Chasing Cars lists every new car on sale for buyers who still love driving with a manual transmission
- Key findings
- Manual sports cars sold in Australia
- Manual SUVs sold in Australia
- Manual sedans and hatches sold in Australia
- Manual utes and vans sold in Australia
- Full list: every new car still available with a manual transmission in Australia
There are no two ways about it: the manual transmission is a dying option for new car buyers. Each year, there are fewer and fewer options if you’re the sort of person who enjoys shifting themselves rather than relying on an automatic transmission.
To make more sense of the current situation, we went straight to the data to find out just how many cars are still offered in Australia with a manual transmission.
Here is what we found about manual-transmission cars sold in Australia. In this article we’ve broken down the lists by segment, though the full list of cars sold with a manual is available at the bottom of the article.
The manual shifter from the Hyundai i30 N Fastback
This guide was last updated in August 2022.
Key findings
The manufacturer with the most available manual transmission variants was Mazda, followed by Porsche, Nissan and Mini.
A large majority of manual cars for sale in Australia are either commercial vehicles such as utes or vans or performance and sports vehicles.
Many commercial vans remain available with a manual transmission including the Peugeot Expert, Volkswagen Transporter, Renault Trafic and the Ford Transit.
Vans such as the Ford Transit can still be had with a manual
We found that when looking at performance vehicles, Porsche was one of the only manufacturers to offer a manual version for each of its core sports car models. The automatic-only Panamera and Cayenne and Macan SUVs are the exceptions here.
Mercedes-Benz does not offer a single passenger vehicle with a manual transmission, with the only manual vehicle available for the company being the Vito commercial van.
Utes and vans were the most popular segment to offer a manual transmission. Wagons and sedans were the least popular with manuals.
The Porsche 911 Sport Classic is an expensive self-shifter
In terms of lifestyle, work utes still play a big part, with several single- and dual-cab models still offering a manual option.
Small cars were the next most popular in terms of manual options – likely due to their lower cost and appeal for younger buyers.
Performance and prestige cars still held ground with manuals, with brands such as BMW, Porsche and Hyundai still offering H-pattern shifters for their sporty models.
The six speed manual from the current Ford Focus ST hot hatch
In Hyundai’s N division, for example, every model bar the Kona N is available with a six-speed manual transmission. And although the i30 N is now available with an eight-speed dual clutch transmission, manuals are still a popular choice.
Manual sports cars sold in Australia
- BMW M3
- BMW M4
- Ford Focus ST
- Ford Fiesta ST
- Ford Mustang
- Hyundai i30 N
- Hyundai i20 N
- Hyundai i30 Sedan N
- Kia Picanto GT
- Mazda MX-5
- Mini Hatch
- Porsche 718 Cayman
- Porsche 718 Boxster
- Porsche 911 GT3
- Renault Megane RS
- Subaru BRZ
- Subaru WRX
- Toyota GR Yaris
The i20 N is one of the last manual-only hot hatches
Manual SUVs sold in Australia
- Hyundai Venue
- Kia Sportage
- Mazda CX-5
- Mazda CX-30
- Mazda CX-3
- Mitsubishi ASX
- Skoda Kamiq
- Nissan X-Trail
- Suzuki Vitara
The Kia Sportage still has a manual gearbox option for buyers
Manual sedans and hatches sold in Australia
- Fiat 500
- Kia Stonic
- Kia Rio
- Kia Picanto
- Mazda 3
- Skoda Scala
- Suzuki Swift
- Suzuki Ignis
- Suzuki Baleno
- Volkswagen Polo
The Mini Clubman is still available with a manual six-speed, however orders are currently suspended
Looking for a manual wagon? There’s just one, and it’s very hard to get. The Mini Clubman wagon can be ordered with a six-speed manual transmission, but the British brand has suspended production of manual-equipped Minis until further notice. They’ll still officially take your money, though.
Other than the Clubman, the stick-shifted station wagon is sadly extinct in Australia.
Manual utes and vans sold in Australia
- Outgoing Ford Ranger
- Ford Transit
- LDV T60 ute
- LDV V80 van
- LDV Deliver 9
- Mazda BT-50
- Mercedes-Benz Vito
- Mitsubishi Triton
- Mitsubishi Express
- Nissan Navara
- Peugeot Expert
- Peugeot Partner
- Peugeot Boxer
- Renault Trafic
- Renault Master
- Ssangyong Musso
- Toyota Hiace
- Toyota Hilux
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Volkswagen Transporter
- Volkswagen Caddy
- Volkswagen Crafter
- Volkswagen Amarok (outgoing)
The Mitsubishi Triton can be had with a manual shifter
Full list: every new car still available with a manual transmission in Australia
- BMW M3 sedan (wagon is auto-only)
- BMW M4 coupe (convertible is auto-only)
- Fiat 500 hatch and convertible
- Ford Focus ST hot hatch
- Ford Fiesta ST hot hatch (no auto available)
- Ford Mustang coupe (convertible is auto-only)
- Ford Mustang GT coupe (convertible is auto-only)
- Ford Transit van
- Hyundai i20 N hot hatch (no auto available)
- Hyundai i30 N hot hatch
- Hyundai i30 N Line hot hatch and sedan
- Hyundai i30 Sedan N
- Hyundai Venue small SUV
- Isuzu D-Max ute
- Kia Stonic small SUV
- Kia Rio small car
- Kia Sportage midsize SUV
- Kia Picanto small car
- Kia Picanto GT hot hatch (no auto available)
You can shift yourself in the relatively new Hyundai i30 Sedan N
- LDV V80 van
- LDV T60 ute
- LDV Deliver 9 van
- Mahindra PIK-UP ute
- Mazda BT-50 ute (extra credit – available on all grades)
- Mazda 3 hatch and sedan (extra credit – available on all grades bar X20)
- Mazda CX-3 small SUV
- Mazda CX-30 small SUV
- Mazda CX-5 midsize SUV
- Mazda MX-5 convertible and fastback
- Mercedes-Benz Vito van
- Mini Cooper hatch
- Mini convertible
- Mini Clubman wagon
- Mitsubishi Triton ute
- Mitsubishi Express van
- Mitsubishi ASX small SUV
- Nissan Navara ute
- Nissan Z coupe
- Peugeot Expert van
- Peugeot Partner van
- Peugeot Boxer van
One of the classic manual shifters is still on sale: the Mazda MX-5
- Porsche 911 GT3
- Porsche 911 Sport Classic
- Porsche 718 Boxster
- Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0
- Porsche 718 Cayman
- Porsche 718 Cayman GT4
- Porsche 718 Spyder
- Renault Trafic van
- Renault Master van
- Renault Megane RS hot hatch
- Skoda Scala small car
- Skoda Kamiq small SUV
- Ssangyong Musso ute
A car that is on a lot of our wishlists here at Chasing Cars
- Subaru BRZ coupe
- Subaru WRX sedan (wagon is auto-only)
- Suzuki Swift small car
- Suzuki Jimny small SUV
- Suzuki Ignis small SUV
- Suzuki Baleno small car
- Suzuki Vitara small SUV
- Toyota GR Yaris hot hatch (no auto available)
- Toyota Hiace van
- Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series (no auto available)
- Toyota Hilux ute
- Volkswagen Polo small car
- Volkswagen Transporter van
- Volkswagen Crafter van
- Volkswagen Caddy van
- Volkswagen Amarok ute
Keyword: What cars are still available with a manual in Australia?