Best Manual Transmission Cars for 2024
These are the best manual transmission cars, SUVs, and trucks based on iSeeCars’ analysis of each vehicle’s reliability, resale value and safety.
Best Manual Transmission Cars by Vehicle Type
The manual transmission has gone from a dominant drivetrain feature across the automotive industry 100 years ago to a genuine rarity in today’s new car market. While operating a manual gearbox is universally seen as a more sporty and engaging driving experience, the harsh reality is that most drivers don’t want to bother with shifting gears. This is especially true in the modern world, with current automatic transmissions consistently outperforming manuals in both acceleration and fuel efficiency.
With so few buyers interested in manual transmissions, automakers have almost completely abandoned them in recent model years. But you can still find three-pedal configurations on the base model of entry-level economy cars like the Mazda 3, Mini Cooper, Nissan Versa and Volkswagen Jetta. They are also widely available on “hot hatchback” trim levels, in cars like the Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai Elantra N and Veloster, or Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R.
Those models all feature turbo four-cylinder engines with front-wheel drive, but manual transmission fans seeking all wheel drive (awd) can find it on the Subaru WRX and Toyota GR Corolla. Moving beyond the hot hatch segment leads to dedicated rear-wheel-drive performance coupes like the BMW M2, Subaru BRZ and Toyota Supra, some of which feature twin-turbo engines to increase horsepower and performance. Classic muscle cars like the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, and Ford Mustang are another vehicle type offered with classic “stick shift” transmissions.
Sadly, if you’re trying to pair the fun of manual shifting with the practicality of an SUV or crossover you have almost no options today. The Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, two compact SUVs with serious off-road intentions, are your only choices. The same can be said for most iconic sports cars, from the Chevrolet Corvette to every modern Ferrari and Lamborghini, though Porsche does still offer a manual transmission on the Boxster, Cayman, and 911. And Cadillac provided one on its CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing.
iSeeCars has identified all these manual transmission cars and ranked them below based on their iSeeCars quality score, which takes reliability, resale value, and safety into consideration. We also list if the car has a five-speed or six-speed manual (or seven-speed, in Porsche’s case), along with fuel economy, new and used pricing information, and – when available – the engine options paired with the manual transmission.
Best Manual Transmission Cars
Best Manual Transmission Trucks
How We Rank These Cars
The best manual transmission cars rank vehicles by iSeeCars Score which is based on our proprietary assessment of a vehicle’s reliability, resale value and safety (based on ratings from IIHS and NHTSA).
We analyze data from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with the NHTSA's Safety Ratings to give you an unbiased guide to the best vehicles in each segment.
iSeeCars Score is an analysis of three factors: reliability, resale value and safety. It is calculated based on the latest research and analysis by our data science team. The data analysis comes from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with NHTSA and IIHS Safety Ratings.
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
