A once-common driving feature is disappearing fast — and it might be gone completely from new cars by 2037.
Of the 278 new car models currently available in UK showrooms, only 82 are offered with a manual gearbox. That’s just under a third. It marks a 57% drop compared to 2015 and the lowest number in over a decade.
If this trend continues, experts predict manuals will vanish from new cars within the next 12 years. But the ban on new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 could bring that timeline forward. Since electric cars don’t use manual gearboxes, most new models will be automatic even before the ban takes effect.
The decline of a driving classic
Manual gearboxes have been around since the 1890s and became widespread in the UK from the 1950s. For decades, they were the standard — but in 2025, only 29% of new models still offer one.
Compared to 2023, that’s a 25% drop, and 8% down on last year alone. Today, 72% of models from the top 31 car brands are automatic-only, and seven brands don’t offer a single model with a manual gearbox.
That includes:
- Land Rover
- Mini
- Lexus
- Mercedes-Benz
- Volvo
- Polestar
- Tesla
Jaguar isn’t selling any new cars in 2025, but had no manuals in 2024 and will return in 2026 as an electric-only brand.
Just a decade ago, manuals were far more common — and they were cheaper too. Automatics now typically cost around £1,000 more than their manual equivalents.
Who still makes manual cars?
Despite the decline, there are still 82 manual models available across 31 mainstream brands. Some of the manufacturers still offering them include Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ford, Mazda, Skoda, Toyota, and Volkswagen.
- Top examples include:
- Honda Civic Type R
- Mazda MX-5
- Volkswagen Golf
- Ford Focus
You can find the full list of models at the end of this article.
The electric shift
After 2030, only hybrids and EVs will be sold new in the UK. None of these fuel types use manual gearboxes, due to the way electric motors deliver instant torque and don’t need multiple gears.
Some brands are trying to replicate the manual experience. Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N, for example, has a simulated gear shift system with paddle controls, engine sounds, and even a virtual rev limiter. Toyota is working on something similar.
Still, this doesn’t replace the real thing. Once electric becomes the norm, true manual driving will largely disappear.
Manuals will become a niche choice
Manual gearboxes may still be available in niche performance models and low-volume petrol cars like Caterhams and Ariels. But even these are expected to face electric-only rules by 2035.
That means only enthusiasts — and those with deep pockets — will be able to buy a new manual car after 2030.
Chris Knapman, Editorial Director at CarGurus UK, says:
“Automatic gearboxes are no longer a luxury — they’re now the expected norm. But there’s still some good news for drivers who enjoy the engagement of a manual. Great examples like the Civic Type R and MX-5 are still available new, and there are plenty of used manuals out there too.”
Will drivers actually miss them?
CarGurus surveyed 2,000 UK drivers in 2024 and found only 28% would miss manual gearboxes. The same percentage said they’d miss clutch pedals.
Older drivers were more likely to be sentimental — 35% of over-65s said they’d miss manuals. But just 22% of 25 to 34-year-olds felt the same.
So while many drivers learned to drive in a manual, fewer are likely to seek one out in future. This shift in demand is driving the decline, as manufacturers focus on electric and automatic vehicles.
Full list of 82 new models with manual gearboxes (by brand):
Audi: A1, A3, Q2, Q3 (4)
- BMW: 1 Series, 2 Series Gran Coupe, M2 (3)
- Citroen: Berlingo, C3, C3 Aircross, C4, C4 X, C5 Aircross (6)
- Cupra: Formentor, Leon (2)
- Dacia: Duster, Jogger, Sandero, Sandero Stepway, Bigster (5)
- Fiat: 500, 500C (2)
- Ford: Focus, Kuga, Mustang, Puma, Ranger, Tourneo (6)
- Honda: Civic Type R (1)
- Hyundai: Bayon, i10, i20, Kona, Tucson (5)
- Jaguar: 0
- Jeep: Avenger hybrid (1)
- Kia: Ceed, Picanto, Sportage, Xceed (4)
- Land Rover: 0
- Lexus: 0
- Mazda: CX-30, CX-5, Mazda2, Mazda3, MX-5 (5)
- Mercedes-Benz: 0
- MG: MG3, HS, ZS (3)
- Mini: 0
- Nissan: Juke, Qashqai (2)
- Peugeot: 2008, 208 (2)
- Polestar: 0
- Porsche: 911, Boxster, Cayman (3)
- Renault: Clio, Captur (2)
- Seat: Arona, Ibiza, Leon, Ateca (4)
- Skoda: Fabia, Kamiq, Karoq, Octavia, Scala (5)
- Suzuki: Ignis, S-Cross, Swift, Vitara (4)
- Tesla: 0
- Toyota: Aygo X, GR Yaris, Hilux (3)
- Vauxhall: Astra, Corsa, Mokka (3)
- Volkswagen: Golf, Polo, Taigo, T-Cross, T-Roc, Touran, Transporter (7)
- Volvo: 0
Total: 82 models
