Best Manual Transmission SUVs for 2024
These are the best manual transmission SUVs based on iSeeCars' analysis of each vehicle’s reliability, resale value and safety.
Many lists ranking manual transmission SUVs may already exist, but those depend mostly on subjective editorial criteria. iSeeCars' Best Manual Transmission SUVs are ranked using a data-driven and objective methodology. By applying data science to over 330 million vehicles, iSeeCars analyzes each car to understand its reliability and how long-lasting it is, its safety, and how well it holds its value over time. Each manual transmission SUV is compared to others within its own category, and the best one in a given category is the model with the best ratings across these three key areas, summarized by the iSeeCars Quality Score. Here are the top models in each manual transmission SUV category:
The best manual transmission midsize SUV is the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (8.7 quality rating).
The rugged nature of SUVs made them a natural choice for manual transmissions for much of their history. Owners using their utility vehicles for off-road driving experiences appreciated the increased control made possible through a manual gearbox. Combined with a dual-range transfer case and four-wheel drive, using a stick shift and clutch allowed for precise power delivery when climbing rocks or pulling out of deep sand and mud.
But modern SUVs almost exclusively utilize all-wheel drive (awd) and automatic transmissions, two features that benefit traction and confidence in bad weather driving on pavement. These systems also deliver superior fuel economy and are easier to use. New car shoppers can still find a seven-speed manual transmission option on the Ford Bronco or a six-speed manual on the Jeep Wrangler, but nearly every other modern SUV only comes with an automatic.
Shoppers considering a used crossover can find manual transmission versions of older SUVs from several automakers. These include base models of the Fiat 500X, Honda HR-V, Jeep Compass, Mini Cooper Countryman, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, and Subaru Crosstrek and Forester.
Truly dedicated three-pedal fans can chase down additional SUV body styles with manual transmissions if they’re willing to go further back in model years. Models like the BMW X5, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Pathfinder, Porsche Cayenne, and Toyota 4Runner offered a manual at one point, but you’ll have to scour used car listings and be prudent in evaluating the condition of these older SUVs.
iSeeCars has listed the best SUVs with a manual transmission below and ranked them by their iSeeCars quality score, which takes reliability, resale value and safety into consideration.
How We Rank These Cars
The best manual transmission cars rank vehicles by iSeeCars Score which is based on our proprietary assessment of a vehicle’s reliability, resale value and safety (based on ratings from IIHS and NHTSA).
We analyze data from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with the NHTSA's Safety Ratings to give you an unbiased guide to the best vehicles in each segment.
iSeeCars Score is an analysis of three factors: reliability, resale value and safety. It is calculated based on the latest research and analysis by our data science team. The data analysis comes from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with NHTSA and IIHS Safety Ratings.
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
