There’s no denying that manual cars are slowly becoming etched in automotive history, with more brands doubling down on automatic transmissions as market demand for the classic stick shift has continued to decline.
There were 32,642 manual cars sold in Australia last year – 29,929 of which were passenger cars such as sedans, hatches and SUVs, and a further 2713 were utes.
By comparison, more than 1.2 million automatic models found their way to new driveways across the country in 2024, and it looks as though we could be at the end of the manual chapter in automotive history.
But it’s not just legacy brands that are starting to phase out the manual gearbox. In a market like Australia, which is growing exponentially due to the influx of new brands, a wave of Chinese electric car brands is coming to the land down under in droves.
And while stick shifts have been a favourite among Aussie drivers for decades, the rise of EVs in the Australian market is also putting a nail in the manual's coffin, with battery-powered cars not requiring a manual gearbox to function.
But can you still buy a manual in Australia in 2025? To lend a helping hand, Drive has compiled a list of all passenger cars that have a manual option.
Disclaimer: The prices listed in this article are based on the latest data for Model Year (MY) 24, 25 and 26 stock. Pricing does not include on-road costs.
First on the list is German luxury car maker BMW, which offers the manual gearbox in three distinct models from its ‘M’ performance division.
The BMW M2 manual variant starts from approximately $127,300, while a manual BMW M3 comes with a starting retail sticker of $168,300. Additionally, the BMW M4 coupe is the most expensive out of the bunch, costing customers at least $173,300.
Though the brand said it would keep the manual transmission alive in January 2024, it backflipped on its stance just weeks later.
As reported by Drive in February last year, comments from BMW’s Board of Management member Frank Weber – originally reported by Italian motoring outlet Quattroruote – suggested the brand is starting a doomsday clock for its manual cars amid shifting consumer demand.
"It’s over. We have customers who travel 25–30,000km a year and don’t want to stand in traffic changing gear,” Weber told Quattroruote.
“There are fun products, but let’s be honest, the volumes are getting smaller and smaller. And so, it doesn’t make sense to develop them anymore. If you want a manual M, you have to buy it now,” the BMW executive previously said.
While Ford bid goodbye to the manual gearbox in its best-selling model – the Ranger ute – in 2023, the blue oval has retained it in only one model. As of 2025, those looking for a stick shift from Ford only have the option of a Ford Mustang GT. But it won’t come cheap.
The rear-wheel-drive coupe starts from $83,990 and features a six-speed manual gearbox and is powered by a 5.0-litre V8 engine, which Ford claims has a maximum power output of 345kW/550Nm.
In a September 2024 interview at the launch of the seventh-generation Mustang, Ford’s global chief engineer for the Ford Mustang Laurie Transou said the manual gearbox will be retained in the sports car’s lineage as long as there is consumer demand.
“The pure enthusiasts love the manual transmission, so we [continue] to offer it. As long as our customers are desiring manual transmission and there’s a market for it, we would continue to offer a manual transmission,” Transou previously told Australian media, including Drive.
South Korean manufacturer Hyundai has retained the stick shift in numerous models in Australia.
Its pint-sized hatchbacks – in the i20 and i30 – feature manual variants, though the gearbox is exclusively reserved for the car maker’s performance N-line variants. The Hyundai i20 N is available with two manual transmission options priced from $37,500 to $38,500.
Meanwhile, the i30 N – which comes as a hatch or sedan – features three manual gearboxes on its N-line variants. The cheapest manual variant is the base-spec i30 N hatchback, which starts from $50,000.
Additionally, a manual i30 N Premium sedan will cost an extra $3000 (from $53,000), while the flagship i30 N Premium hatch comes with a starting $53,500 retail sticker.
Those wanting a manual SUV could consider the Hyundai Venue – the brand’s smallest SUV – which starts from approximately $23,000.
As exclusively reported by Drive in September 2025, Hyundai could axe the manual transmission amid its decision to launch a hybrid variant of the i20 N by the end of the decade.
Though the brand's local arm has yet to officially confirm whether the next-generation hybrid i20 N – due to arrive in European showrooms by 2026 – is coming to Australia, the decision to focus on a petrol-electric powertrain could come at the cost of the manual gearbox.
While few car makers have developed a hybrid system with three pedals – which requires the car’s computers to switch between petrol and electric automatically without a human or clutch getting in the way – it’s believed Hyundai will not be one of these brands.
While we’re on the topic of pint-sized cars, Hyundai’s sister brand Kia only offers a manual in one model, the Picanto hatch.
However, the gearbox is only available in two distinct variants.
The Picanto Sport (from $19,190 before on-road costs) features a four-speed gearbox, while a five-speed gearbox can be found in the GT-line variant, which starts from approximately $20,990, not including on-road fees.
Mazda is another brand that has mostly phased out the manual gearbox in Australia, with only one model left featuring the stick shift.
But it’s not all bad news for petrol heads, as the Japanese marque continues to offer a manual transmission in its MX-5 coupe, with the famous sports car retaining it on at least five rear-wheel-drive variants.
The base-spec Mazda MX-5 G20 starts from $42,140, while one trim up would see customers pay an additional $6650 for the MX-5 G20 GT (from $48,790).
Additionally, the Mazda MX-5 GT RS coupe is priced from $51,790, while the MX-5 G20 GT convertible is slightly more expensive, starting from approximately $53,290. Those wanting to buy the flagship Mazda MX-5 GT RS convertible can expect to pay at least $56,290.
Mitsubishi has retained the manual gearbox in its Triton ute range, though the stick shift is only featured on the three Triton GLX variants.
The Mitsubishi Triton range opens with the entry-level GLX 4x2 single cab, which is priced from $34,740. The next manual variant is the GLX four-wheel-drive, which comes with a starting retail sticker of $42,090.
New-car buyers considering a manual Triton GLX double-cab can expect to pay at least $47,740 for the ute.
The manual gearbox is alive and well in the four-wheel-drive Nissan Navara dual-cab ute range in Australia.
The transmission is featured on four distinct dual-cab ute variants, which start from $48,228 for the Navara SL. One grade up is the Navara ST, which uses a six-speed manual gearbox and is priced from $53,333.
Meanwhile, the Nissan Navara ST-X comes with a retail sticker of $56,823, while the Navara Pro-4X manual will cost potential buyers at least $59,783.
Drivers looking to go all out for a manual Navara can expect a starting bill of $69,143 for the flagship Navara Pro-4X Warrior.
But if utes aren’t to your taste, Nissan is still catering to the car enthusiast community. The Japanese car maker has retained the manual gearbox in its entry-level Nissan Z coupe, which starts from $76,160.
The Nissan Z is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine – either in six-speed manual or nine-speed automatic form – with Nissan claiming the car has a total 298kW/475Nm.
Additionally, Nissan has hinted at launching a new Z variant under ‘Nismo’, the brand’s performance and motorsport division. If you want to know all about it, visit our previous story here.
When you’re in the business for performance and the ultimate driving experience, it’s no wonder Porsche continues to offer manual variants across different models in Australia.
As of 2025, Porsche features the manual gearbox in two models: the 718 and 911. For the Porsche 718 siblings – in the Cayman coupe and Boxster convertible – the price of entry starts at $131,400 for the base-spec Cayman manual.
Meanwhile, one grade up is the entry-level 718 Boxster convertible, which starts from $134,000, while an extra $1500 can see you get you the 718 Cayman Style Edition (from $135,600).
The mid-spec 718 Boxster Style Edition starts from $138,200, and one grade up is the 718 Cayman S (from $157,500).
Additionally, the Porsche 718 Boxster S convertible will set customers back $160,000 before on-road costs. Throw in an extra $33,800, and you can buy the 718 Cayman GTS coupe (from $193,800).
The manual Porsche 718 range tops out at the flagship 718 Boxster GTS convertible, which costs a cool $196,400.
If the 718 isn’t your cup of tea, don’t be disheartened, as Porsche Australia also features the manual gearbox in three variants of its iconic 911 sports coupe.
The 911 manual line-up opens with the base-spec 911 Carrera T coupe, which starts from $318,000. Meanwhile, its convertible sibling will cost prospective buyers an extra $23,100, with the car priced from $341,100, not including on-road fees.
One trim up is the manual Porsche 911 GT3 992 and the 911 GT3 992 with Touring Package, with the cars each costing a whopping $448,100.
Surprisingly, French brand Renault has launched its newest car with a manual transmission – the Duster SUV.
The four-wheel-drive SUV comes in two distinct manual variants: the base-spec Duster Evolution (priced from $36,490 plus on-roads) and the flagship Duster Techno, which starts from $37,990.
Subaru continues to show love for its car community by retaining the manual transmission in its illustrious WRX sports car.
The Japanese car maker features the stick shift in three four-wheel-drive WRX sedan variants: the entry-level WRX (from $48,190), the mid-spec WRX RS (from $55,990) and the flagship WRX tS Spec B, which will set customers back at least $61,490.
As reported by Drive in March this year, the top-spec tS Spec B is the first WRX to feature adaptive suspension and drive mode options on a manual transmission – previously reserved for automatic variants only – an Australian-first for Subaru.
Additionally, Subaru also offers stick shifts in its rear-wheel-drive BRZ coupe, with prices starting from $44,290 for the base-spec variant. The mid-trim BRZ S is priced from $45,590, while the range tops out at the BRZ tS (from $49,190).
While there’s a small pool of hatches left in Australia, it becomes even smaller when you’re looking for a manual. But Suzuki persists with the stick shift, offering the gearbox in its beloved Swift hatchback (priced from $24,990).
It has also retained the manual transmission in the beloved Jimny off-road SUV. Those wanting a manual Jimny can expect to pay at least $30,490 for the base-spec Jimny Lite.
Meanwhile, the mid-trim Jimny GLX is priced from $31,990, with the manual range topping out at the four-door Jimny XL (from $34,990).
Australia’s favourite brand, Toyota, offers a whopping 19 manual variants across its line-up. In the case of the Toyota HiLux – one of the top-selling models in Australia – the Japanese marque offers eight manual options across the ute range.
Prices start from $27,730 for the HiLux Workmate single-cab cab chassis and extend to the four-wheel-drive HiLux SR5 dual-cab (from $60,670).
Meanwhile, the Toyota LandCruiser range – which encompasses numerous SUV and ute variants – features five manual options.
For the 4WD LandCruiser SUV line-up, new car buyers have the option of three manual variants: the entry-level Workmate Troopcarrier (from $77,200), the mid-spec GXL (from $77,800) and the flagship GXL Troopcarrier (from $80,500).
Those opting for a manual LandCruiser ute have the choice of either the LandCruiser Workmate double-cab (from $77,300) or the LandCruiser GXL (from $81,500).
The Japanese marque has also retained the manual gearbox in a few of its performance-oriented GR hatches: the Corolla GR GTS (from $67,990), the Yaris GR GT (from $55,490) and the Yaris GR GTS (from $60,490).
Additionally, stick shifts are also featured on the Toyota GR86 coupe – which shares the same platform as the Subaru BRZ – with prices starting from $43,940 for the GR86 GT and extending to the GR86 GTS (from $46,090).
Finally, the brand’s HiAce commercial van also comes with a manual option, which costs $51,880, not including on-road fees.
Last but not least, German marque Volkswagen offers one manual car in Australia in the form of the Caddy commercial van.
The Volkswagen Caddy is available in four manual variants, with the range starting from $41,225 for the Caddy TSI220 SWB and extending to the Caddy TDI280 Maxi (from $45,225).
Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.
