The automotive landscape gets bleaker every year for manual transmission fans, it seems. Budget cars with cheap manual-transmission base trims are nearly extinct, with automatic transmissions and continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) now much more common on Canada’s most affordable vehicles. Even some performance car we could once rely on have dropped their stickshifts entirely. Rowing your own gears has moved firmly into enthusiast territory, and they’re becoming more expensive to own.
If you’re wondering which vehicles still come with a manual transmission, take a look at the list below of the 10 cheapest manual cars you can buy in Canada in 2025. Although our list now approaches the $50,000 at its top end, that’s still not a high enough bar to include some cars such as the last remaining American muscle car, the Ford Mustang (which offers a manual transmission on its GT models only), or cars from German luxury brands including BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. There is one luxury vehicle on this list for the first time, though. Read on to find out which one makes the cut.
If you’re looking quality over price, check out this list of the best cars in Canada with a manual transmission in 2025.
Prices include manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) plus destination chargers and dealership fees but not options or taxes. While current at time of publication, pricing is subject to change.
The Cheapest Manual Cars You Can Still Buy in Canada
- Nissan Sentra
- Subaru BRZ
- Toyota GR86
- Subaru WRX
- Mazda3 Sport
- Volkswagen Jetta GLI
- Honda Civic Si
- Mazda MX-5
- Hyundai Elantra N
- Acura Integra
- Cars no longer available with a manual transmission
Nissan Sentra ($26,303)
The Nissan Sentra is the most affordable car with a manual transmission in Canada for the second year in a row. Nissan’s compact car is offered with a stick not only in its entry-level grade but also in the higher SR trim. We can attribute that to the Canada-only Nissan Sentra Cup, a homegrown car racing series that aims to position these compact sedans as sporty alternatives. In the cheapest version, the Nissan Sentra S comes with a six-speed manual to moderate the 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque from its 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, sent to front-wheel drive (FWD). This base model includes 16-inch steel wheels, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Subaru BRZ ($34,970)
It’s delightful that the pair of 2-plus-2 coupe collaborations between Toyota and Subaru remain affordable enough to make the top 3 on this list. Both are fun cars and offer a budget-friendly choice to enthusiasts who don’t need a ton of space. For Subaru’s part, the most affordable version of its BRZ with the six-speed manual transmission comes in at $34,970. It’s important to note, though, that choosing the manual in this or any Subaru means leaving some of the brand’s EyeSight suite of safety features on the table.
Toyota GR86 ($35,350)
Here’s the other half of the Toyobaru collaboration on 2+2 coupes, the Toyota GR86. Like the Subaru BRZ with which is shares many components, the GR86 optionally matches a six-speed manual transmission with a 2.4-litre engine with four horizontally opposed cylinders making 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque pushing to rear-wheel drive (RWD). And like the BRZ, you’ll need to give up some safety technologies to have three pedals, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and pre-collision braking.
Subaru WRX ($36,174)
When the new generations of the Subaru Impreza and Subaru Crosstrek crossover were released for 2024, both models lost their manual transmissions in exchange for more safety features. Fortunately, if you’re looking for three pedals and all-wheel drive (AWD), you can still find both in the Subaru WRX. Three versions of the WRX are offered with a manual transmission: the base trim, Sport, and Sport-Tech models. However, if you choose the manual on the WRX, you won’t be able to equip the EyeSight suite of safety features and driver assistance technologies. This information and pricing is based on the 2024 Subaru WRX, which carried a new car price of $36,174. (2025 pricing and equipment details have not yet been released as of this writing.)
Mazda3 Sport ($37,340) GT Only
Mazda has said openly that it expects to be the last brand on the planet to offer a manual transmission. That hasn’t kept Mazda from dropping stickshifts from certain products, though. The only version of the Mazda3 available with a clutch for 2025 is the Mazda3 Sport hatchback, and it’s only available on the GT trim where it’s standard equipment. However, if you want the Mazda3’s optional turbocharged engine or available all-wheel drive (AWD), you’ll need to drop the manual to get them. The 2025 Mazda3 Sport GT starts in Canada at $37,340.
Volkswagen Jetta GLI ($37,581)
Could anyone have predicted that the Volkswagen Jetta GLI would be the last product offered by the brand with a manual transmission? We expected the Golf GTI and Golf R might outlast it, but both those products lost their manuals at the end of 2024. The standard Jetta also no longer comes with a stick. This leaves the Jetta GLI as the sole holdout with its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. You can opt for a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission with this warm sedan. Pricing on the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI starts in Canada at $37,581.
Honda Civic Si ($38,066)
As of 2025, there are only two versions of the Honda Civic that can be bought with a manual transmission. The sedan lost this option a while ago, and the hatchback no longer offers it as of 2025. Now, Honda’s six-speed manual is relegated to the more expensive Civic Type R and this more affordable version, the Civic Si. With it, you’ll get a 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder engine producing 200 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque, plus a rev-matching system, a helical limited-slip differential, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a suite of performance-enhancing technologies. The 2025 Honda Civic Si is priced in Canada at $38,066.
Mazda MX-5 ($38,182)
Few cars create a joyful driving experience as well as the Mazda MX-5. And for stick shift enthusiasts, it’s a breath of fresh air: a 6-speed remains standard on all trim levels, no matter whether you choose the soft top or the MX-5 RF hard top. In either case, you get Mazda’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque, sent to rear-wheel drive (RWD). With go-kart handling and a great power-to-weight ratio for the price, the Mazda MX-5 Miata remains one of the best driving entertainment values you’ll find in a sports car. The 2025 Mazda MX-5 has a Canadian starting price of $38,182.
Hyundai Elantra N ($42,759)
A series of attrition among lower-priced manual cars has brought the 2025 Hyundai Elantra N onto our list of the most affordable cars with manual transmissions. As far as legitimate track-ready chops go, the Elantra N is the real deal. The 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine generates up to 276 hp (or 286 hp with the boost from NGS mode) and 289 lb-ft of torque. Add in the electronically controlled suspension, electronic limited-slip differential, 19-inch wheels with high-performance summer tires, and an extensive suite of performance pages in the infotainment system, and the Elantra N is one of the most race-ready cars you can buy out of the box, especially at this price point. The 2025 Hyundai Elantra N is priced in Canada at $42,759.
Acura Integra ($48,102) Elite A-Spec
To round out our list of the 10 most affordable manual-shifting cars in Canada, we have an entry from a luxury brand for the first time. The Acura Integra adds upgrades to the Honda Civic with which it shares much in common, including its powertrain. The 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder engine making 200 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque is the same used in the Honda Civic Si. To get a manual transmission in an Acura Integra in 2025, you’ll need to opt for the top Elite A-Spec trim, where the six-speed is available at the same price as the CVT. It also comes with rev matching and a limited-slip differential. The 2025 Acura Integra Elite A-Spec MT is priced in Canada at $48,102.
Cars no longer available with a manual transmission
There’s a long list of cars in Canada that are no longer available with a manual transmission. These include the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, Subaru Impreza, and the subcompact Nissan Versa. 2024 was the last model year for Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R with manual transmissions. Both the Honda Civic sedan and hatchback have also lost their manual options.
Some cars that once offered manual transmissions but have been discontinued entirely include the Mitsubishi Mirage, Chevrolet Camaro, Kia Rio, and Kia Forte.
Note: While we update prices on a regular basis, they are still subject to change and should be independently verified.