Volkswagen is dropping the Jetta GLI manual for 2027, which leaves the list of new vehicles with a clutch pedal shorter again. Even so, a surprising mix of sports cars, off-roaders and a pickup can still be ordered with a stick for the 2026 model year. Here are eleven that keep the third pedal alive.
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1. Ford Mustang: Six Gears Standard
Ford sells the Mustang with a six-speed manual on both the GT and the Dark Horse, as listed on Motor1’s Mustang page, which keeps a clutch pedal in the lineup for V8 buyers who want one.
Anyone shopping the seventh-generation coupe for a manual should confirm the trim first, since the stick is tied to those two performance versions rather than offered across the whole range. It remains one of the more approachable ways to buy a rear-drive manual from a domestic brand.
2. Jeep Wrangler: The V6 Stick
Jeep lists a six-speed manual for the Wrangler, but only when the vehicle is ordered with the 3.6-liter V6, according to the Motor1 Wrangler entry.
Buyers who prefer to shift themselves therefore have a single engine choice, and the other powertrains are off the table for them. The pairing suits the trail-focused character of the SUV, though it narrows the configuration options compared with the automatic-only choices elsewhere in the lineup. Checking the build sheet before ordering avoids surprises at delivery.
3. Subaru BRZ: Light and Rear-Drive
Subaru still offers the BRZ with a six-speed manual, and the Motor1 BRZ overview lists it as part of the current lineup.
The coupe is one of the few affordable sports cars where the stick remains an everyday option instead of a special order. For shoppers comparing small rear-drive models, that availability matters, because several rivals have dropped the third pedal and left enthusiasts with fewer ways to buy one new. That is a short but meaningful list of cars to check before visiting a dealer.
4. Toyota GR Corolla: Hot Hatch With a Choice
Toyota gives the GR Corolla a six-speed manual, with an eight-speed automatic also available, as the Motor1 GR Corolla page shows.
The two-gearbox arrangement means the hot hatchback can serve both purists and buyers who sometimes face heavy traffic. Those choosing the manual get a car that keeps its engagement front and center, while the automatic option widens the appeal for households that share driving duties among several people. That flexibility is unusual in a segment where performance cars often force a single choice.
5. Mazda MX-5 Miata: The Benchmark Roadster
Mazda pairs the roadster with a six-speed manual, and an automatic is also offered, according to the Motor1 Miata listing.
The Miata has long stood for the idea that a small open car is more fun when the driver does the shifting. Buyers who want that experience can still order it new, and those who prefer an automatic can have one without leaving the model altogether. Few new cars make that case as plainly, and the pairing remains a reference point for enthusiasts.
6. Ford Bronco: Seven Speeds Off-Road
Ford offers a seven-speed manual in the Bronco on the Base, Big Bend, Badlands and Heritage trims when paired with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost, per the Motor1 Bronco overview.
That limits the stick to a specific engine and a defined set of trims, so buyers eyeing other versions will need to look at automatic-equipped examples. For off-road shoppers who want direct control over low-speed crawling, the manual remains a real option from the factory.
7. Toyota GR86: Twin to the BRZ
Toyota builds the GR86 with a six-speed manual, as noted on the Motor1 GR86 page.
The coupe shares its basic architecture and character with the Subaru BRZ, and the manual is a major part of its appeal to enthusiasts. Shoppers cross-shopping the two cars will find the stick available on both, so the decision tends to come down to styling, dealer experience and personal preference. Owners who intend to keep the car for years often value that connection more than outright speed.
8. Subaru WRX: Rally Roots, Three Pedals
Subaru continues to sell the WRX with a six-speed manual, according to the Motor1 WRX entry.
The sport sedan carries a motorsport heritage that makes the manual feel appropriate rather than nostalgic. Buyers who want a practical four-door and a clutch pedal in the same car have few alternatives, which keeps the WRX a frequent stop for enthusiasts who still prefer to shift for themselves. The combination also gives the lineup a clear identity at a time when manuals are becoming scarcer.
9. Toyota Tacoma: A Rare Pickup Stick
Toyota still lists a manual for the Tacoma, and the transmission accounts for about 1 percent of sales, as reported in the Motor1 Tacoma page.
That share is tiny, yet the option remains on the order sheet for the 2026 model year. Truck buyers who want a manual should expect to special-order or hunt for one, because dealer inventory is more likely to be dominated by automatic-equipped pickups than by the rare stick-shift version.
10. Mazda3: Hatchback Only
Mazda offers the Mazda3 with a six-speed manual, but only in the hatchback body style, according to the Motor1 Mazda3 listing.
Sedan shoppers who want to shift themselves are out of luck, so the choice of body shape decides whether the manual is on the table at all. The restriction makes the hatchback the clear pick for anyone who values both a clutch pedal and a compact, practical cabin. Dealers may stock few of them, so ordering ahead can save time.
11. Nissan Z: Z With a Clutch
Nissan sells the Z with a six-speed manual on both the base model and the Z Nismo, as covered in a Motor1 manual Z Nismo review.
Offering the stick across two levels of the coupe gives buyers a choice between a more restrained version and the performance-tuned Nismo. The review that Motor1 published is devoted to the manual Nismo, a sign of how much attention the gearbox still draws among enthusiasts.
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