The best manual transmission cars for 2024 [Video]

(iSeeCars) – The manual transmission has gone from a dominant drivetrain feature across the automotive industry 100 years ago to a genuine rarity in today’s new car market. While operating a manual gearbox is universally seen as a more sporty and engaging driving experience, the harsh reality is that most drivers don’t want to bother with shifting gears. This is especially true in the modern world, with current automatic transmissions consistently outperforming manuals in both acceleration and fuel efficiency.

With so few buyers interested in manual transmissions, automakers have almost completely abandoned them in recent model years. But you can still find three-pedal configurations on the base model of entry-level economy cars like the Mazda 3, Mini Cooper, Nissan Versa and Volkswagen Jetta. They are also widely available on “hot hatchback” trim levels, in cars like the Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai Elantra N and Veloster, or Volkswagen Golf GTI …