While manual cars have been dying out at a rapid rate in recent years, there are still a handful of them out there clinging on for dear life. That said, extinction feels imminent, especially as more hybrids and EVs enter the market.For the gearheads out there looking for something affordable, though, there are a few last bastions of hope. These are the five affordable manual cars still out there for enthusiasts. Honda Civic Si 2025 Honda Civic Si front, three-quarterWe’d be hard-pressed to call a Honda Civic Type R "affordable" in 2026, with it starting at $45,895, as sensational as that car is. Fortunately, though, the manufacturer still offers an appealing lower-price alternative for enthusiasts.The Honda Civic Si may deliver the same power output as hybrid versions of the sedan, but it provides a more engaging driving experience. Plus, the absence of electrical assistance for the powertrain makes it a much more enthusiast-focused package compared to the more pedestrian versions.Adding to its enthusiast credentials, the Civic Si gets a standard-fit mechanical, limited-slip differential, which is highly unusual but very welcome for a car of this performance bracket and price point. Its suspension is retuned to offer a sportier feel, and that's all topped off with an auto rev matching for smooth downshifts. Handy if your heel-and-toe game isn't quite up to speed.That doesn't come at the cost of practicality, either. The sedan retains its usable rear seats, decent cargo space, and still offers relatively good fuel economy. Volkswagen Jetta GLI 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLIWhile the Golf GTI has abandoned the manual gearbox, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI lives on with a six-speed stick shift to give VW enthusiasts something to lust over. That might just be enough to move it out of the long shadow the Golf has cast over the Jetta for much of its existence and give the product a spotlight that we think it has long deserved.The GLI isn't some half-baked effort to make a regular Jetta more sporty-looking. It uses the same engine as the pre-facelift version of the current Golf GTI. While there's a little less power compared to new versions of the hatch, it still gets an electronic limited-slip differential to improve cornering abilities.The GLI is not quite as hardcore as some competitors in this segment, such as the Subaru WRX or even the Honda Civic Si. The sedan has suspension tuning that's more focused on providing everyday usability than bone-shaking stiffness for the one Sunday a month you might attack a canyon road with it. In the case of the Jetta, we think that's the right approach.Even though the existing GLI first came to the market in 2019, we're not expecting it to disappear from the company's range anytime soon. There was just a refresh for the 2025 model, breathing new life into the design and adding a modernized interior. We do wish VW had taken the opportunity to increase the horsepower to match the latest GTI, though. Mazda MX-5 Miata 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata ClubAlthough it’s been over a decade since the fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata (known as the ND among fans) debuted in North America, the Japanese manufacturer has shown no sign of taking the roadster away from us anytime soon. In fact, a fifth-generation version is already in early development, with the goal of being even lighter than the current one.Throughout its life, the ND Miata has seen a handful of revisions to add more technology and slightly increase power. From the vehicle's introduction, it's been available with one of the sweetest-feeling six-speed manual gearboxes of any car on sale, quite frankly.You can have the Miata with the choice of a manually-retractable soft-top, which the purists would be sure to tell you is the one to have, or the foldable hardtop RF (Retractable Fastback, for your next bit of trivia). Either way, you're getting a car that combines low weight, a short wheelbase, and rewarding power delivery for one of the most satisfying enthusiast-focused packages on sale. Toyota GR86 2022 Toyota GR86 front, three-quarterConsider this a public service announcement. You can have the Toyota GR86 (and, by extension, the mechanically identical Subaru BRZ) with a six-speed automatic transmission, but you would be doing yourself a disservice by not choosing the wonderful manual transmission.When both cars came along at the start of this decade to succeed the first-generation 86 and BRZ, they elevated the platform by ironing out its major drawback. A larger Subaru-built boxer engine boosted the 86's peak power but, more crucially, filled its momentum-sucking mid-range torque dip that had been a frustration of the original.However, adding extra power didn't spoil the rest of the recipe. The chassis enhancements only improved its communicative handling, and the coupe didn't lose the ability to handle big slides effortlessly. There is the caveat that all this rear-wheel-drive fun comes at the cost of ride comfort, which can make the GR86 tiring on long trips. There's also limited rear seat space, but those compromises are worth it for one of the most engaging cars built in recent memory.If you're happy to spend more money, we'd struggle to look beyond the Yuzu Edition. Its bold yellow exterior color makes the car hard to ignore, though. There are no additional performance or chassis changes, but it certainly looks cool, particularly with the optional GR Aero Kit. Subaru WRX 2025 Subaru WRX tS front 3/4The Subaru WRX came dangerously close to falling off any list of "affordable enthusiast cars" with a price tag that had crept above $35,000. Fortunately, a new base trim introduced early in 2026 brings its MSRP to a much more palatable level, by now starting at $32,495. While we're still yearning for the return of a range-topping WRX STI, we're glad to still have the option of a proper enthusiast-focused Subaru sedan with a manual gearbox at a relatively affordable price.The turbocharged boxer engine gives the WRX a power output that's still competitive against the stick-shift competitors. Plus, the all-wheel-drive system offers exceptional levels of grip in a variety of weather conditions. For enthusiasts in colder regions of the US, it's hard to recommend anything else.If you've got more budget to play with, you can have your WRX closer to the spirit of an STI with the tS package. While the extra equipment doesn't add horsepower, it includes upgrades such as a stiffer suspension setup, Brembo brakes, and stickier Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires.
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