The Last AWD Sports Sedan Available With A Manual Transmission In 2025

The manual transmission is vanishing fast — and AWD paired with a stick shift is rarer still. For most of automotive history, performance cars sent power to just one axle, but that changed when the rally-bred Audi Quattro brought AWD to the mainstream in 1980. The 1990 Mitsubishi 3000GT was the first to bring the combination to the American market, and for a while, the segment flourished. Today, it has been whittled down to almost nothing.

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Despite AWD cars being slightly more expensive to maintain and having more drivetrain power loss compared to FWD and RWD cars, they offer superior traction and performance on all surfaces. Paired with a powerful engine, AWD lets you put your foot down without worrying about wheelspin and attack corners with greater confidence. It’s exactly why manufacturers like Lamborghini and Bugatti turned to AWD in their high-powered supercars.

Sadly, manual transmissions are now a dying breed, slowly being phased out in favor of more efficient automatics. Even many driver-focused performance cars like the VW Golf R, Corvette, and Porsche 911 Turbo S have lost their manual options in recent years, leaving only a handful of enthusiast-focused cars with three pedals and a stick — and they are almost exclusively RWD.

Among hot hatches, the Toyota GR Corolla is the last one that still pairs AWD with a manual transmission, but if you want the same package in a true sports sedan, there’s only one car left that you can buy.

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The 2026 Subaru WRX Is The Last Fast Sedan With AWD And A Manual Transmission

Highlights

• On the market since 1992 in Japan and launched in 2002 in America
• 83% of all WRX buyers choose the manual transmission
• New, larger engine introduced in 2022
• 271 hp and rich aftermarket potential
• Extremely reliable from the factory

Subaru’s popular performance sedan entered its latest generation with a larger 2.4-liter engine and kept its trusty 6-speed manual transmission as standard, alongside a CVT automatic. Subaru has revealed that 83% of all WRX buyers opted for the manual transmission in 2024, compared to the CVT — a figure that underscores just how deeply the WRX appeals to driving purists and how confidence-inspiring the gearbox is.

Despite being the last AWD sport sedan on the market with a manual transmission, we couldn’t ask for a better one. Subaru has been refining its famous symmetrical AWD for over five decades. We mentioned earlier how the Audi Quattro was the first to bring AWD performance to the mainstream, but Subaru actually produced one of the first AWD passenger cars almost a decade earlier, in 1972 — dubbed the Leone.

Alongside Porsche, Subaru is the only brand still producing boxer engines. And while Subaru’s engines were once notorious for issues like head gasket failures, rather than abandoning the formula, the brand doubled down on the boxer engine and AWD recipe and kept refining it. The results speak for themselves: Subaru now makes some of the most reliable cars in the world, and Consumer Reports recently crowned Subaru the most reliable car brand in 2025.

The New Subaru WRX Is The Epitome Of Reliable AWD Performance

The WRX carries on this tradition boldly, combining an under-stressed turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four producing 271 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque from the factory with a manual transmission and AWD. That leaves plenty of headroom to push the engine hard or upgrade it further, thanks to a very rich aftermarket. The same engine appears in the Subaru Ascent (detuned to 260 hp) and the Outback and Legacy XT models — J.D. Power awarded both an impressive 82/100 reliability rating in 2024.

The WRX Offers Impressive Performance For Its Price

Photo: Subaru

2026 Subaru WRX Specs

Subaru

The WRX competes against front-wheel-drive rivals in its price range such as the Hyundai Elantra N, Honda Civic Si, Volkswagen Jetta GLI, and Acura Integra — and easily holds its own. And for those wondering, the WRX is just as quick as the Subaru BRZ sports car and even slightly faster around a track or on the highway.

From a standstill, a stock WRX reaches 60 mph in just over 5 seconds and is governed to a 155-mph top speed. Car and Driver found it to be quicker with the manual transmission than the CVT, making the stick shift a clear choice. That’s strong performance for the money, especially given the practicality it brings to the table. Buyers who stick with the manual can also take advantage of the automatic rev-match feature, which sharpens downshifts in tight cornering situations.

The 6-speed manual is standard on all trims except the GT, where it’s optional alongside the CVT. The three-pedal version is also around $1,500 cheaper than the CVT across all trims. Here’s a breakdown of all WRX trims and pricing.

Premium ($33,995)

A 6-speed manual is standard and a CVT automatic is optional, and the Premium delivers everything you need for a great time behind the wheel, representing the best value in the lineup. Highlights include heated front seats, keyless entry, and an 11.6-inch Starlink infotainment screen. It also swaps the old base model’s 17-inch wheels for 18-inch alloys.

Limited ($38,995)

For roughly five thousand dollars more, the Limited trim steps up meaningfully, adding a Harman Kardon sound system with a 504-watt amplifier and Recaro suede and leather front seats — the driver’s side being power-adjustable with lumbar support. It also includes blind-spot detection and a power moonroof.

GT ($44,995)

The most luxury-oriented WRX trim, the GT replaces the six-speed manual with a CVT as the sole transmission option. It builds on the Limited with red-stitched suede dash trim and power-adjustable Recaro front seats. To improve everyday comfort, it rides on a new suspension with electronically adjustable ride control.

tS ($44,995)

The tS trim is great for performance enthusiasts. The name stands for “tuned by STI” and it represents the best factory option for track duty. Power and torque remain unchanged, but the tS gains an upgraded suspension with adaptive dampers and larger gold-painted Brembo brakes and rotors for stronger stopping power. Distinctive black trim on the mirrors, spoiler, and antenna is contrasted by 19-inch gray wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza tires.

Best Used AWD Performance Car Alternatives With Manual Transmissions

Ford

As you may have guessed, not many manufacturers have paired AWD with manual transmissions over the years. The rally-inspired WRX remains the greatest nameplate to ever do it, but the used market offers several compelling alternatives at a similar price point.

Ford Focus RS MK3

Most true AWD performance cars trace their roots to rally racing. That’s as true of the Subaru WRX as it is of the Ford Focus RS. Discontinued in 2016, this hot hatch offers even more power than the 2026 WRX and wraps it in a practical body with plenty of rear-seat room. Its spiritual successor lives on in the 280-hp front-wheel-drive Focus ST-line, but that model isn’t sold in the United States. If you find a Focus RS in decent condition, expect to pay around $33k for it (Classic.com).

2015-2021 Subaru WRX STI

Subaru discontinued the iconic STI trim at the end of the previous WRX generation. The choice between a new WRX and a lightly used STI is the most common dilemma facing modern WRX shoppers. The new WRX is the safer, more refined option with slightly less power, while the STI offers a stiffer suspension and a more capable drivetrain for track use. The short answer: don’t buy a used STI unless you plan to track it regularly or know you’ll be tempted to modify your WRX regardless. The 2026 WRX has more than enough power and track capability for most drivers — especially in tS trim.

BMW 340i xDrive F30

A relatively rare AWD sports sedan offered with an optional six-speed manual, the 340i xDrive packs even more power than the WRX in a more upscale package. It also uses BMW’s famously robust B58 engine, which produces 382 hp in the Z4 M40i and can be tuned well past 500 hp. Sadly, the F30 340i xDrive is the last BMW of its kind — all G20-generation xDrive 3 Series models pair exclusively with BMW’s ZF automatic. Classic.com values the 340i xDrive at just under $30k.

Audi TT RS MK2

The Audi TT RS is one of the most unique and underrated sports cars ever made. It rides on a dedicated sports car platform and uses the same potent 2.5-liter five-cylinder found in the RS3. Rather than going rear-wheel drive, Audi equipped it with Quattro AWD — exclusive to RS models — and a manual transmission. The combination of AWD and a lightweight chassis delivers outstanding acceleration and cornering ability. You can find a clean example for around $32k according to Classic.com.

Sources: Subaru, Classic.com