The Best Cars That Still Offer a Manual Transmission in 2024, Ranked
Saving the manuals, one performance car at a time.
Though it may seem the manual transmission is fading away from new cars, there are still a bunch of great options out there. Here are some of the best.
2023 Porsche 911
Price: $118,050
For its newest generation of 911, Porsche was kind enough to retain the stick shift for the Carrera T, Carrera S, Targa 4S, GT3, and Sport Classic trims. A third pedal is a no-cost option that makes the car slower in a straight line, but a whole lot more fun.
2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Price: $93,390
The CT5-V Blackwing is the ultimate sendoff for GM's line of epic small-block V-8-powered cars. An excellent chassis paired with over 650 supercharged horses and a six-speed stick makes for one of the best driving sedans on the planet.
2023 Porsche 718 Cayman
Price: $69,950
Porsche's mid-engine sports car might not have the power levels to keep up with the big-boy 911, but excellent dynamics means it drives just as well, if not better. We're big fans of the high-strung GT4 model, with its GT3-derived naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six.
2023 Porsche 718 Boxster
Price: $72,050
The 718 Boxster is mechanically identical to the Cayman, save for the lack of a roof. That means all the same great handling characteristics, flat-six engine choices, and manual transmission.
2023 Lotus Emira
Price: $96,100
Don't want to blend into the Porsche crowd? Lotus has the perfect alternative: the Emira. Go for the lovely Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 and you can get it paired to a clicky six-speed. Just add twisty road, and you're guaranteed a good time.
2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Price: $29,115
What list of new manual cars would be complete without the best of them all, the Miata? Specially developed for driver enjoyment, the Miata's six-speed is wonderful to use and worlds more engaging than the optional torque-converter automatic.
2023 Honda Civic Type R
Price: $43,990
The Civic Type R is the best hot hatch on the market right now. A lot of that has to do with its phenomenal handling and its six-speed manual transmission—arguably the best-feeling shifter you can buy short of the GT3's.
2023 Toyota GR86
Price: $29,495
The GR86 is one of the best-driving new cars at any price. Part of that brilliance comes from the wonderful six-speed transmission found between the two front seats.
2023 Subaru BRZ
Price: $29,615
The BRZ is essentially a GR86 underneath with a slightly different fascia and different suspension tuning. We prefer the 86 for corners, but the BRZ is still an absolutely wonderful drive.
2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
Price: $62,390
While it doesn't have the same iconic V-8 as its bigger CT5-badged sibling, the CT4-V Blackwing is still an unbelievably great car. GM has perfected its chassis tuning and Magnetic Ride suspension to deliver an epic four-door sports car that drives way better than any new M3.
2023 BMW M2
Price: $63,195
Thankfully BMW still offers its smallest M car, the wonderful M2, with a six-speed manual. While we have yet to get behind the wheel, we're confident it's a better choice over the available eight-speed auto.
2023 Toyota GR Corolla
Price: $36,995
Though it's not the GR Yaris we were all hoping for, the GR Corolla still delivers an an excellent rally-inspired hot hatch. A lot of our excitement stems from the standard six-speed getting power to all four wheels.
2023 Hyundai Elantra N
Price: $34,015
In lots of ways, the Elantra N is even better to drive than its hatchback counterpart, the Veloster N. It has slightly more horses and a longer wheelbase. The clutch action might not be ideal, but the shifter for the standard six-speed is fantastic.
2023 Chevrolet Camaro
Price: $27,795
You can get any Camaro with a manual transmission, but we're partial to the ZL1 1LE. It combines the C7 Corvette Z06's 650-horsepower V-8 with a six-speed manual, with plenty of aero and top-notch suspension components. It's the best track car GM's ever made.
2024 Ford Mustang
Price: $43,090
Thankfully Ford has elected to keep the six-speed manual around as an option for the 2024 Mustang, though it's no longer available on the base EcoBoost trim. If you want three pedals, you'll have to get a V-8 model, like a GT or a Dark Horse. But we were going to do that anyway.
2023 Ford Bronco
Price: $36,390
Ford's long-awaited Wrangler competitor is an off-road beast with slick retro styling and a removable roof. Opt for the smaller four-cylinder engine, and you can also get a six-speed manual with a seventh "crawler" gear.
2023 Toyota Supra
Price: $54,095
When the revived Supra first hit dealerships, it was only available with an eight-speed automatic. For years, enthusiasts were up in arms, desperate for Toyota to add another pedal. The company finally relented in 2022, giving buyers a manual option for the 2023 model year.
2023 Honda Civic Si
Price: $29,595
Don't want to spend nearly $45k on a Civic Type R? We don't blame you. Honda also makes the delightful Civic Si, based on the normal Civic sedan. Its 1.5-liter turbo-four is attached to an extra-buttery six-speed that we love.
2023 Subaru WRX
Price: $31,625
Subaru doesn't make the excellent STI anymore, but at least there's still the WRX. A staple for enthusiasts who live in areas where snow falls, it's the ultimate entry-level AWD performance car.
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Price: $31,625
In the GTI, you can choose between DSG automatic and manual. Though you'll certainly clock better lap times with the dual-clutch, a GTI isn't really complete without a third pedal.
Brian Silvestro is Hearst Autos' former lead deputy editor for rankings content. He spent over seven years as a staff writer for Road & Track Magazine where he contributed car reviews, industry interviews, and more. He has a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.
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