Mazda MX-5 Miata RF

Affordable manual-transmission options are increasingly scarce, but there are some rear- and all-wheel-drive sports cars on the market with manual transmissions and a base price of $50,000 or less.

The fourth-generation MX-5 Miata enters 2026 with the only change being some new synthetic suede interior trim in the Brembo/BBS/Recaro Package.

If you’d like to honor the manual-transmission gods with your next new car purchase, here’s every new car with a manual transmission currently for sale.

Mazda is taking orders for the 2025 MX-5 Miata 35th Anniversary now. Including the $1,185 destination fee, it is priced at $37,435.

The 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata stands out for its emphasis on connecting drivers with both the act of driving and the world around them.

Most of the Miata line is unchanged for 2025, although a 35th Anniversary edition will wear exclusive Artisan Red paint and a tan Nappa leather interior.

The 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata gets a new asymmetric limited-slip differential that’s better able to manage lockup through the braking and acceleration phases of a corner.

An increasing number of vehicles with sticker prices of $40,000 or less, some much less, offer heated mirrors.

The list of model-year 2023-24 cars with manual transmissions skews mostly to affordable models and those that are more enthusiast-oriented, but there’s still a decent range of choices.

The list of 2022 cars with manual transmissions skews mostly to affordable models and those that are more enthusiast-oriented, but there’s still a decent range of choices.