The manual gearbox isn't the most popular transmission in the United States. Only a select few prefer a sick shift, with mainstream consumer interest having largely shifted to automatic and CVT units. On top of the convenience of the automatic or CVT, manuals aren't a cheaper option anymore. Back in the day, the manual transmission was standard kit on many cars, with an automatic transmission being optional, but that's no longer the case. And since automatics are generally more frugal and much easier to live with, more buyers are opting for them, which means manufacturers have to supply.However, there is still a niche market here in the States that refuses to let the stick shift die. A few car companies are still producing them, mainly for enthusiast-type cars. Just like there is only one automaker building a manual all-wheel drive hatch, there's only one automaker still producing an AWD, manual sports sedan. It's the last of its kind to be sold in America in 2026: the Subaru WRX. It's been a rally legend and fan-favorite for decades, along with having quite a reputation in tuner car circles. The Last AWD Manual Sports Sedan SubaruThe 2026 Subaru WRX is the last manual, AWD sports sedan on sale in the United States. A turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine is in charge of power, which is the brand's signature configuration. Subaru's reasoning behind this engine type is better balance than a traditional inline-four, as well as a lower center of gravity, which aids in the WRX's handling.While the FA24F engine used here only produces 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, its short-ratio manual transmission allows it to reach 60 mph in the mid-five-second range. But 'performance' in this application is so much more than acceleration and outright speed. There's No STI for 2025, But There Is A tS Subaru The WRX STI went out of production a couple of years ago, but Subaru introduced a new trim level in 2025. This trim, called the 'tS', stands for "tuned by STI' and has previously been used on the Subaru BRZ sports car in other global markets.Available for $47,705, the tS comes standard with high-performance Brembo brakes, Recaro seats, an STI-tuned suspension setup with electronically adjustable dampers, and 19-inch wheels wrapped in sticky tires. It's as close as you'll get to an STI without buying a used model.The 2025 models are still on the configurator, but the pricing of the 2026 model has been released. The big news is how much cheaper the base model is. Subaru dropped the starting MSRP for the 2026 WRX to $32,495. That is exceptional value for money. What Makes The WRX So Special? Michael Shaffer/Subaru The WRX has a storied past with a rallying legacy that resulted in its unique mechanicals. Augmenting that flat-four engine and six-speed manual transmission is the brand's symmetrical all-wheel drive system, applying power to each individual wheel thanks to front and rear open differentials that utilize brake torque vectoring. A sport-tuned suspension system is standard, with top-of-the-range models getting electronically controlled dampers, a Drive Mode Select system, and the brand's SI-Drive engine performance management system, too.Those well-versed in rally car history will remember the WRX used to have quite a fierce competitor in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Both the Evo and the WRX sported near-equal specs and were capable of many of the same things. Both were also born and raised on rally stages, and both had reasonable prices. However, the Evo was discontinued in 2017. Nowadays, the WRX holds the top spot by default when it comes to manual sports sedans with all-wheel drive. Buying The Last Manual AWD Sports Sedan In 2026 SubaruAs mentioned earlier, Subie dropped the pricing of the 2026 WRX. This is what you can expect to pay now: The Competition In 20262024 GR Corolla Front 3/4 driftingAlthough there is no direct competition for the WRX in 2026, there is a rival that ticks some of the boxes Subaru currently monopolizes. Although it isn't a sedan, it is all-wheel drive, and it does have a six-speed manual transmission. Enter the Toyota GR Corolla hatchback.Just like the Subaru WRX has its roots in rally racing, the GR Corolla has similar claims, albeit not directly. A couple of years ago, Toyota developed a special powertrain for the 2021 World Rally Championship, using a turbocharged engine and adjustable, variable-split all-wheel drive. The result was the GR Yaris, which had almost nothing in common with the humble little hatch. Demand was extremely high, so Toyota decided to bolt the tiny power-dense engine under the hood of a Corolla, and it was unleashed on enthusiasts as one of a few true hot hatches left stateside.The little GR Corolla has won the hearts of every enthusiast that's driven it. It's smaller and nimbler than the WRX, but it also has more power. It'll get to 60 mph more than half a second quicker. It's a hoot to drive and in each instance we've spent time behind the wheel, it's left us wanting to park one in our garage.The pricing gap used to be smaller between the two cars. In 2025, the base WRX started at $37,750, but it's now down to $32,495. The cheapest GR Corolla starts at $39,920. That's a $7,425 difference, which makes a big difference if you're shopping around in this price bracket. History of the Subaru WRX Subaru The first WRX models appeared in 1992 The first three generations were based on Impreza sedans The WRX became a standalone model in 2015 WRX stands for World Rally eXperimental The WRX's timeline stretches back over 30 years, with its humble beginnings in Japan. At the time, Subaru was beginning to dominate rally stages across the globe. This newfound fame began to get the attention of the masses, who wanted a piece of that rallying expertise in their daily lives. So, Subaru hatched a plan in 1992; they'd build a hot version of their Impreza model and affix a WRX badge to them, letting everyone know this was an Impreza that meant business.Thus, the Impreza WRX was born. At the time, it was only available in Japan, and it was an instant hit. Buyers loved the WRX's blend of rally-bred grit and daily drivability. Not to mention, the WRX also utilized Subaru's world-class all-wheel drive system, which afforded the WRX a reputation as a safe car. At launch, the Impreza WRX was able to beat most other small cars in a sprint as well as around the track, furthering its new fame even more.When Subaru decided to update the Impreza in 2000, the WRX went along with it. A total of three facelifts took place during its second generation, all of which had their own pet names. The first iteration was called the 'bug-eye', referring to its circular, bug-like headlights. Then came the 'blob-eye' facelift in 2003, and the 'hawk-eye' in 2006. The third-gen Impreza was introduced in 2007 and dropped the eye-related tomfoolery and, surprisingly, began to offer a hatchback version. However, the third generation Impreza WRX was met with much criticism. Loads of drivers claimed this iteration was too soft, slow, and big to be considered a true WRX. Its 2.5-liter Boxer engine did receive an upgraded turbo, but it wasn't enough to satisfy the purists. So, for the 2008 and 2009 model years, Subaru set to work righting their wrongs by tweaking the motor, swapping the tired old turbo for a bigger one, and giving it a wide-body shell borrowed from the WRX STi in 2010.When Subaru redesigned the Impreza for its fourth generation, the WRX became a separate model with the VA chassis code. The WRX of 2015 is thus considered to be first generation of the standalone model. The WRX Is Here To Stay, For Now Jared Rosenholt/CarBuzz/Valnet We've lost a lot of iconic cars over the past decade. There are a few main reasons for this, with lack of consumer interest and increasingly strict governmental regulations being main culprits. As the world becomes more keen on saving the planet, things like the V8 are becoming things of the past, along with some conventionally-fueled performance as a whole.The automotive world received a scare a couple of years ago when Subaru canceled the WRX STi, as many thought the WRX would be next. Things are not looking good for the WRX, however. As mentioned earlier, the sales figures are bad. More buyers are moving over to the latest Forester, which is a car with many talents. It also doesn't help that the new Uncharted EV crossover has more power, and is quicker to 60 mph.Only time will tell how long the WRX will live, but things aren't looking good.Sources: Subaru, Toyota, EPA