Today, the fact that several automakers still offer manuals for the fans in spite of measly take rates shouldn't go unappreciated. The last manual‑equipped Ferrari was the 2012 Ferrari California. Lamborghini had ditched manuals by 2014, and Mitsubishi’s last manual died with the Lancer Evolution in 2015. Dodge closed the chapter on its own three-pedal era when the Challenger was discontinued in 2023.Most shoppers aren’t too interested in driving a stick‑shift these days, and the decline has been dramatic. If you’re among the few who still prefer to drive with both feet, pickings have become particularly slim.Acura Amongst the most practical vehicles on the affordable spectrum today, a few manuals are clinging to life. These include the 2026 Subaru WRX, 2026 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2026 Honda Civic Si, and 2026 Acura Integra. Each is backed by generations of manual gearbox availability. These compacts now stand as rare holdouts in a market that has almost entirely moved on to more advanced automatic transmission tech. Even today's WRX, GLI, and Integra have automatic options.The Integra is the corporate cousin to the Civic Si, but its manual gearbox story is particularly interesting because it's the only car to launch an all-new manual offering to the segment. Below, we look at why Acura is keeping the manual alive in a market where most automakers are ditching it as rapidly as possible. Why The Integra Is Keeping The Manual Alive AcuraWhen Acura revived the Integra nameplate for 2023, it returned as a modern five-door liftback as a nod to its predecessor. The first-generation Integra helped launch the Acura brand in 1986. For the latest version, Acura would build the Integra on the 11th-generation Civic platform. However, the Integra got an application-specific body and design supported by new manufacturing processes to facilitate its unique roof shape.More importantly, the latest Integra connected shoppers to an earlier era in the 1980s and 1990s, when the Integra nameplate helped Acura carve out a sporty identity and put Honda engines on the mental radar of millions of enthusiasts who would never have dreamed of driving an automatic.Acura From a marketing perspective, Acura's modern-day entry point was an all-new model with a name that had deep enthusiast credibility built in. Reigniting this badge was no small matter, and doing so would bring shoppers back to the glory days of Acura's affordable, light, agile sports compacts and sedans. This might be the first-ever Integra with a factory turbo engine, but a manual transmission was still a must.2026 Acura Integra A-Spec with Technology Package2026 Acura Integra Pricing Integra: $33,400 (MSRP) / $34,595 (With Destination) Integra A-Spec: $35,950 (MSRP) / $37,145 (With Destination) Integra A-Spec with Technology Package: $39,200 (MSRP) / $40,395 (With Destination) Integra A-Spec with Technology Package (6MT): $39,200 (MSRP) / $40,395 (With Destination) Integra Type S: $53,400 (MSRP) / $54,595 (With Destination) AcuraBehind the grille, the Integra runs a familiar powertrain sourced from the Honda Civic Si. The 1.5‑liter turbocharged four-cylinder generates 200 horsepower and comes with a CVT or that crucial six-speed stick with a helical limited-slip differential between the front wheels. More specifically, the transmission is a close-ratio, short-throw, six-speed unit with automatic rev matching. Drivers can turn the system on or off to taste. When activated, it automatically handles blipping the throttle with a 430-millisecond response time for perfect rev-matching every time.Opting for the six-speed manual in your Integra gets you a more aggressive throttle map for added responsiveness, as well as a lightweight single-mass flywheel that allows the engine to spin faster. Acura says the Integra's transmission features a rigid aluminum exterior case, high-capacity ball bearings, stiff gear shafts, and high torque capacity. A constant-mesh helical reverse gear mechanism also significantly reduces noise in reverse gear. Why Almost Everyone Else Ditched The Stick VolkswagenNumerous competitor products have ditched manual transmissions in recent years for a variety of factors that fall under the same umbrella: too few customers buy them. Look at the scenery. The Subaru Legacy ditched the stick shift years ago and has completely gone out of production. There's also no more manual Impreza. The Golf GTI and Golf R are both now offered in a sole, two-pedal configuration with a high-tech direct-shift gearbox. It's the same story for the Mini Cooper Hardtop, and Kia Forte GT. The only direct rival we can think of is the Volkswgen Jetta GLI, but it's not as upmarket as the Acura. Why aren't shoppers buying manuals? Consider first that the declining number of manual cars has led to fewer people wanting to learn to drive them. Plus, there are fewer experienced manual drivers able to teach the skill and pass it on.Acura Also, drivers today spend more time in traffic than ever, which can make manual transmissions feel tiresome. Enthusiasts happily take this as a fact of life, but the average shopper wants something easier, smoother, and lighter on fuel. In case you're wondering, choosing the manual transmission in the Integra raises your annual fuel bill from $2,150 to $2,300 according to EPA data. That's an annual difference of $150, meaning that rowing your own gears would add about $13 per month to your gas bill. That's a relatively low penalty at the pumps, as manual transmissions go.Acura Further, using a modern automatic transmission of any construction gives engineers precise and extremely consistent control of how your powertrain reacts across all situations. This makes it far easier to hit the strong fuel economy targets that sell small cars. With a manual transmission, a relatively clumsy, inconsistent, and not-as-smooth human being is operating things. Shifting your own gears is lovely, but have you seen gas prices lately?Of course, many cars in this universe are built to appeal to enthusiast drivers, and modern automatics are helping cars at all price points lay down better lap times and lower fuel costs, adding to their appeal. Other Cars Where Manual Transmissions Made A Surprise Appearance Acura The decline of the manual has been ongoing for years, though the Integra isn't the first Acura to bring a surprise six-speed stick to market, to the delight of fans. Another example is the rare, late fourth-generation Acura TL SH-AWD. A small number of units were built with the hallowed combination of three pedals and four driven wheels, with a naturally-aspirated J-Series V6 up front. This variation sold briefly and in small numbers as 8-speed and CVT transmissions gained significant popularity.Acura The six-speed, SH-AWD TL also required extensive re-engineering and integration work, which a team of Acura engineers dedicated themselves to, convinced that the platform deserved a manual gearbox to maximize its potential.The Genesis G70 also launched into an era of advanced automatics with a six-speed manual option in 2019, available only with the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine and rear-wheel drive. This move helped lower the G70's starting price and gave it instant credibility with enthusiast drivers, who now had the three-pedal option most luxury brands were no longer selling.Porsche Don't forget that you could also pick up a copy of the early Porsche Cayenne with a six-speed stick, AWD, and a naturally-aspirated V8 engine in the GTS, with some base-model units coming manual as well. The Cayenne's manual transmission offerings weren't widespread or long-lasting. Still, the move left a positive impression on the brand's biggest fans, and manual-equipped Cayenne models are a hot item in the used market today, if you're able to find one.CadillacWe have to note the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing here as well. America's ultimate super sedan comes from a long line of manual-equipped, high-performance four-doors that have been a key pillar of Cadillac's performance presence for the past 22 years. Looking back at history, it's hardly a surprise to see a six-speed manual in the CT5-V. However, its availability is another strong signal that some shoppers are fond of keeping earlier technologies alive as cars rapidly change before our eyes.Sources: Honda, Acura, Cadilac, EPA
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