Eight Commuter Cars That Are Available With a Manual Transmission
Manual transmission cars are almost going the way of the dinosaur, thanks to the fact that manufacturers aren’t offering them as much and only 18 percent of Americans can drive a manual.
It makes sense, considering electric and hybrid cars are on the rise and millennials don’t have much interest in driving. However, some cars are still available with a manual transmission, in case you’re still interested, here are eight of them.
Chevrolet Spark
The Chevrolet Spark is currently the lowest-priced new car on the market today. And luckily, if you like to drive stick, you can get a manual transmission in all trim levels for the Spark. That means you can get all the safety and entertainment features that you can shake a stick at!
Honda Accord
Being mature and having fun at the same time is a lot like having your cake and eating it, too. With the Honda Accord, you can mash your face right into that cake as it’s available with a six-speed manual on the not only the lower trim levels but also on the powerful 2.0T Sport.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic offers a manual transmission in a lot of different trims including the Sport, Si, Type R, and even the top-trim Sport Touring hatchback model. It’s safe to say that Honda knows how to be sporty and fun while remaining fuel-efficient.
Hyundai Accent
The 2020 Hyundai Accent is available with six gears and three pedals, but you have to choose the base model to get it. The mid-level SEL and top-trim Limited are only available in automatic form.
Kia Forte GT
Much like the Honda Civic, the Kia Forte is offered with a six-speed manual in the lowest FE trim, but also the highest GT trim level. All other trim levels are offered with a CVT or 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Mazda3
The 2020 Mazda3 can still be purchased with a manual transmission. Interestingly enough, it’s not on the base model, but it’s actually on the top-level Premium package for the hatchback variant and only available in front-wheel drive. If you want a sedan, all-wheel drive, or either of two other packages, then you will have to settle for an automatic.
Toyota Yaris
For 2020, the Toyota Yaris is offered in hatchback and sedan form and an automatic is standard for both. However, if you want a six-speed manual, you’ll just have to choose a sedan in the lower trim levels to get it.
Volkswagen Jetta
The 2020 Volkswagen Jetta is available with a manual transmission, but like most compact sedans, it’s only on the base S trim. Those looking for something sportier can still row their own gears on the Jetta GLI, however. That’s probably the direction that we would recommend, anyway.
Select your car, select your gears
The manual transmission might be on the way out, but it’s holding on to every gear it can in each of these cars, as well as many others that we didn’t list. While stop-and-go traffic is on the incline and learning to drive stick is on the decline, we can at least take comfort knowing that in 2020, some manufacturers are doing what they can to save the manuals.