Buyer’s Guide
19 Brand-New Manual Sports Cars Under $100,000 in 2026
The manual transmission has survived—and there are still compelling new cars for drivers who want three pedals, a proper shifter, and a real connection to the road.
Not long ago, enthusiasts were genuinely worried that the manual transmission would disappear. Instead, it has made a welcome comeback, with several high-end supercar makers offering stick-shift cars again. There is a catch: many of those cars are limited, expensive, or both—and older manual supercars often command a huge premium over their automatic counterparts.
Here is the good news: you can still buy brand-new, fun, affordable sports cars with a manual transmission. Whether you have $30,000 or $90,000 to spend, automakers are still building cars specifically for people who love to drive. Here is our guide to 19 of the best brand-new manual sports cars available in 2026.
Pricing note: The starting MSRPs below are quoted at the time of writing. Destination charges, options, dealer pricing, and trim availability can change.
Budget: Under $40,000
Pure Thrills for Everyday Drivers
Mazda MX-5 Miata MSRP: $30,430
The Miata is the benchmark for pure, unadulterated sports-car driving and has remained that way for decades. It does not try to win drag races or pretend to be a premium grand tourer. It is an honest, lightweight sports car with a crisp six-speed manual shifter and near-perfect 50/50 balance.
Its 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder makes 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque—less power than the GR86, but enough to make every back road feel special. Some still call it a hairdresser’s car, but drop the top on a twisty road in a Miata and few cars are this much fun.
Toyota GR86 MSRP: $31,500
Toyota GR86 Co-developed with Subaru, the Toyota GR86 was built to be a pure driver’s car: simple, rear-wheel drive, low-slung, and fitted with a six-speed manual. Its 2.4-liter boxer engine makes 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, a manageable output for drivers learning to push a car predictably.
The engine sits low in the bay, helping deliver a very low center of gravity. The chassis is good enough to serve as a serious track-day toy, drift car, show car, or power-build platform. That breadth makes it one of the market’s best bargains.
Honda Civic Si MSRP: $31,950
The Civic Si is the everyday enthusiast’s car. Its turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder makes 200 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque, and a six-speed manual sends power to the front wheels. The output is similar to that of the 2012 Si, but turbo torque gives the newer car a different character than the old high-revving formula.
Rev matching, a tight mechanical front differential, and a corner-loving chassis make it engaging, while five seats and a usable trunk make it easy to live with.
Subaru WRX MSRP: $32,495
Subaru WRX Rally-bred heritage lives on in the Subaru WRX. The latest version retains the iconic boxer engine: a 2.4-liter turbocharged unit producing 271 hp and 258 lb-ft, paired with a six-speed manual.
It was built to tackle sharp tarmac, loose dirt, and heavy rain without breaking a sweat, aided by Subaru’s signature Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. It remains one of the most capable year-round performance cars you can own.
Volkswagen Jetta GLI MSRP: $33,795
Think of the Jetta GLI as a Golf GTI in sedan form. With the GTI no longer offering a manual, the GLI is Volkswagen’s stick-shift performance choice. Its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder makes 228 hp and 258 lb-ft, paired with an available six-speed manual.
It is one of the most refined experiences at this price point, blending German sophistication with a playful side when you decide to take the long way home.
Hyundai Elantra N MSRP: $35,300
Hyundai has disrupted the performance market with brilliant cars in recent years, and the Elantra N is a track-ready weapon disguised as a daily driver. Its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine makes 276 hp and 289 lb-ft; in track mode, the stock exhaust adds an appropriately rowdy soundtrack.
A tactile six-speed manual sends power to the front wheels. With active suspension, Hyundai created a front-wheel-drive sedan that drives like an angry hot hatch—and one of the most unhinged new performance cars under $40,000.
Subaru BRZ MSRP: $35,860
Subaru BRZ The GR86’s twin, the Subaru BRZ, is essentially the same car with slightly different styling and suspension tuning. It leans more toward precision driving than all-out slides, although it can do those, too.
If you prefer a car that grips confidently through moderate-speed corners while keeping you fully involved, the BRZ is an incredible value proposition.
Budget: $40,000–$60,000
The Sweet Spot of Performance
Step up to the $40,000-to-$60,000 range and you gain more power along with several iconic nameplates.
Toyota GR Corolla MSRP: $40,520
The GR Corolla is one of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s most compelling creations. Inspired by rally racing, it crams a turbocharged three-cylinder into an aggressive widebody hatch. Its 1.6-liter engine makes 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.
A six-speed manual sends power to the adjustable GR-FOUR all-wheel-drive system, allowing drivers to alter torque bias for more rear-wheel involvement. Its Normal, Gravel, and Track modes split torque 60:40, 50:50, and 30:70, respectively.
Nissan Z MSRP: $42,970
The Nissan Z has not received as much love as it deserves, but that does not make it a bad sports car. Nissan nailed the design and gave it a befitting engine: a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 400 hp and 350 lb-ft.
Power reaches the rear wheels through an optional six-speed manual. Despite the new engine and technology, it retains the predictable, old-school rear-drive dynamic people associate with Z cars.
Ford Mustang GT MSRP: $46,800
There is nothing quite like the soundtrack of a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 running to redline. The latest Coyote-powered Mustang makes 480 hp and 415 lb-ft, available with a six-speed manual that sends it all to the rear wheels.
The Mustang GT carries the torch for American muscle. With its rivals gone, it is the only pure American muscle car left.
Honda Civic Type R MSRP: $48,590
Honda Civic Type R The Civic Type R is the pinnacle of front-wheel-drive engineering and has stayed true to its fundamental roots. It is widely praised for having one of the finest manual shift actions in modern performance cars.
Its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine makes 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The Type R is a highly capable track weapon with daily-driver hatchback versatility: precise, aggressive, fun, and undeniably special.
Acura Integra Type S MSRP: $53,900
This is the Type R wearing a nicer suit and a slightly calmer personality. If you love the Civic Type R’s mechanical perfection but want a quieter cabin, premium materials, and a sleeker fastback profile, the Integra Type S delivers.
It shares the potent turbo engine and magical six-speed manual, but wraps them in a more sophisticated package.
Toyota GR Supra 3.0 MSRP: $58,300
Toyota GR Supra 3.0 When Toyota brought back the Supra, enthusiasts pleaded for a manual option—and Toyota listened. The 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six makes 382 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque, mated to a custom-tuned six-speed manual that turns the Supra into an intimate driver’s machine.
The Supra was already a brilliant car with explosive straight-line acceleration and gorgeous styling, but the manual elevates the experience.
Budget: $60,000–$80,000
Heavy Hitters
At this level, you start rubbing shoulders with track-focused cars and luxury sports sedans.
Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing MSRP: $63,600
Ask almost any automotive journalist about the best-handling driver’s sedan on sale, and the CT4-V Blackwing will be near the top of the list. Cadillac used it to remind everyone it could build a car as compelling as a BMW M3.
Its 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 makes 472 hp and 445 lb-ft, sending power to the rear wheels through a buttery-smooth six-speed manual. Magnetic Ride Control is the secret sauce behind its composure. Cadillac built an absolute masterclass in chassis tuning.
Ford Mustang Dark Horse Base MSRP: $64,080
If you want to elevate the Mustang GT experience, step up to the Dark Horse. Its revised Coyote V8 breathes better, responds faster, and makes 500 hp and 418 lb-ft of torque.
Better cooling, aggressive aero, and a special Tremec six-speed manual gearbox make this a Mustang designed to run hard all day at the track.
BMW M2 MSRP: $69,500
The BMW M2 is the modern spiritual successor to the iconic M cars of the 2000s. It is a compact car with a powerful twin-turbo inline-six making 473 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque.
Power reaches the rear wheels through an optional six-speed manual. The BMW manual is not universally regarded as the segment benchmark, but choosing it connects you directly to one of the most capable driver’s cars on the market.
Budget: $80,000–$100,000
The Pinnacle of Manual Performance
At the top of this budget, these machines deliver supercar-rivaling performance without losing the tactile soul of three pedals.
BMW M3 Sedan MSRP: $79,300
It is rare to find a high-performance luxury sedan that still offers a manual transmission. Like its M2 sibling, the M3 reserves the manual for base versions, pairing it with the same engine and output in a bigger, more usable package.
The current M3 is a brilliant sports sedan, offering serious pace with daily-driver practicality.
BMW M4 Coupe MSRP: $82,200
BMW scores a hat trick with the M4. For drivers who prefer a striking two-door coupe to a sedan, it delivers the same heart-pounding performance and chassis dynamics as the M3.
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing MSRP: $98,900
Cadillac wanted to make a statement with this car—and it did. A supercharged 6.2-liter V8 pumps out a staggering 668 hp and 659 lb-ft of torque, making the CT5-V Blackwing a super-sedan like no other.
Pairing that monster V8 with a standard six-speed manual in a luxurious four-door makes it a future classic. It has the same brilliant chassis tuning as the smaller CT4-V and is arguably the ultimate brand-new manual car money can buy under $100,000 before options.