Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Miata is always the answer, the old saying goes. Unless you need four seats, in which case it is a Golf GTI. In recent years there have been some major changes across the motoring landscape, and the manual transmission has been suffering a slow but inevitable decline.The Golf GTI, for one, is auto-only, as is the base Honda Civic. The long-running Nissan Versa was a cheap and cheerful way to get a manual shifter, but fans of stick shifts have had to move upmarket to get their fix since it was discontinued last year.AdvertisementAdvertisementIn fact, in some cases, manuals have somehow transitioned into a luxury accessory, with cars like the Porsche 911 and BMW M3 getting special manual variants, and supercars such as the GMA T.50 being sold solely as manuals. Of course, there are still a handful of more affordable manual transmission vehicles around, and we decided to find out which one was the cheapest one of all.Which Affordable Cars Still Have Manuals?SubaruView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleMake and ModelPower0-60 mph estimatesBase MSRPVolkswagen Jetta GLI228-hp6.0 sec$35,020Subaru WRX271-hp5.5 sec$32,495Mazda3 Hatchback 2.5 S191-hp7.0 sec$31,650Honda Civic Si200-hp6.6 sec$31,495Toyota GR86228-hp5.4 sec$31,400Prices are the manufacturer MSRP and exclude destination charges, taxes and other fees.While the Golf GTI is now DSG only, the 228-hp Volkswagen Jetta GLI is still offered with a manual in its base trim, but even this will be dropped in 2027. The base MSRP is $35,020 before options or fees, and as the DSG is a no cost option, many buyers are avoiding the manual altogether. The Mazda3 Hatchback is another contender for the cheapest new manual car, and the 191-hp 2.5 S Premium trim is $31,650, before charges, and it offers sporty handling if not being quite as quick as the turbocharged Jetta GLI.AdvertisementAdvertisementHonda's Civic Si has always been a great drive, and its 200-hp 1.5-liter turbocharged engine is a perfect match for its six-speed manual transmission. It is $31,495 before fees and is the most fun to drive out of the four-door models mentioned here.ToyotaThe Toyota GR86 is an even better enthusiast's choice if you don't need the practicality of four doors. The small rear seats are best suited for kids or shopping bags, but it is a great driver's car, with a well-balanced rear-wheel drive chassis, and the characterful 228-hp 2.4-liter boxer motor is best matched with the standard manual shifter. At $31,400 it offers a lot of sports car for the money.Subaru's BRZ twin has a bit more standard kit, but it is priced much higher, at $35,860, so we must look to the turbocharged AWD Subaru WRX for the cheapest manual transmission in the range. It may not have the delicate handling balance of the GR86 or BRZ, but the AWD traction advantage and much more powerful turbocharged engine make it a riot to drive, nevertheless. It also offers the most bang-for-the-buck here.But none of these cars, however desirable, can claim to be the cheapest manual transmission car on the market today. The answer to that question, as you may have guessed, is Miata.The 2026 Mazda MX-5 MiataMazdaView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Mazda MX-5 Miata has been on sale since 2017 yet remains a fresh and class-leading offering that has defied the broader motoring industry's push to turbocharge, electrify and desensitize every vehicle around. It has undergone several upgrades and refinements over the years, and the 2026 model is available in three trim levels, the cheapest of which is the Sport at $30,430 before taxes.Base MSRP$30,430Engine2.0-liter inline-fourPower181 hpTorque151 lb-ft0-60 mph5.5 to 5.7 secondsThe Miata is the epitome of the 'just right' philosophy, and even the base Sport already has (almost) everything you could need in your compact two-door sports car. Smartphone integration is standard, the roof comes down, and you send your gearchange requests to the revvy little engine through a slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission. Job done. The 181-hp power output may sound anemic, but it is plenty for such a light car, and independent testing has shown it to be quicker than most of the abovementioned models to 60 mph.But speed is just one factor here, as the Miata is also really great fun to drive. It responds quickly to inputs and feels extremely well balanced around corners. It is also fully capable of taking on daily driving duties, and the trunk is big enough for the weekly shop. These are just the sort of all-rounder qualities that spawned that old catchphrase.MazdaFor our money, we would stretch to the Club trim, as it comes with larger 17-inch wheels, sport-tuned Bilstein suspension, a limited-slip differential and a better audio system. The extra $3,500 brings the base MSRP up to $33,930, which seems like great value. Whether you pick a Miata or one of the other manual-shifters on the list, make sure to keep ticking the manual transmission box on your next vehicle, or we may see it disappear forever.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.