by torque, said transmission is further shared with the 553-hp 3.0 CSL.

Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing

The CT4 and CT5 replace the ATS and CTS with similar underpinnings to their predecessors. More specifically, these rear-drive sedans use the GM Alpha platform of the sixth-generation Camaro.

Their most performance-oriented versions are dubbed Blackwing, a moniker that Cadillac previously used for a V8 engine. Powered by twin-turbo V6 and V8 mills, the CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing are two of the three most exhilarating Cadillacs in production nowadays.

Both can be configured with a six-speed manual from Tremec, namely the TR-6060. If you’re more interested in track days rather than having fun on public roads, the 10L automatic (a.k.a. 10R in Ford applications) is better suited for track driving. The Escalade-V doesn't come in manual form because a stick shift would be too much to ask from a luxury SUV with half-ton pickup truck underpinnings.

Chevrolet Camaro

If General Motors had put as much effort into the sixth-gen Camaro as Ford put in the sixth-gen Mustang, the Camaro would have soldiered on with internal combustion and two doors for at least another generation. To be canned after a humorously short 2024 model year, GM’s pony car will be allegedly replaced by an electric sedan.

A bit of a shocker, but not inconceivable. After all, the Blue Oval has the Mustang Mach-E. As if that wasn’t bad enough for Mustang enthusiasts, the Mustang Mach-E is manufactured in Mexico on a platform derived from the C2 of the Escape.

Turning our attention back to the Camaro, you can get a manual with anything from a naturally-aspirated V6 to a supercharged V8 with 650 ponies under its belt. The 2.0-liter I4 was dropped for 2024, probably because it’s better suited in a rental car than something you’d want to lease or buy.

Dodge Challenger

The Challenger will be leaving us after the 2023 model year, together with the Charger and technically similar Chrysler 300. Although many are sad to see the big ol’ brute go, bear in mind its platform dates back to the DaimlerChrysler era.

Never the handler, the Challenger also struggled in dig races due to rear wheel slip. That changed with the introduction of the widebody option, and even more so with the introduction of Nitto street-legal drag radials for the no-nonsense Demon version.

As far as manual Challengers go, the most powerful and torquiest of the bunch is the R/T Scat Pack. Rather than the 6.2-liter Hellcat engine, this fellow packs 392 cubes of naturally-aspirated HEMI magic in combination with the Tremec TR-6060. If you prefer two pedals, that would be an extra $1,595 over the R/T Scat Pack’s $49,265 starting price.

Ford Mustang

The Mustang outliving the Camaro is a bit of a surprise, but hardly unthinkable. When all is said and done, General Motors dropped the ball with the Camaro on multiple occasions, including with this generation of the Mustang’s direct competitor.

Be that as it may, the 2.3-liter EcoBoost is no longer available with a manual. Only the 5.0-liter Coyote is, a double-overhead-cam V8 that sports dual throttle bodies for the 2024 model year. So far, only the Mustang features the dual-throttle-body setup.

Not all Coyote-engined Mustangs are created equal, though. If you go for the GT, you get a Getrag MT-82. Level up to the Mach 1-replacing Dark Horse, and the manual also levels up to the Tremec TR-3160, a far superior tranny to the Getrag MT-82.

Ford Bronco

Ford messed up the Bronco’s long-awaited return big time over a number of reasons. One of those reasons is the availability of the crawler-gear manual transmission. Only compatible with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost, said gearbox couldn’t be had in combination with the Sasquatch off-road package.

The Dearborn-based automaker made amends for the 2021 model year, bringing more customers to dealer showrooms. Although the Ford-developed automaker outsells the manual by a significant margin, the manual was uttermost necessary in the Bronco’s bid to compete with the Jeep Wrangler.

Despite all its wrongs, the Bronco is slowly but steadily eating into the Wrangler’s market share. Wrangler deliveries in the US market contracted by 14 percent compared to the period between January 2022 and September 2022. The Bronco, by comparison, is up 5.9 percent. In terms of numbers delivered, the Bronco is still playing catch-up (91,468 units versus 126,551 units year to date).

Honda Civic

Four versions of the Civic are available with a manual or exclusively manual in the US market for model year 2024. These are the hatchback-bodied Civic Sport, Civic Sport Touring, and Civic Type R, along with the Civic Si four-door sedan.

As opposed to Acura, which locks away the Integra’s manual behind a $5,000 paywall known as the A-Spec w/Technology Package, the Civic Sport can be had with a manual at no extra cost. If rowing your own isn’t your thing, a boring continuously variable transmission will have to make do.

The Civic Sport belts out a respectable 158 horsepower, followed by the Civic Sport Touring with 180 horsepower. Stepping up to the Civic Si means 200 horsepower, whereas the manual-only Civic Type R offers 315 horsepower. In the US, that is, because the JDM and European specifications are rated at 330 ps (325 mechanical ponies).

Hyundai Elantra N

Even after the 2024 model year mid-cycle refresh, the Elantra N continues with either a wet-clutch DCT or a more rewarding manual transmission. It’s the South Korean automaker’s only production car for the US market with a manual transmission.

The recipe for the Elantra N is pretty straightforward: front-wheel drive, 2.0-liter turbo, relatively affordable, tremendously fun. Pricing for the 2024 facelift has yet to be finalized, but we do know the 2023 is $32,900 (excluding freight).

As opposed to Acura, the South Korean automaker charges extra for the dual-clutch transmission. The wet-clutch DCT also grants you 10 additional horsepower in N Grin Shift overboost mode, as in 286 horsepower versus 276 in standard mode.

Jeep Gladiator

Similar to the Wrangler, the Gladiator pickup truck is no longer available with the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6. The 2024 model relies on the tried-and-tested Pentastar, a naturally-aspirated sixer that’s best paired with a manual rather than an automatic.

Or is it the other way around given that pickups are typically used for towing and hauling? In any case, the Gladiator is one of two pickup trucks in the United States that still offer a manual. The other one is the Toyota Tacoma, but more on that later.

If you’re into the go-anywhere stuff, the manual is better in the Gladiator Rubicon because it enables a crawl ratio of 84:1 as opposed to 77:1 for the optional eight-speed automatic. The Wrangler Rubicon, by comparison, offers up to 100:1 with the manual, V6 mill, and the available 4.88:1 axles.

Jeep Wrangler

Speaking of which, the Wrangler has also been refreshed for 2024. The big news isn’t the revised front grille or the lack of a diesel engine, but the Wrangler Rubicon’s full-float solid rear axle.

Also found on heavy-duty trucks, full-float solid rear axles offer certain advantages, including more towing capacity. In the Wrangler Rubicon’s case, Jeep promises 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms).

This design further allows for larger tires (35 inches are standard on the Wrangler Rubicon X). The weight of the 4x4 vehicle is transferred to the axle tube instead of the axle shaft, meaning that said axle shaft is subjected to torsional loads exclusively.

Kia Forte GT

2024 is the final year of the Forte in the United States. According to internal documents leaked online, the K3 sedan will replace it for 2025 with 1.6- and 2.0-liter engines. The recently unveiled K3 is assembled in Mexico. Adding to the confusion, the Forte is known as the K3 in South Korea.

At press time, the only Forte available with a manual is the sportiest version of the lot. Forte GT is what Kia calls the only manual car it sells in the United States, with prices starting at $25,190.

The GT manual is a touch pricier than its dual-clutch sibling, which is nonsense because a dual-clutch transmission is more expensive than a three-pedal gearbox. Regardless of tranny, the GT is rated at 201 ponies and 195 pound-feet (264 Nm).

Lotus Emira

Lotus may be waxing lyrical about the Emira’s new platform, which is pompously named the Lotus Sports Car Architecture. If you dig a little deeper, you’ll find that the Emira is based on the Evora.

Other than the British automaker’s cringy boastfulness, there is nothing wrong with that because the Evora is a fine-handling sports car. The same applies to the Emira, the Hethel-based manufacturer’s final combustion-engined vehicle.

You can get the Emira with a manual as long as you specify the 3.5-liter Toyota supercharged V6. A 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 of Mercedes-AMG origin is also available, but only with a dual-clutch unit. For those who truly miss the point of driving a sports car, the V6-engined Emira can also be had with a torque-converter automatic transmission.

Mazda3

The fourth-gen Mazda3 got plenty of criticism when it came out for ditching the forerunner’s independent rear suspension for a torsion bear. Even so, the 3 handles and rides like a charm.

Over in the United States, only the 2.5 S Premium in five-door attire comes with a good ol’ manual. It’s $30,350 at press time, making it nearly three grand pricier than the 2.5 S Preferred trim level.

You do get a few desirable goodies for your hard-earned money, including 12-speaker premium audio from Bose, leather upholstery, an 8-way power driver's seat with power-adjustable lumbar support and memory, and heated front seats. The only downside? All-wheel drive is available only in combination with the torque-converter automatic.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Ah, the Miata! Recently updated for 2024 with revised styling, a Dynamic Stability Control mode optimized for circuit driving, and Asymmetric LSD, the MX-5 is one of the most fulfilling sports cars out there because it’s very light, relatively affordable, and easy to control on the limit.

This recipe is what made the MX-5 an instant hit when it came out in 1989. Inspired by the likes of the Lotus Elan, the MX-5 is the world’s best-selling roadster. A 1.5-liter I4 is standard in certain markets, but over in the US, the Japanese roadster comes with the 2.0-liter Skyactiv G engine.

Similar to the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86, a torque-converter automatic is optionally available. In addition to taking away from the driving experience, said transmission also makes the MX-5 heavier (2,403 pounds or 1,090 kilograms compared to 2,341 pounds or 1,062 kilograms).

MINI Hardtop and Convertible

Rechristened MINI Cooper for the 2025 model year, the MINI Hardtop is available to configure in the US for 2024 with a manual. It’s the final year of the three-pedal box, though, as MINI transitions to all-electric propulsion across the board by 2030.

The three- and five-door hatch are both available with said manual, along with the convertible. MINI further sweetens the deal with the three-door John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition, which is named – obviously – after going from first to sixth gear.

999 examples will be produced for the entire world, of which 150 will remain in the United Kingdom at 39,600 pounds sterling apiece. Revealed in the flesh at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the 1to6 Edition is also heading to select European markets, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. For the US market, the suggested retail price is a whopping $45,300.

Nissan Versa

At $16,130 from the outset, the Versa is the most affordable new car in the United States right now. The Mitsubishi Mirage and Kia Rio are in a close second and third at $16,695 and $16,750. With the Rio getting discontinued after model year 2024, the Mirage after 2025, and the Versa after 2025 as well, it's only a matter of time until the US market will be left with no sub-$20,000 automobiles whatsoever.

The Mirage and Rio come with CVTs exclusively nowadays. Nissan charges $16,130 for the Versa S five-speed manual, whereas the Versa S Xtronic CVT is listed by the online configurator at $17,800 before taxes and options. Even the better-equipped SV and SR feature the very same 1.6-liter I4 as the S, which is understandably low on power/torque.

122 horsepower at 6,300 revolutions per minute and 114 pound-feet (155 Nm) at 4,000 will have to suffice. Equipped with port rather than direct fuel injection, the 1.6er is rated at 30 miles per gallon (7.8 liters per 100 kilometers) with the manual. Opting for the Xtronic CVT means a combined fuel economy rating of up to 35 mpg (6.7 l/100 km).

Nissan Z

Most likely the final Z car without hybrid assistance or all-electric propulsion, the RZ34 polarizes opinion. The switch from a naturally-aspirated V6 to a twin-turbo sixer is neat, and the retro styling is bang on as well. However, the RZ34 is extremely similar to the previous-gen 370Z under the skin.

Another point of contention is the manual transmission. It’s either a manual or a nine-speed auto in the Z, but the NISMO comes with the latter exclusively. What’s genuinely infuriating about Nissan’s decision on the Z NISMO is that we’re dealing with a minor difference in peak torque.

As opposed to 350 pound-feet (475 Nm) for the Z, the NISMO cranks out 384 pound-feet (521 Nm). Is that too much to ask from a manual tranny when the Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack makes 475 pound-feet (644 Nm) and the Ford Mustang Dark Horse packs 418 pound-feet (567 Nm)? Clearly not…

Porsche 718 series

Yet another sports car that will transition to electric propulsion, the 718 is a mixed bag in its own right. Forever overshadowed by the Neunelfer, the German automaker’s entry-level sports car took a turn for the worse in 2016 for the 2017 model year when Porsche revived the historic 718 moniker.

How come? Let’s put it this way: four cylinders in a Porsche? That may have been acceptable in the 944’s era, but not in 2023. With the Boxster starting at $68,300 in October 2023, why not spend your money on something else? Maybe the Corvette Stingray if you’re okay with GM’s build quality?

Thankfully for Porsche loyalists, you can get a 718 with a naturally-aspirated boxer and a manual. It won’t be cheap, though, as the Cayman GTS 4.0 starts at an eye-watering $95,200 in the US of A.

Porsche 911 series

Most versions of the 992-generation 911 can be had with a row-your-own transmission. From the 911 Carrera T to the 911 Edition 50 Years Porsche Design, 911 GT3 and uber-expensive 911 S/T, it’s a pretty varied selection of manual 911 as well.

The 911 S/T is the most special of them all because it combines the high-revving sixer of the 911 GT3 RS with the manual transmission of the 911 GT3. That’s quite a tantalizing combo, albeit ludicrously expensive at 291,650 dollars right off the bat.

Capped at 1963 examples, referring to the year the Neunelfer was launched, the S/T is – most likely – the final 992 before the facelift rolls out with hybrid assistance. Does a hybridized 911 have a place in the world of sports cars? Many would call it blasphemy, indeed. The real question, however, is 911 with some hybrid oomph or no 911 at all?

Toyota GR Corolla

The GR Corolla is the most powerful Corolla yet. What is truly baffling about Toyota’s compact hatchback is the G16E-GTS turbocharged three-cylinder lump, which is good for 300 horsepower at 6,500 revolutions per minute and 273 pound-feet (370 Nm) of torque from 3,000 to 5,500.

Instead of complicating things with a dual-clutch transmission or a torque-converter automatic, a manual is standard across the board. The Morizo Edition was discontinued for 2024, with the Morizo Edition packing a slightly bigger punch than the Circuit and Core trim levels. More specifically, its 1.6-liter mill runs more boost for 295 pound-feet (400 Nm) at 3,000 revolutions per minute.

At $36,100 for the well-equipped Core, the GR Corolla shows Honda that $43,795 for the Civic Type R is on the steep side of compact hatchbacks. Worse still for Honda’s front-wheel-drive halo car, the GR Corolla comes standard with a trick all-wheel-drive system that directs as much as 70 percent of the available torque to the rear axle.

Toyota GR Supra

BMW inline-six motor, eww! Fake vents, eww! iDrive infotainment, eww! Made in Austria rather than Japan, mega eww! It’s easy to lambast this generation of the Supra, but few peeps understand that BMW and Toyota went their separate ways long before the G29 Z4 made its debut in 2018.

These apparently similar machines are very different in the way they handle. BMW never intended to give the G29 a manual, yet that may change in March 2024 with the range-topping M40i. Rather than borrowing the M2’s transmission, the M40i will reportedly use the manual that Toyota pieced together for the Supra.

The automaker went to great lengths to install a manual in the fifth-gen Supra. From the modified console to the gear knob’s weight (200 grams after testing 68- and 137-gram toppers), you can easily tell that Toyota takes driving pleasure seriously.

Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ

Certain sports car enthusiasts wonder why there’s a GR86 and a BRZ. Not that long ago, there were three brothers. Remember the Scion FR-S from 2012 through 2016? The reason Toyota sells a boxer-engined car in 2023 is – of course – Subaru. In a similar fashion to Toyota’s partnership with BMW for the Supra and Z4, the GR86 wouldn’t have happened without the BRZ (or vice versa).

Toyota needed Subaru’s expertise in flat engines, and Toyota further needed the lesser automaker’s production capacity for its affordable sports car. As for Subaru, the second-generation Toyobaru siblings feature the D-4S dual injection system.

We’re only scratching the surface, though. When all is said and done, it’s amazing that two historically conservative automakers poured so much money into vehicles that hardly sell compared to SUVs like the RAV4 and Forester.

Toyota Tacoma

As mentioned earlier, the Gladiator and Tacoma are the only pickup trucks in the US with available manual transmissions. Toyota was expected to drop the three-pedal setup for the 2024 makeover, but Toyota shot down said rumor before the May 18 debut of the “ultimate adventure machine.”

For real! That’s how Japan’s largest automaker describes the 2024 model year Tacoma, which is a bit of a stretch by most accounts. Regarding the six-speed stick shift, the iMT2 of the mid-size pickup offers anti-stall and rev-matching tech.

Not available with the i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain, the iMT2 can be had in the SR, TRD Sport, and TRD Off-Road as long as you’re fine with the double cab. The 2.4-liter turbo I4 engine is throttled back to 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet (420 Nm) with the manual as opposed to 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet (430 Nm) with the eight-speed automatic. For the auto-equipped SR, the numbers are 228 and 243 (330), respectively.

Subaru WRX

The WRX is one of a handful of manual AWD vehicles in production as of October 2023. It’s also pretty good value at $30,605 for the Base trim level, which sports a dual 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Another highlight comes in the guise of Vehicle Dynamics Control with Active Torque Vectoring, a system designed to reduce understeer in the twisties. The standard manual transmission is joined by a paddle-shift continuously variable transmission with eight-speed manual shifting mode. While that may seem a bit stupid, a CVT with programmed shift points isn’t stupid. Ever heard of engine braking when going downhill?

As for the engine, the WRX uses a 2.4-liter turbo four-pot with 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet (350 Nm) on tap. Rather than the naturally-aspirated BRZ sports coupe’s dual injection system, the WRX has only direct fuel injection.

Volkswagen Golf

Guess what? The 2024 model year Volkswagen Golf GTI 380 special edition is the final one with a stick shift. Even the Golf R is losing the manual gearbox. Back home in Europe, the Golf’s entire lineup is believed to go DSG only next year.

Euro 7 regulations have been watered down in September 2023, meaning that the Golf might keep its manual for the foreseeable future. To make a long story short, Euro 7 is basically the same as Euro 6 for cars and vans, but more drastic for buses and heavy trucks. EU countries have also agreed on particle emissions limits for tires and brakes.

Rational and pragmatic as opposed to earlier versions of Euro 7, the final agreement favors the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati. All three offer either plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicles to cut back on their fleet-wide emissions.

Volkswagen Jetta

Manufactured in Mexico at the plant where Volkswagen used to make the air-cooled Beetle and water-cooled Beetle, the Jetta sold 34,032 units in the United States in 2022. Ten years earlier, deliveries totaled an incredible 183,262 units.

This decline is best summed up in three words: sport utility vehicles. Sedans may be a dying breed, yet Volkswagen still offers a Jetta GLI with a manual. Heck, even the Jetta S and Jetta Sport offer a stick shift at lower price points than the GLI.

For 2024, the Jetta S carries a sticker price of $22,585. It offers the same 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet (250 Nm) as the Sport. The GLI, meanwhile, is $29,235 (including the German automaker's $1,150 destination freight charge).