If you’ve walked into a car dealership lately, or even scrolled through online car listings, you’ve probably noticed one thing: manual transmissions are harder to find in new gasoline sedans than ever before. For years, automatics have dominated the market—partly because of their convenience, partly because of advancements in performance and fuel efficiency, and partly because younger drivers never learned how to shift a stick in the first place. As someone who’s spent over a decade in the gasoline sedan supply business, I get it. Automatics sell, they’re easier for everyday commuters, and they cut down on driver fatigue. But that doesn’t mean manual transmissions are gone for good. If you’re one of the drivers who still craves that connection between you and your car, the feel of each gear shift, the control over every inch of acceleration, you might be wondering: Are there any gasoline sedans still built with manual transmissions? The short answer is yes—though the list is smaller than it’s ever been, and it’s limited to a handful of models that cater specifically to driving purists, not the mass market. Gasoline SEDAN
Let’s start with the biggest name in the manual transmission gasoline sedan space: the Mazda 3. I’ve sold dozens of these over the past few years, and they’re always a hit with customers who want a car that’s fun to drive without sacrificing reliability. Mazda doesn’t offer manual transmissions on every trim level of the 3, but they do make it available on the base 2.5 S trim for both the sedan and hatchback body styles. What makes the Mazda 3’s manual special is that it’s not a throwback setup. It’s a six-speed gearbox tuned specifically to work with the sedan’s naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. The shift throw is short, the clutch is light enough for city driving but responsive enough for back roads, and Mazda even tweaked the engine’s ECU to make rev-matching easier—so you can nail downshifts smoothly without having to heel-and-toe like you’re in a race car. For a lot of my customers, the Mazda 3 is the sweet spot: it’s practical enough for commuting, has solid fuel economy (26 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, according to EPA data), and keeps the manual tradition alive without the compromises that come with older stick-shift models.
Another model that’s held onto the manual transmission is the Subaru WRX. Wait, some of you might be thinking: the WRX is a performance car, right? Well, yes, but it’s also a sedan, and it has been available with a manual transmission since it first launched in the U.S. in the 1990s. The latest generation of the WRX, which came out in 2022, still offers a six-speed manual as standard on its base trim, and it’s paired with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that puts out 271 horsepower. This isn’t a car for casual drivers, though. The WRX’s manual is built for performance: the clutch has a slightly heavier feel to handle the turbo’s torque, the gearbox is robust enough for spirited driving, and the all-wheel-drive system means you can put that power down in wet or snowy conditions—something a lot of manual sedan buyers love. I’ve noticed a lot of our WRX manual customers are either enthusiasts who’ve owned Subarus for years, or drivers who’ve upgraded from smaller cars and want the extra control that a manual provides. The only catch? If you want the top-trim WRX GT, you can’t get it with a manual—Subaru reserves that for the continuously variable transmission (CVT) with adaptive dampers. But for drivers who want the full performance experience, the base WRX is a solid pick.
If you’re willing to step up to a more premium brand, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI is another gasoline sedan with a manual transmission that’s worth a look. VW has been a long-time proponent of manual transmissions in its mainstream models, and the GLI is no exception. Unlike the standard Jetta, which offers a manual on lower trims but pairs it with a less powerful engine, the GLI’s manual is tied to a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 228 horsepower. It’s a six-speed gearbox, and VW does a great job balancing responsiveness with comfort—you can drive it around town easily, but it also has enough bite for back-road blasts. What’s nice about the Jetta GLI is that it’s more affordable than some of the other performance-focused manual sedans, with a starting price under $30,000. That’s a big draw for younger buyers who want a fun-to-drive manual sedan without breaking the bank. A lot of our Jetta GLI customers are college grads or young professionals who didn’t want to go the SUV route, but still wanted a car that feels engaging to drive every day.
Now, let’s get to the models that are a little more niche—cars that aren’t for everyone, but have a loyal following of manual transmission enthusiasts. The Honda Civic Si is one of those cars. Honda has offered the Civic Si with a manual for generations, and the 2024 model keeps that tradition alive. It’s powered by a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder that makes 200 horsepower, paired with a six-speed manual that has a short-throw shifter and a rev-matching system that works automatically—no more fumbling with your feet to get downshifts right. The Civic Si is designed to be a daily driver that’s also a blast on twisty roads, and the manual transmission is a big part of that. It’s practical too, with a spacious interior and good fuel economy, so you don’t have to sacrifice utility for that manual feel. The only downside is that Honda doesn’t offer the Si in sedan form? Wait, no, actually, the 2024 Civic Si is only available as a coupe and hatchback—my bad. That’s an important point. If you want a Honda sedan with a manual, your options are more limited. The standard Civic LX sedan does offer a six-speed manual, paired with a 2.0-liter engine that makes 158 horsepower. It’s not as sporty as the Si, but it’s a solid, reliable car for someone who wants a basic sedan with a manual, without the performance price tag. I’ve sold a few of these to older drivers who’ve been driving manuals their whole lives and don’t want to switch to an automatic for their next commuter car.
Another niche option is the Hyundai Elantra N. Hyundai’s N line is their performance division, similar to Subaru’s WRX or Honda’s Type R, and the Elantra N is their performance sedan. It comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission—no automatic is offered as standard, though there is an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission available as an option. The engine is a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder that cranks out 276 horsepower, which is more than enough to make the Elantra N a fun car to drive. The manual here is geared toward enthusiasts: it has a performance clutch, a reinforced gearbox, and even an electronic limited-slip differential that works with the manual setup to improve handling. The Elantra N is also a relative bargain for a performance manual sedan, starting around $33,000, which is less than some of its competitors. We’ve seen a lot of interest in this model from drivers who want a performance sedan that’s not as common as the WRX, and who want the full control of a manual.
Now, it’s important to note what’s missing from this list. A lot of brands that used to offer manual transmissions in their gasoline sedans have phased them out entirely. Ford stopped offering the manual transmission in its Fusion sedan a few years back, and with the discontinuation of the Mustang sedan, that’s a lost option. Chevrolet phased out the manual in the Malibu, and Dodge doesn’t offer a manual in any of its sedans anymore, though the Charger and Challenger are moving to electric in the next few years. Even Toyota, which used to love manuals, only offers them in a handful of models now, none of which are sedans. The main reason for this shift is simple: sales numbers. Automatics, especially CVTs and dual-clutch transmissions, outsell manuals by a huge margin—over 90% of new cars sold in the U.S. have automatics, according to recent data from the EPA and automotive research firms. Brands make more money selling automatics, they’re easier to market to the average driver, and they meet stricter fuel economy standards more consistently in many cases.
But here’s the thing: that small margin of drivers who want manuals isn’t going away. I talk to customers every week who tell me they learned to drive on a stick, they prefer the control, and they hate the feel of automatics—especially the numb, disconnected CVTs that are common in many mass-market sedans. A lot of younger drivers are also discovering manuals through car culture, social media, and track days, and they’re looking for new cars that offer that experience, not just used ones. That’s why the models I mentioned earlier are still around—they cater to that specific demand, even if it’s a small one.
If you’re in the market for a gasoline sedan with a manual transmission, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, not all trims of these models offer manuals—you’ll almost always have to go for a lower trim or a performance trim. Second, manual transmissions are often less common in sedan body styles than in hatchbacks or coupes, so you might have to do a little searching. Third, fuel economy can vary a bit between manual and automatic versions of the same car. In many cases, manuals are slightly less fuel-efficient than automatics, because it’s easier to keep an engine in its optimal power band with an automatic. But the difference is usually small, and for many drivers, the joy of shifting outweighs a few MPGs.
As a gasoline sedan supplier, I can tell you that these manual transmission models are in high demand, even if they’re not selling as well as automatics. We work directly with dealerships and private buyers who are looking for specific manual sedan models, and we make sure to keep stock of the most popular ones: the Mazda 3, the Jetta GLI, the base Civic, and the WRX. We also work with customers to find discontinued manual models if they’re looking for something older, though we always recommend going with new models if possible, because of reliability and warranty coverage.
It’s also worth mentioning that the future of manual transmissions in gasoline sedans is uncertain. As brands shift to electric vehicles, and as automatics and hybrids become more advanced, the window for new manual gasoline sedans might be closing. A few years from now, we might only be able to buy manuals in small sports cars, not family sedans or commuter cars. That’s why if you’re in the market for one, now is the time to act. The models I’ve mentioned are still being built, but supplies are limited, and once they’re gone, they might not come back.
If you’re a driver who’s never experienced a manual transmission, I’d encourage you to test drive one of these models. You don’t have to be a gearhead to enjoy it—there’s a reason millions of drivers have stuck with manuals for over a century. It gives you a connection to your car that you just don’t get with an automatic. You feel the engine’s power, you adjust your driving to the road, and every shift feels like a small achievement. For long-time manual drivers, it’s a comfort—a piece of the past that still works in the present.
At the end of the day, the answer to “Are there any gasoline sedans with a manual transmission?” is yes, but the list is short, and it’s only going to get shorter. For anyone who values driving as an experience, not just a way to get from point A to point B, that small selection of models is more than enough. If you’re looking to buy a new gasoline sedan with a manual transmission, or if you’re a dealership or business looking to source these models, we’re here to help. We have access to a wide range of new and certified pre-owned manual gasoline sedans, and our team can guide you through the process of finding the right model for your needs. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of driving history—reach out to us to learn more about our available inventory and how we can help with your procurement.
References
Pure Electric Vehicles MPV U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Fuel Economy Data, 2024.
Edmunds, 2023 Market Share: Manual Transmissions in New Vehicles, 2023.
Mazda North American Operations, 2024 Mazda 3 Specifications, 2023.
Subaru of America, 2024 WRX Model Lineup, 2023.
Volkswagen Group of America, 2024 Jetta GLI Technical Details, 2023.
Wenzhou Haorong Automobile Sales And Service Co., Ltd.
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