Volkswagen's longstanding tradition of offering fun cars with manual transmissions has been hanging on by a thread for years now. After killing the three-pedal GTI in 2024, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI was the last bastion of row-your-own fun from Wolfsburg here in the United States. Now, it seems the era of manual transmission Volkswagens in America is officially coming to an end.
According to a report by online outlet TFLCar, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI will no longer be offered with a six-speed manual transmission as of model year 2027. Instead, a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox will become standard, ousting the stick shift as the default transmission. The reason behind this change is one that many enthusiasts are far too familiar with.
"As drivers and car enthusiasts, we appreciate manuals too! That’s why our region worked very hard to keep them around—we know it matters to a small but passionate group of drivers who love being fully engaged and rowing their own gears. Even so, global demand continued to narrow to a point where the market can no longer sustain it. As much as it hurts, that reality meant making some tough choices," a Volkswagen spokesperson said to The FastLane Car.
The end of the stick shift GLI signals a broader shift in strategy from Volkswagen, as the automaker no longer offers any manual transmission option in its US lineup, with performance-focused Volkswagen models like the GTI and Golf R steadily moving away from a three-pedal setup. So if your wishlist includes a manual transmission Volkswagen, then you need to act fast, as VW will only continue selling the 6-speed manual GLI through the end of the 2026 model year.
A shrinking group of compact, sporty models with manual transmissions remains in America. Honda sells the Civic Si and Civic Type R with a six-speed manual, as does Hyundai with its Elantra N. The Subaru WRX and Toyota's GR Corolla also retain stick shift options. It's a shame to see another brand steeped in enthusiast offerings shy away from the manual, but the numbers apparently speak for themselves.
Source: roadandtrack.com
