These are my favourite new cars with manual gearboxes

The manual gearbox is becoming something of a novelty in 2025, with more and more drivers opting for automatics instead. According to Motoring Research, one in three cars on the road are now autos, a 118% increase compared to 10 years ago.

Now I’m not going to go on a rant about how manuals are superior and start directing hate towards anyone who drives automatic – I find this rhetoric in car enthusiast circles incredibly cringeworthy.

Every day when I head to work I climb aboard my electric Volvo EX30 and relax in the knowledge that my left leg isn’t going to get a workout as soon as I hit London Traffic. That said, I do still really enjoy driving a manual, and as long as I’m fortunate enough to have a weekend car I’ll have something with three pedals.

But your choices of new cars with a manual gearbox are getting few and far between. Brands like BMW, Volvo and Mercedes no longer offer any manual models, and even hot hatches like the Volkswagen Golf GTI are now auto only.

There are still a few new manuals out there though, and these are five of my favourites.

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1. Mazda MX-5
2. BMW M2
3. Volkswagen T-Cross
4. Toyota GR Yaris
5. Suzuki Swift

1. Mazda MX-5

Kicking off with possibly the most obvious choice when you’re after weekend fun, the Mazda MX-5 is so good that I actually bought one. Granted, mine was the previous-generation NC model, but the latest one is even nicer to drive.

That six-speed manual is renowned for its short throw and precise action, and the clutch is lovely as well. Nothing beats the feeling of hitting a twisty road with the roof down on a sunny day and chucking a lightweight sports car into some bends while rowing up and down the gears.

2. BMW M2

The BMW M2 is pretty much the only flagship German sports coupe which you can still get with a manual gearbox, and when I tested the manual and automatic versions back-to-back I decided that the former was more my style.

Not because it’s the best manual out there – it feels a bit rubbery – but because it adds a layer of involvement which makes it more fun to chuck about when you’re not driving on the limit. And that’s where you spend most of your time in the M2, because if you get anywhere near this car’s limit then you’ll quickly catch the attention of a passing police officer.

3. Volkswagen T-Cross

It’s not just fun, sporty cars on this list, I also love a small, cheap manual car. The Volkswagen T-Cross is a really charming little SUV, and you can get it in a bright shade called “Rubber Ducky Yellow”. What’s not to like?

I’d have the 115hp petrol in Match trim, because it offers the best value for money. You get a reversing camera, keyless entry and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, all wrapped up in a spacious cabin.

4. Toyota GR Yaris

I love a hot hatch, and I used to own a 2017 Ford Fiesta ST. These days if you’re after a new small hot hatch with three pedals, the Toyota GR Yaris is your only option. Luckily, it’s a very good one.

It was a riot to chuck this car down the Bedfordshire country roads near our base, with the four-wheel drive system providing seemingly endless grip, even in wet autumnal conditions. It’s quite expensive though, with prices starting from £46,045.

5. Suzuki Swift

This may seem like an odd choice, but I actually lived with a Suzuki Swift for six months and I fell for its simple charms. It’s not pretending to be anything fancy or luxurious, it’s just an affordable small car with loads of standard equipment.

It was also insanely economical, averaging 60mph during six months and around 4,000 miles of driving. The Swift is also great fun to drive thanks to its low weight and sweet steering. It was one of my favourite long-term test cars.

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