Dead: Volkswagen Jetta GLI

Volkswagen has confirmed that it will no longer sell any cars in the United States with a manual transmission after the 2026 model year. The automaker has discontinued the gearbox in the Jetta GLI for 2027, leaving the brand with zero manual-equipped vehicles.  

TFLCar recently reported that a new order guide for VW’s 2027 lineup omitted the Jetta GLI with the manual. In a statement to the publication, a Volkswagen spokesperson said:  

‘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.’

In an email to Motor1, the automaker said, “Jetta GLI with manual production will conclude at the end of the 2026 model year.”

This leaves the enthusiast-focused sedan with just the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission option for the 2027 model year. It pairs with the same 2.0-liter EA888 turbocharged four-cylinder engine as before, which produces 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.  

A Dying Breed

The death of the manual-equipped Jetta GLI arrives just a few years after the automaker killed the option in the Golf GTI and Golf R, and it is part of a larger trend. The number of new cars available with a manual transmission continues to dwindle.  

For the 2026 model year, there are just over 25 cars on sale that offer the transmission option. There are several affordable options still available, like the Honda Civic Si and Mazda Miata, but they are facing the same market forces as Volkswagen.  

It might be why we are seeing automakers file patents for fake manual shifters. Even BMW is being honest about the future of the transmission. Just a few months ago, the head of BMW, Frank van Meel, said, “The manual doesn’t really make sense,” adding:

‘It’s going to be quite difficult in the future to develop completely new gearboxes because the segment in the market is quite small, and the suppliers are not so keen on doing something like that.’

If that is the case, the manual transmission might not be around much longer at an affordable price point. If the suppliers aren’t building them, the cost will go up, which might be why Ferrari is rumored to be bringing back the gearbox.  

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Source: Volkswagen

Motor1’s Take: It’s sad to see Volkswagen kill its last car with a manual transmission, but it’s not a surprise. Consumers don’t want them as they used to, and in today’s world, there isn’t a sound business case for continuing to build something so few want. Get one while you can and cherish it forever.