For years many people have begun to realize that the manual transmission is dying out. Since the introduction and success of the hydramatic transmission, the popularity of driving stick shift has slowly waned. Luckily for us, there are still plenty of cars being produced in 2021 with the option for a manual transmission, and some of them might even surprise you.

Manual daily drivers

If you want to spice up your daily commute, there are plenty of practical cars that you can enjoy shifting as you weave through morning traffic. Already popular options like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Subaru Impreza aren’t just affordable, you can also buy each of them brand new with the option for a true stick shift. While many drivers would consider these cars rather average and common, you’ll almost forget you’re driving a standard sedan because you’ll enjoy working the clutch so much.

Sportier options

Of course, if you love driving a sports car, you might be especially excited to see the lineup for options for 2021 that are just as reliable as they are enjoyable to drive. American favorites like the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger made the list, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The crowd favorites like the Hyundai Veloster and Mazda MX-5 were also high-ranking on that list, giving quite a variety of options and styles.

A manual transmission 2021 SUV?

You might even be surprised to hear that some SUVs are still being produced with the option for a manual transmission. As a subcompact SUV, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek takes the lead with the option for a third pedal, and we can’t say we are disappointed. This SUV might sound underrated, but it can dominate an overlanding trail just as much as it will your daily commute, making it the option you shouldn’t overlook.

According to Consumer Reports, these are some of the most reliable options for a buying a 2021 model year with a manual transmission, but this list only tips the iceberg of what cars are out there with that spunky stick shift. While consumers have quickly shifted to the ease and comfort of having an automatic transmission, it isn’t a novelty that the rest of us have left behind. In fact, in some sports cars and collector cars, having the option for a manual transmission makes them even more desirable, even if it doesn’t necessarily increase the value.

For us, really, we are just happy to see that the manual transmission is still alive and well going into this year’s latest models. These manufacturers have done their part to step into the spotlight and show that they aren’t giving over to the ways of the automatic quite yet. Though, you can also buy all of the vehicles listed above with an automatic transmission as well, of course.