Driving a manual transmission might just be a novelty to some, but it is still enjoyable to a handful of people. You might be surprised to learn that there are still some manual transmission cars in production today, and they aren’t just sports cars. There are even a few SUV options you can get with a stick shift, and they aren’t just fun to drive, they are also reliable.

2020 Subaru Crosstrek

There were only two cars that made the Consumer Reports list for SUVs that have manual transmissions this year but were also reliable. The first one on the list was the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek, and we aren’t disappointed. The Crosstrek is affordable, sporty, and can take you anywhere you want to go on the road or off. You can buy the base model for around $22,145 and prices range up to only $35,145.

It is also ranked #1 for the Consumer Reports list of subcompact SUVs. The six-speed manual transmission option pairs with all-wheel drive enjoyable drives around town to your daily destination or a thrilling off-road adventure.

The base model that includes the manual transmission doesn’t offer a hybrid option like some of the higher trim levels. It does, however, have a modest 2.0L 4-cylinder engine under the hood that produces 152hp – definitely not going to make the list for best-performance SUVs.

The main complaints about the Crosstrek have been related to road noise due to lack of insulation, but there haven’t been any major recalls or customer reports of majorly concerning problems.

2020 Honda HR-V

The second SUV on the list is the 2020 Honda HR-V, one of the most underrated subcompact SUVs of the year. When thinking of Honda SUVs, most people focus on the family-oriented CR-V, but the HR-V has just as much to offer, and even something more – a reliable manual transmission.

This year’s HR-V runs around the same price point as the Crosstrek, starting around $20,820 and ending at $28,890 but it doesn’t get the same great ratings as the Crosstrek.

There were many more concerns for the HR-V than there were for the Crosstrek, though none of them affected reliability. Front seat comfort is reportedly lacking, and while they aren’t the worst front seats out there they aren’t the comfort level you’d expect from a family-oriented SUV.

Other issues with the HR-V included too much road noise and poor ride quality that was expected to leave customers mildly dissatisfied.

Regardless of comfort issues, both the Crosstrek and the HR-V have had several generations to prove their reliability, and there have been no reported recalls or problems for the new model years. Combined with a low price tag, these manual transmission SUVs are keeping the stick-shift dream alive.