Motor1 did something we wish more outlets would do: they went straight to the source and asked automakers how many buyers actually chose the manual transmission in 2025 for models where a manual is still offered. The results are genuinely interesting, and honestly pretty hopeful for anyone rooting to save the manual transmission and keep enthusiast driving alive.
We all know the narrative by now. Manuals are “dying,” everything is becoming an appliance, and EVs are rewriting the rules. But when you look at the take rates from brands that still bother to offer a third pedal, a lot of buyers are still putting their money where their left foot is. In a few cases, the stick shift is not just surviving, it is gaining ground year over year.
Let’s start with a few bright spots that jump off the page. Acura’s Integra posted a 22% manual take rate, up from 19.8% the year prior, which is impressive for a car that lives in a more premium corner of the compact world. Cadillac continues to be the lone manual holdout inside GM, and the numbers are wild: 61% of CT4-V Blackwing buyers and 48% of CT5-V Blackwing buyers chose the manual. Subaru fans kept doing Subaru-fan things too, with the BRZ hitting a massive 90% manual take rate and the WRX sitting at 85%.
Some of the most “of course it did” results are still worth celebrating. Mazda says the MX-5 Miata is still overwhelmingly a stick shift car at around 70%, and Toyota’s GR lineup stays wonderfully analog with the GR Corolla at 71%, GR Supra at 56%, and GR86 at 52%. Even the manual Tacoma exists in 2025, but it is very much a niche play at just over 1% of sales, which still counts as a small win in a world where midsize trucks are basically rolling tech bundles.
The luxury and performance crowd brought some real heat, too. BMW’s manual story is complicated by all the automatic-only variants, but when you focus on models that actually offer three pedals, the take rates are strong: roughly 40% for the M2, about 50% for the Z4 Handschalter package, around 50% for the rear-wheel-drive M3 models available with a manual, and about 33% for the comparable M4. Volkswagen, now down to a single stick-shift offering, saw the Jetta GLI land at a solid 44.9% manual take rate, which is a reminder that the “everyday fun” segment still has a heartbeat.
Then there are the sports car and exotic outliers that make you grin. Nissan’s Z posted a 46.1% manual take rate, basically an even split, which is exactly how it should be for a driver-focused coupe. Lotus buyers are loudly voting for engagement with the Emira sitting at 88%. Pagani Utopia customers chose the manual 75% of the time, which is both ridiculous and somehow perfectly logical if you are buying a hand-built hypercar meant to feel special at any speed.
Porsche might be the most telling brand of all because it shows what happens when manuals are positioned as a true enthusiast choice. On 718 Boxster and Cayman models where a manual is available, the take rate is 46%. For the 911, it spikes to 83% on versions where you can still get it. And at the sharp end, the 911 GT3 comes in at 53% manual, while the GT3 Touring hits an eye-popping 83%, which tracks with the Touring buyer’s whole “subtle look, serious driving” vibe.
Not every brand played along. Ford and Jeep didn’t provide take-rate numbers, and Mazda wouldn’t share an exact percentage for the Mazda3, only noting that most buyers choose the automatic. Honda’s overall number looks low at 6%, but that is also because the manual is no longer offered on the base Civic Hatchback for 2025, leaving the Civic Si and Type R as the remaining three-pedal options.
The bigger takeaway here is simple: people still buy manuals when they are offered in the right cars, with the right positioning, and without making shoppers feel like they are settling for the “cheap” configuration. Sure, the overall manual market is smaller than it used to be, and some of these are niche performance models. But the take rates prove the demand is real, and in some cases it is stronger than many of us would have guessed heading into 2025.
If you are an enthusiast, this is the kind of data that should keep you optimistic. Automakers respond to numbers, and numbers like 61%, 90%, 83%, and even a steady 22% in a mainstream-ish premium compact tell a story that is hard to ignore. Here’s hoping more brands take the hint, keep the three-pedal option alive, and give us at least a few more chances to row our own gears in 2026 and beyond.
Acura Integra (includes Integra and Integra Type S): 22%
BMW M2: ~40%
BMW M3 (RWD models with manual available): ~50%
BMW M4 (RWD models with manual available): ~33%
BMW Z4 M40i Edition Handschalter Package: ~50%
Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing: 61%
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing: 48%
Honda Civic Si / Civic Type R (overall Civic manual take rate cited): 6%
Hyundai Elantra N: ~25%
Lotus Emira: 88%
Mazda MX-5 Miata: ~70%
Nissan Z: 46.1%
Pagani Utopia: 75%
Porsche 718 Boxster / Cayman (models where manual is available): 46%
Porsche 911 (models where manual is available): 83%
Porsche 911 GT3: 53%
Porsche 911 GT3 Touring: 83%
Subaru BRZ: 90%
Subaru WRX: 85%
Toyota GR86: 52%
Toyota GR Corolla: 71%
Toyota GR Supra: 56%
Toyota Tacoma: ~1%
Volkswagen Jetta GLI: 44.9%
Not provided:
Ford Bronco: not provided
Ford Mustang: not provided
Jeep Wrangler: not provided
Mazda3: not provided
Darryl Taylor Dowe is a seasoned automotive professional with a proven track record of leading successful ventures and providing strategic consultation across the automotive industry. With years of hands-on experience in both business operations and market development, Darryl has played a key role in helping automotive brands grow and adapt in a rapidly evolving landscape. His insight and leadership have earned him recognition as a trusted expert, and his contributions to Automotive Addicts reflect his deep knowledge and passion for the business side of the car world.
