As we make our way through another year, it’s largely the same old story. The manual transmission is slowly dying out, with few automakers hanging on to the third pedal across their lineups.
Fortunately, the manual transmission is clinging to life, as enthusiasts clamor for it to stick around. Some manufacturers still offer them to curry favor with those fickle few of us who want an alternative to modern automatics and CVTs, even while the latter are more fuel efficient (and in an increasing number of cases, modern automatics are faster).
If you’re one of those folks who yearn to shift your own gears, there is more hope in the 2021 Ford Bronco. The resurrected SUV competes head-to-head with the Jeep Wrangler, which also offers a manual option, and there’s actually a use case for it to achieve the best possible crawl ratios when you’re going off-road. Die-hard enthusiast cars, like the Porsche 718, as well as some economy-minded cars still offer a manual transmission. So, if having that clutch pedal is a requirement for your next car, here is every 2021 model where you can actually get it.
One area the manual transmission has pretty much died off entirely is trucks. The Toyota Tacoma and Jeep Gladiator are the only models that still offer a row-your-own option, and even then it’s only in certain configurations.
As we near the model year change, this list covers 2021 car and SUV models we know will have a manual transmission. If news breaks of a new model offering a manual (or, more likely, an automaker killing one off, as is the case with Genesis after 2021), we’ll post updates below.
2021 Cars and SUVS With A Manual Transmission
| Make/Model (Body style) | Gears | Trim levels (all unless specified) |
|---|---|---|
| Aston Martin Vantage | 7 | |
| BMW 2 Series (Coupe/Convertible) | 6 | Coupe: 230i (RWD); M240i (RWD) Convertible: M240i (RWD) |
| BMW M2 Competition | 6 | Standard (dual-clutch opt.) |
| BMW M3 | 6 | |
| BMW M4 | 6 | |
| Cadillac CT4-V | 6 | Blackwing model only |
| Cadillac CT5-V | 6 | Blackwing model only |
| Chevrolet Spark | 5 | |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 6 | |
| Dodge Challenger | 6 | All V8 models except the Hellcat Redeye |
| Fiat 124 Spider* | 6 | Discontinued in 2021; you can still buy carryover 2020 models |
| Ford Bronco | 7 | w/ 2.3L EcoBoost only |
| Ford Mustang* | 6 | All trims except the Shelby GT500 |
| Genesis G70 | 6 | 2.0L I-4 RWD only |
| Honda Civic | 6 | Sport (Hatch), Sport Touring Hatch, Type R (no 2021 Coupe/Si models) |
| Hyundai Accent | 6 | SE |
| Hyundai Elantra | 6 | N Line, Elantra N (coming soon) |
| Hyundai Veloster | 6 | 2.0 (Base), Turbo R-Spec, N |
| Jeep Wrangler | 6 | V6 models only |
| Kia Forte | 6 | FE, GT |
| Kia Soul | 6 | LX |
| Lotus Evora GT | 6 | |
| Mazda3 | 6 | Hatchback (FWD) w/ Premium Package |
| MX-5 Miata | 6 | Soft-top and RF |
| Mini Hardtop/Convertible | 6 | Cooper/Cooper S, JCW (will be available again in 2021) |
| Mini Clubman | 6 | Cooper S (FWD) only |
| Mini Countryman | 6 | Cooper (FWD) only |
| Mitsubishi Mirage/G4 | 5 | Refreshed for 2021 (same 1.2L engine) |
| Nissan 370Z* | 6 | 2020 model year carryover; new “400Z” coming in 2021 |
| Nissan Versa | 5 | S only |
| Porsche 718 Boxster/Cayman | 6 | |
| Porsche 911 | 7 | Targa 4S only |
| Subaru BRZ | 6 | The new 2022 BRZ is still available with a manual |
| Subaru Crosstrek | 6 | Base, Premium only |
| Subaru Impreza | 5 | Base hatch, sedan only |
| Subaru WRX/STI | 6 | |
| Toyota 86* | 6 | A new 86 may arrive in 2021 |
| Toyota Corolla | 6 | Sedan: SE, Apex Edition (limited run) Hatchback: SE, XSE |
| Volkswagen Golf GTI | 6 | The Mk8 should arrive later this year |
| Volkswagen Jetta/GLI | 6 | S, R-Line, GLI |
*Based on 2020 model information; updated 2021 models could lose their manual options.
7/28/2020 Update: Added Aston Martin Vantage.
Notable deaths
While performance cars have been a bastion for the manual transmission, that may not be the case in the next few years. Cars like the Chevrolet Corvette C8 and Jaguar F-Type have dropped their three-pedal options entirely. Others are hanging on by a thread, as we don’t yet know whether the replacement for the current-generation Nissan 370Z or the Chevrolet Camaro (if there is one) will still have a manual option.
