The 10 Best Manual Transmission Cars You Can Still Buy

The best manual transmission cars still on sale include the Honda Civic Si and Type R, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ, Toyota GR Corolla, Ford Mustang, and Subaru WRX. Manuals are disappearing — under 2% of new US sales — so clean used 6-speeds increasingly hold value.

The manual transmission is a dying breed: stick shifts account for well under 2% of new US car sales, and every model year another nameplate drops the third pedal. The upside for enthusiasts is clarity — nearly every manual still offered in 2026 exists because someone at the automaker fought for it, so the survivors are almost universally good.

This list ranks the great manual transmission cars you can buy today, new or lightly used, from top rated 6-speed sports cars to affordable 5-speed and 6-speed daily drivers. Because manuals are increasingly bought used, we also cover clutch-life and abuse checks — a stick-shift car's history tells you a lot about how its left pedal was treated.

How we ranked this list

Shift quality — gate precision, clutch feel, and pedal placement, weighted from long-standing press and owner consensus.
Availability — currently on sale, or recent enough that clean used examples are plentiful.
The manual must be the right choice — cars where the stick is clearly better than (or at least equal to) the automatic option.
Reliability of the gearbox and clutch, including known weak points by generation.
Used-market value trajectory — manuals of desirable models increasingly appreciate.

Honda Civic Type R / Civic Si (2017–2026) — Type R: ~315–329 hp turbo; Si: ~200 hp · Manual-only — no automatic option at all · Benchmark shift quality with auto rev-match · Strong resale; verify no tune/abuse history used
Honda builds the best shifters in the mainstream business, full stop. The Type R's 6-speed — with rev matching you can switch off — is routinely called the best manual on sale, and the cheaper Si delivers 90% of the feel for roughly half the money. Both are manual-only, which keeps the driveline simple and the used values strong. On used examples, check for tune history and hard launches; these get modified often.
Mazda MX-5 Miata (1990–2026) — ~181 hp (ND2+), ~2,350 lb · Arguably the best clutch/shifter pairing under $40k · Four generations of used supply · Check for rust and track-day history on older cars
The Miata's 6-speed is a short, mechanical, perfectly weighted delight, and the car around it is the purest driving instrument sold new. Every generation shifts well, so the used market is a buffet — a clean NB or NC is one of the cheapest ways into a truly great manual. Rust and track abuse are the used-market watch items.
Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ (2013–2026) — ~228 hp flat-four (2022+), RWD · Among the cheapest new RWD manuals · Manual clearly the enthusiast pick over the auto · Screen used cars for drift/track abuse
The twins pair a slick 6-speed with a balanced RWD chassis at a price no other new sports car matches. The FA24-powered second generation (2022+) fixed the old car's torque dip. The manual is the version to own — the automatic blunts the whole point. Many used first-gen cars were drift-schooled, so clutch condition and history checks matter.
Toyota GR Corolla (2023–2026) — ~300 hp turbo I3, GR-Four AWD · 6-speed iMT with rev matching · Rally-bred usability in all weather · Early cars sold over MSRP — used prices still firm
A 300-hp turbo three-cylinder, real AWD with a driver-selectable torque split, and — for most of its run — a manual as the headline transmission. It's the modern rally-homologation formula, and Toyota's iMT rev-matching 6-speed is genuinely good. Demand outstripped supply early, so watch for dealer-markup cars resold quickly and check any used example for launch abuse.
Ford Mustang GT (6-speed) (2011–2026) — ~412–486 hp 5.0 V8 depending on year · One of the last manual V8 coupes on sale · Deep used supply at every price · High accident rates — run history before buying
The Mustang is one of the last V8 coupes with a clutch pedal, and the Getrag/MT-82 6-speed pairs well with the Coyote's rev-happy character (early MT-82s had shift-quality complaints; later cars improved). The S650 still offers a stick while the Camaro is gone, making this the default affordable V8 manual. Used market caution: launch abuse and crash history are common.
Subaru WRX (2015–2026) — ~271 hp turbo flat-four, standard AWD · One of very few AWD manual sedans left · Practical four-door daily · High tune/abuse rate on used market
The WRX keeps the faith: a 6-speed manual, AWD, and a turbo engine in a practical sedan body. The shifter itself is notchy rather than sweet, but the total package — a stick you can drive year-round in the snow belt — is nearly unique now. Used examples are frequently tuned and thrashed; a compression test and VIN history report are essential.
Hyundai Elantra N (2022–2026) — ~276 hp turbo, 6-speed with rev match · Type R pace for thousands less · Long factory warranty if unmodified · Track use can affect warranty claims — check history
Hyundai's N division built a front-drive sport sedan that out-handles cars costing far more, and the 6-speed manual (with rev matching) is the enthusiast spec. It undercuts the Civic Type R substantially while offering most of the pace. As a newer nameplate, used supply is thinner, but early cars are hitting the market at tempting prices — verify warranty status, since N cars get tracked.
Nissan Z (2023–2026) — ~400 hp twin-turbo V6, RWD · 6-speed manual standard on Sport/Performance · Big torque, GT character · Compare used prices against markup-era window stickers
The new Z pairs a 400-hp twin-turbo V6 with a 6-speed manual — a combination that basically no longer exists elsewhere near its price. The gearbox is carried over and improved from the 370Z and rewards deliberate shifts. It's the torque-rich GT alternative to the high-strung four-cylinder picks above. Early cars saw dealer markups, so shop the used market carefully.
Volkswagen Jetta GLI (used) (2019–2024) — ~228 hp EA888 turbo, 6-speed manual · GTI hardware at sedan depreciation prices · Manual discontinued — used sticks getting scarcer · Watch: tune history, carbon buildup
The GLI is the sleeper value pick: GTI mechanicals — EA888 turbo, proper independent rear suspension, strong 6-speed — in a roomier sedan that depreciates faster. Used 6-speed GLIs regularly undercut equivalent GTIs by thousands. VW dropped the manual for 2025, which makes clean used sticks the ones to grab. Check for prior tunes and carbon-buildup service on higher-mile cars.
Cadillac CT4-V / CT5-V Blackwing (2022–2026) — Up to ~668 hp with a clutch pedal · The last manual V8 super sedan · High manual take rate — strong collectibility · Stretch pick: aspirational end of the list
The Blackwings deserve a spot on any manual list as the last stand of the American manual super sedan — a 6-speed bolted to a 472-hp twin-turbo V6 (CT4-V) or a 668-hp supercharged V8 (CT5-V). Nothing else sells a stick with this much power. They're expensive, but they're also future collectibles; manual take rates have been high and values resilient.

Buying tips

Buying used is the norm for manuals now — and clutch condition is the big unknown. Test for slip by accelerating hard in a high gear at low rpm; the engine speeding up without the car following means a clutch job ($1,200–$2,500+ on most of these).
A manual's history report tells you about its life: many owners in few years, accident records, or a salvage brand on a sports model all suggest the kind of driving that eats clutches and synchros.
Cold-shift test on the test drive: a gearbox that balks going into second when cold often has worn synchros — common on abused Mustangs, WRXs, and 350Z/370Z-era Nissans.
Manual versions of desirable models increasingly appreciate. Verify the car left the factory as a manual with a VIN decode — automatic-to-manual swaps exist and are worth far less than factory sticks.
Don't fear high-mileage manuals with maintenance records; do fear low-mileage cars with none. Gearboxes outlast engines when treated well.
Check open recalls by VIN before purchase — several models on this list have had recall campaigns over the years.

Frequently asked questions

What cars still come with a manual transmission in 2026?

The shortlist includes the Mazda Miata, Honda Civic Si and Type R, Toyota GR86 and GR Corolla, Subaru BRZ and WRX, Ford Mustang, Nissan Z, Hyundai Elantra N, and Cadillac's CT4-V/CT5-V Blackwing, plus a handful of Porsches and off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco.

Are manual cars cheaper to buy?

Not anymore. New manuals often cost the same or slightly less than automatics, but used manuals of enthusiast models frequently sell for a premium — sometimes thousands more — because supply keeps shrinking while demand stays steady.

Do manual transmissions last longer than automatics?

The gearbox itself often does — manuals are mechanically simpler. But clutches are wear items ($1,200–$2,500 to replace on most cars here), and an abused manual can need synchros or a clutch far earlier than a well-driven automatic needs anything.

Is a manual car worth more at resale?

For sports and enthusiast models, increasingly yes — manual Miatas, Type Rs, and V8 pony cars hold value better than their automatic twins. For ordinary commuter cars, a manual can actually shrink the buyer pool and slow the sale.

How do I check if a used manual car was abused?

Combine a test drive (clutch slip test, cold second-gear engagement, listen for bearing whine) with a VIN history report. Accident records, many short ownership stints, or salvage history on a sports model are strong signals of a hard life.