Volkswagen is cutting the manual transmission from the Jetta GLI starting with the 2027 model year, closing the last chapter of stick-shift driving across VW's entire US lineup. The 2026 Jetta GLI Autobahn — currently priced at $35,040 whether you pick the six-speed manual or the seven-speed DSG — will be the final new Volkswagen sold in North America with a clutch pedal. After that, it's DSG or nothing.
What's changing under the hood — and what isn't
Mechanically, the 2027 Jetta GLI will carry over the same 2.0-liter EA888 turbocharged four-cylinder making 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The engine isn't going anywhere. The seven-speed DSG (dual-clutch automatic) shifts faster than any manual could, and most buyers will never notice the difference in daily driving. But for the subset of GLI buyers who chose the six-speed specifically for the engagement it offered, that option is gone.
A VW spokesperson confirmed the decision to TFLCar, citing declining demand and the economics of supporting a low-volume transmission variant. The news surfaced after a 2027 model-year dealer order guide circulated without a manual listing for the GLI.
The last VW with three pedals
This didn't happen overnight. Volkswagen already removed the manual from the Golf GTI and Golf R during the Mk8.5 refresh, leaving the Jetta GLI as the lone holdout for stick-shift fans in the US. Now that's gone too.
It's part of a broader market retreat. Manuals represent less than 2% of new US vehicle sales overall — though take rates in enthusiast segments run higher: around 70% for the Mazda MX-5 Miata, 50% for the BMW M2, and roughly 7% for the Honda Civic Si, per Autoblog. About 25 models in the 2026 US market still offer a manual, down from 32 the year before.
The supply side is tightening too. BMW M division head Frank van Meel has noted publicly that developing new manual gearboxes is increasingly difficult to justify given the shrinking order volumes. Some automakers have filed patents for simulated manual-shift experiences in electric vehicles — a sign the industry wants to preserve the feeling even as the hardware fades.
What's left if you want a clutch pedal
If a manual matters to you, the Honda Civic Si, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Subaru WRX, Toyota GR86, and Hyundai Elantra N all still offer one. At the premium end, BMW M models and the Porsche 911 keep manuals on the order sheet. The 2026 Jetta GLI with the six-speed is available now at dealers — once the model year runs out, that's the end of the road for a manual-equipped VW in the US.
