The Manual Transmission Is Nearly Gone From New Cars—Here’s Which Models Still Offer One
The Washington Post declared this week that the stick shift is “almost dead”—and the numbers back it up. Of the hundreds of new vehicles on sale in the United States for 2026, fewer than two dozen still offer a clutch pedal. That list is shrinking every model year, and several automakers have already confirmed they won’t be offering manuals at all going forward.
For buyers who want a traditional three-pedal driving experience, the window is closing. Here’s a clear-eyed look at which current production models still offer a manual, what the automakers themselves are saying about the transmission’s future, and why the business logic behind the phase-out is essentially irreversible.
Sports Cars: The Last Holdouts With A Clutch Pedal
The Porsche 911 remains one of the most prominent defenders of the manual. The current 992.2-generation 911 Carrera and Carrera S both offer a seven-speed manual as an option alongside the PDK dual-clutch automatic—and Porsche has publicly stated that it intends to keep the manual available as long as customer demand justifies it. That’s a meaningful commitment from a brand that could easily standardize on PDK across the lineup.
The Chevrolet Corvette situation is more complicated. The C8 generation moved to a mid-engine layout that made a traditional manual nearly impossible to package, so the only transmission available is an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. Notably, GM filed a patent years ago for a by-wire clutch system—a “fake manual” concept—suggesting the company has thought seriously about how to offer the feel of a manual without the mechanical reality of one. For now, though, the Corvette is automatic-only.
BMW’s M division continues to offer a six-speed manual in the M2, and the standard M440i xDrive coupe also retains a manual option in certain configurations. BMW M has been one of the more vocal brands about preserving the manual, framing it as central to the M driving philosophy—though that stance will be tested as the M division moves toward electrification.
Hot Hatches: Where The Manual Still Makes Business Sense
The hot hatch segment is where the manual transmission has held on most stubbornly, because the buyers shopping here specifically want engagement over convenience. The Honda Civic Si comes standard with a six-speed manual—there is no automatic option. The Hyundai Elantra N pairs its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic, giving buyers a genuine choice. The Volkswagen Golf GTI continues to offer a six-speed manual alongside its DSG dual-clutch option.
These models survive with manuals because their buyers demand them. Pull the clutch pedal from a Civic Si, and you’ve arguably removed the reason it exists. That’s a different calculus than a mainstream sedan, where most buyers never wanted a manual in the first place.
Performance Sedans: A Narrowing Field
The BMW M340i and the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing represent two different philosophies. The CT4-V Blackwing—Cadillac’s highest-performance compact sedan—offers a six-speed manual as standard, with the automatic as the option. It’s a rare case of a luxury performance brand making the manual the default. The M340i, meanwhile, pairs its inline-six with an eight-speed automatic only in most markets; the manual has been phased out of that model in recent configurations.
The broader performance sedan segment has largely moved on. Audi has eliminated manual transmissions from its lineup entirely, leaning on its S tronic dual-clutch and torque-converter automatics. Mercedes-Benz no longer offers a manual in any AMG model. Lamborghini, which once offered a gated manual in cars like the Gallardo, now builds exclusively around dual-clutch automatics.
Why Automakers Are Killing The Manual—And What A Few Are Saying To Keep It Alive
The business case against the manual is straightforward. Modern dual-clutch and torque-converter automatics shift faster, return better fuel economy figures for regulatory compliance, and are preferred by the majority of new-car buyers. As electrification accelerates—with the IEA projecting nearly one-in-three cars sold globally in 2026 will be electric—the manual becomes even harder to justify. Electric motors don’t use multi-speed gearboxes at all.
The brands still committing to the manual are doing so as a deliberate enthusiast signal, not because it makes financial sense. Porsche and BMW M are the clearest examples: both have framed manual availability as a brand value, something that differentiates them from the broader market. Honda’s approach with the Civic Si is similar—the manual is the product, not an option on it.
For buyers who want a stick shift in a new car right now, the practical advice is simple: don’t wait. The 2026 model year offers more choices than 2028 likely will. The Civic Si, Elantra N, Golf GTI, 911 Carrera, M2, and CT4-V Blackwing are all worth serious consideration before the list gets any shorter.
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