Every year, brands trim the fat to stay lean in a constantly evolving automotive landscape. The transition to electrification keeps manufacturers’ sights fixed on new horizons, with little regard for the past—apart from nostalgic designs and decals. There are still nameplates that keep providing what we enjoy most about cars: the fact that they still need a driver behind the wheel. It’s easy to find a new car that can change lanes, brake, parallel park, and even call first responders upside down. But, what makes a car boring is exactly all of that.For us at CarBuzz to have an emotional connection with an automobile, we need to feel like the car can’t do anything unless we’re behind the wheel, calling the shots. Manual transmissions are the last line of defense standing between drivers and the inevitability of fully autonomous vehicles with no more emotional appeal than a stand mixer. Defending a driver’s right to row their own gears are the following brands, which still offer cars with a shift-it-yourself gearbox. BMW & Toyota CarBuzz Both brands are about to lose one model each, but for the time being, we'd throw them a bone, since they listened to fans who wanted a manual in the Toyota Supra and the BMW Z4. The last few examples of the German/Japanese sports car duo are rolling down the production line in Austria as you read this, but don’t shed any tears just yet. Toyota has already dedicated more time and money to giving the Supra a sixth generation, to be made in conjunction with a manufacturer other than BMW.Manuals are available only on the 3.0-liter straight-six Z4 M60i and Supra 3.0 (Toyota dropped the 2.0 4-cylinder models after 2024), with Toyota offering both automatic and manual transmissions at no extra cost. In contrast, BMW charges $3,500 for the Edition Handschalter package that unlocks a third pedal.ToyotaAs for the remaining models with manuals, Toyota offers a stick-shift option on the Tacoma base and mid-grade trims (SR, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road). Four-wheel drive is required to option the manual ($3,200), as an 8-speed automatic comes standard on both two- and four-wheel-drive models. A manual cannot be optioned on Tacomas with the hybrid i-Force Max powertrain, or in any other configuration than a double cab with a 5-foot bed.The GR86 and GR Corolla come standard with a stick shift, and the automatics cost an extra $1,100 and $2,000, respectively. BMW offers manuals on the M2, M3, and M4, with the M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe models available exclusively with a stick. To get an automatic in either, you have to jump up a trim to the Competition trim, where an 8-speed automatic is the only option. The M2 offers you a choice of manual or automatic at no extra charge. Cadillac, Ford, Mazda, And Subaru CadillacJust like the Z4/Supra situation, the caveat for Cadillac is the same. The CT4-V Blackwing, one of the two models available with three pedals, is not long for this world. Since a 2026 model can still be had, it remains on this list. Both the CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing models come standard with manual gearboxes, with 10-speed automatics costing an extra $3,175 on the CT4 and $6,275 on the CT5. The CT5-V Blackwing is one of just two cars remaining in America available with both a manual transmission and a V8 engine.The other, of course, is the Ford Mustang GT, which comes standard with a 10-speed automatic but can be optioned with a 6-speed manual at no extra cost. America's pony car keeps the stick in all GT-badged trims and two of the three Dark Horse models. The Dark Horse SC is the last horse in the stable before the almighty GTD and arrived packing a seven-speed dual-clutch.Ford Motor CompanyThe Ford Bronco earns the title as the only vehicle on this list with a seven-speed manual. Yes, we know one is a crawler gear, but seven forward gears are still seven ratios to play with. This achievement is celebrated with the manual coming standard on the Base, Big Bend, Badlands, and Heritage Edition trims equipped with the 2.3-liter four-cylinder. A 10-speed automatic is available for an additional $1,795. Others charging extra for automatics are Subaru and Mazda, both of which still offer manuals in their two-door sports cars and four-door compacts.The Subaru BRZ comes standard with a stick and charges $850 for an automatic. The WRX offers manuals on a few trims; the Base trim gets a manual as the only option, while the Limited charges $1,000 for a CVT. The GT trim is only offered with the automatic, but the highest-level tS only packs an H-pattern. Mazda offers a 6-speed manual in a single trim of the Mazda3 Hatchback, the 2.5 S Premium, which offers everything the 2.5 S Carbon Edition does, plus a few extra colors.The MX-5 wouldn’t live up to its nameplate if it didn’t offer an engaging experience, which it thankfully does at no extra cost. If you want an automatic, it’s only available on the top-spec Grand Touring, at $920 for soft-top models and $970 for hard-tops. Brands With One Model Left Porsche PorschePorsche purists have long claimed the 718 Cayman and Boxster are the more authentic choice when it comes to Porsche sports cars. And while there is a great deal of subjectivity in that debate, all we can say is that both the 911 and the 718 offered the right gearboxes to back up any claims made. This was the case until late last year, when Porsche ended production of the 718 models in October, leaving the 911 as the only model in the lineup with a manual transmission available. The 911, however, offers two body styles and a slew of trims. Coupe and cabriolet variants of the Carrera T, GT3, GT3 Touring, GT3 S/C, and the commemorative GT3 90 F. A. Porsche. The famed 7-speed PDK is available on the GT3 and GT3 Touring, while the rest are exclusively manual. Jeep StellantisWhile it used to offer a stick in both the Wrangler and Gladiator, Jeep has since removed it from the Gladiator to leave the Tacoma as the only pickup left in America with a manual transmission. The Wrangler keeps a manual bolted to the 3.6-liter V6 in the Sport, Sport S, Willys, Rubicon, and Rubicon X as the standard option. Automatics come standard on 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines (a no-cost option) but add a $2,500 charge for the 8-speed automatic transmission. To add the automatic to the V6 in trims where the 6-speed is standard, Jeep charges an additional $3,000. Nissan Ian Wright/CarBuzz/ValnetThe last hold-out to keep a manual transmission as a standard option in an economy car until it plucked it out for a CVT was Nissan. The 2025 Versa used to come standard with a 5-speed manual in its most basic form, but the brand has now restricted manuals to just the Z Sport, Performance, and Heritage Edition trims. Sport, Performance, and Heritage Edition trims offer both manual and automatic transmissions at no extra charge. However, the top-trim Nismo remains automatic—only until 2027, when it will receive a third pedal. Brands Gatekeeping Manuals to Select Trims HondaAll three brands offer a single manual-transmission model across just two trim levels. Acura blesses the Integra with an optional 6-speed manual in the A-Spec with Technology package, and makes the Type S manual-only. The same goes for the Honda Civic: both the Si and Type R trims offer manuals, and the last two trims are available exclusively with them.LotusLotus offers a six-speed torque converter automatic and a 6-speed manual on supercharged 3.5-liter V6 models of the Emira, with the turbocharged four-cylinders restricted to an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic. Since tariffs were put into effect, the cars that are here on US soil are what we can go by, but Lotus' online builder doesn't allow an automatic to be added to V6 models.These are the brands where manual transmissions complete the experience each requires of its drivers, making them arguably the most important vehicles in each lineup. It also explains why these cars are manual-only (save for the Emira, despite its odd situation) and might remain so for the foreseeable future. Honda did cut a manual option from the Civic Sport and Sport Touring trims, slowly trimming its three-pedal offerings while providing some consolation with its pepper models.VolkswagenIt will never sit right with us that the last remaining Volkswagen in the USA to contain a manual transmission is not a Golf GTI, or even a Golf at all. While the Jetta GLI is a wonderful consolation prize, it’s still not the quintessential VW experience despite having a manual transmission as standard. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is a nice change of pace in the world of automatics, but when a manual is available—for free, we might add—the choice is clear to enthusiasts.The same goes for the Hyundai Elantra N. Both an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic and a 6-speed manual are available, the former costing an extra $1,500. That's a lot to pay for a fun car vs. a thrilling one. Similarly, the Elantra used to run with the Veloster N by its side, but Hyundai’s hot hatch is no more. Unless, of course, you grant that title to the Ioniq 5 N, which certainly makes a case for itself as being an engaging EV. That, however, is a car that can still perform at its best without a human behind the wheel. And that’s just no fun at all, is it?Sources: Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Lotus, Nissan, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen
