Change of plan for manual

0 0 April 08, 2026 Edit this post

Next time someone tells you they taught their son or daughter to drive a manual car, they shouldn't have bothered.

As suspected for quite a few years, the good old manual is on its way out -- kaput.

The latest figures from the UK confirm it.

Less than a quarter of new cars sold there this year come with a manual, down by 66 per cent from a decade ago -- this in a country that prefers manuals (or used to).

The 2026 Manual Gearbox Report compiled by CarGurus, a leading automotive marketplace in the UK for shopping and buying used vehicles — reveals just 67 of the 292 new vehicle models currently offered by the UK’s top 30 manufacturers are available with a manual transmission.

This is down sharply from 197 models in 2016, reflecting the rapid decline in options for drivers who prefer the control of a manual gearbox.

Year-on-year comparisons underscore the continued reduction in manual options, dropping from 82 models in 2025 (18 per cent down) after an eight per cent reduction from 2024.

The current decline, combined with the UK's upcoming 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel car sales, suggests the manual gearbox could well be nearing its end in mainstream cars.

Conversely, automatic-only models continue to rise.

In 2026, 225 out of 292 models analysed are available exclusively with an automatic gearbox -- up from 197 in 2025.

Furthermore, eight brands sell automatic vehicles exclusively.

Fiat and Honda are the latest manufacturers to phase out manual gearboxes from their lineups, joining Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Volvo, Tesla, Mini and Lexus.

This is up from six brands in 2025 and five in 2024, representing a 60 per cent increase in the number of car makers without manual options over just two years.

CarGurus' experts suggest that several factors are contributing to the phasing out of manual options.

Automatic transmissions are becoming the default as SUVs, premium vehicles, hybrids, and EVs — most of which don’t offer manuals — make up a larger share of new models.

The growing popularity of Chinese brands in the UK is reinforcing the shift away from manual gearboxes.

Among the fastest-growing brands (outside of MG, which is consistently included in the UK’s top 30 manufacturers), BYD, Jaecoo and Omoda offer 15 new models -- none of which are available with a manual.

Despite the reduction in manual options for new cars, there remains a varied selection of manual cars on the used market.

Buyers looking for the tactile driving experience, lower maintenance costs, or just the familiarity of a traditional gearbox, can still find an excellent range of suitable vehicles.

CarGurus' Chris Knapman said manual gearboxes are becoming increasingly rare in the new car market.

Yet for drivers who still value the engagement and control of a traditional gearbox, the used market still offers a wide variety of options.

"From compact hatchbacks to sporty coupes, enthusiasts can still find vehicles that deliver the connection and enjoyment of a manual," he said.

"Our research highlights that while new manual cars are declining, there has never been a better time to explore the used market."