Fewer and fewer new cars are available with a manual gearbox.
Only a few years ago, most new cars had at least the option of a manual gearbox. Now, the pool is shrinking and many cars are auto-only. Thankfully, there are still some great choices if you want to shift gears yourself. Hashtag savethemanuals. Here are the best manual cars you should buy now.
Mazda MX-5
Nimble and featherweight, the Mazda MX-5 is one of the last cars to offer a truly involving driving experience. With modestly powered engines, a key part of the MX-5’s appeal is going up and down the gearbox to keep the car in its power band when you’re driving it fast. The car starts to feel alive as soon as you turn it on, the manual gearshifter lightly vibrating as if it can’t wait to get going.
Shop used Mazda MX-5 cars for sale or read our Mazda MX-5 review
Honda Civic Type R
The Honda Civic Type R has now shuffled into retirement – too soon for our liking. It’s a staggering representation of Honda’s unshakeable engineering passion, and the changes are wide-ranging. The Type R is the only Civic to get a manual gearbox – the standard car is a hybrid with a CVT gearbox – and it’s one of the all-time greats. Such a precise, rewarding action, and perfectly weighted. Just remember that the gorgeous aluminium shift knob will be freezing cold in winter and like a ball of lava in a heatwave.
Ford Focus ST
Another hot hatch that’s just been discontinued, the Ford Focus ST is a truly exciting drive. It mixes all the modern tech we expect with a pleasingly old-school driving experience, with a crisp manual gearshift and an eager engine. The Focus almost feels like a touring car, and it never wants to settle down and drive slowly. Instead, it eggs you to drive like an excitable teenager.
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Toyota GR Yaris
You might remember the numerous rally cars for the road that you could buy in the 1990s. Carmakers had to produce a certain number of road-going cars in order to race a particular model, which gave us high-power versions of the Mitsubishi Lancer, Subaru Impreza and Toyota Celica. That isn’t really a thing any more, except in the case of the Toyota GR Yaris. Its interior is largely carried over from the regular Yaris, but barely anything else is: the three-door body style is unique, there’s a load of weight reduction measures and you get a menacing body kit. The looks are backed up by incredible performance: the GR Yaris hits 0-62mph in just 5.5 seconds, thanks to a wildly powerful engine and four-wheel drive.
Shop used Toyota GR Yaris cars for sale or read our Toyota GR Yaris review
SEAT Ibiza
If you can’t justify something expensive and extremely powerful, it’s reassuring to know that there are some great affordable cars with manual gearbox. One of our favourites is the SEAT Ibiza, which has a bit more driving sparkle than the Volkswagen Polo it’s based on. The manual gearshift is weighty and precise, so it’s a highlight whether you’re just driving normally or flicking the SEAT through a twisty B-road.
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Ford Kuga
You don’t need a Fiesta ST or Focus ST to get a fun-to-drive Ford. Even the Puma and Kuga SUVs have keen handling and a similarly satisfying gearshift. On the off chance you want a family SUV that drives entertainingly, the Kuga should be top of your shopping list. Its spacious rear seats, useful boot, simple interior and affordable running costs make it a great all-rounder. You can pick an eager petrol engine or a long-legged diesel engine with the manual gearbox.
Shop used Ford Kuga cars for sale or read our Ford Kuga review
Suzuki Swift Sport
The Suzuki Swift Sport is a cheeky thing that mixes lightweight handling fun with excellent fuel consumption. Like the MX-5, you’ll be working the gearbox to keep the pace up on a challenging road, and the Swift Sport feels like it’s having as much fun as you are. A host of red accents jazz up the interior, and the Swift has a strong reputation for reliability.
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Mini Hatchback
A manual gearbox was a massive part of the Mini’s repertoire until recently – the Mini Hatchback even bowed out with a ‘1 to 6’ edition of the John Cooper Works performance model to celebrate it. You can enjoy the Mini’s premium experience and slick manual gearbox at every performance level on a used Hatchback, be it the Mini One, Cooper, Cooper S or the range-topping JCW. Even the lower-powered ones are excellent, and you might even prefer having a smaller, lighter engine that needs a lot of gear changes.
Shop used Mini Hatchback cars for sale or read our Mini Hatchback review
Mazda 3
Like Ford, Mazda offers its delightful manual gearbox across the majority of its models – even more family-focused options like the CX-30. We’ve picked the Mazda 3 for this list because its lower centre of gravity makes it more engaging than the SUVs. And, of course, the Mazda 3 is a sublime-looking thing that you’ll love looking at on your driveway everyday.
Shop used Mazda 3 cars for sale or read our Mazda 3 review
Porsche Boxster
We couldn’t compile a list of great manual cars without featuring Porsche. While the Porsche 911 is now only available with a manual gearbox in one dedicated trim level, the smaller Boxster can be ordered with a manual across the range – from the basic one to the 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six GTS.
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