The Manual-Transmission VW Is Dead After 2026Marc Urbano - Car and Driver (Marc Urbano - Car and Driver)Volkswagen will stop offering the six-speed manual in the Jetta GLI starting with the 2027 model year.The automaker said that while it had tried to keep manuals around in the U.S. market, global demand has dropped too low.After 2026, there will be no VWs left with a manual gearbox in the U.S., with the Golf GTI and Golf R ditching stick shifts starting in 2025.Much to the chagrin of Volkswagen enthusiasts, the German automaker ditched the manual transmission on the Golf GTI and Golf R when it refreshed the hot hatchbacks for the 2025 model year. Still, drivers could row their own gears in the sporty 2026 Volkswagen Jetta GLI. But we had bad news, as VW has discontinued the stick shift on the GLI for the 2027 model year, meaning that you can no longer buy a manual-transmission car with a VW badge.Michael Simari - Car and Driver (Michael Simari - Car and Driver)Originally reported by TFLCar, a Volkswagen representative confirmed the news to Car and Driver. "As drivers and car enthusiasts, we appreciate manuals too!" the representative said. "That’s why our region worked very hard to keep them around—we know it matters to a small but passionate group of drivers who love being fully engaged and rowing their own gears."AdvertisementAdvertisementStill, there weren't enough interested shoppers to keep the DIY gearbox around. "Even so, global demand continued to narrow to a point where the market can no longer sustain it," Volkswagen explained. "As much as it hurts, that reality meant making some tough choices."Michael Simari - Car and Driver (Michael Simari - Car and Driver)Manual-equipped vehicles are gradually disappearing in the United States, and the Jetta GLI's departure will definitely be mourned by enthusiasts. Powered by a 228-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, the GLI can be paired with either the six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Starting with the 2027 model year, however, only the automatic will be on the table.While the Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, and Golf R are still fun to drive with their automatic gearboxes, the manual transmission has been one of their defining enthusiast features. The sporty compact models drew a loyal following over the decades, and it will be interesting to see if sales keep up now that the stick shift is gone. Sales of the Golf GTI and Golf R both dropped in 2025, with 7235 GTIs finding homes and 3319 Golf Rs leaving the dealer lots, down 35 percent and 21 percent, respectively. If you want a manual VW, the time to act is now.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029