Every Rear- and All-Wheel-Drive Sports Car With a Manual Transmission Under $50,000

What Car Shoppers Need to Know

• Affordable manual-transmission options are increasingly scarce, forcing enthusiasts looking for a three-pedal experience under $50,000 to primarily consider a dwindling selection of new 2025 and 2026 models.

It’s more challenging than ever to find an affordable car with a manual transmission. In recent years, even the old standbys — Nissan, Subaru and Volkswagen — have stripped manual transmissions from their entry-level cars. That means if you’re looking for an affordable car with a manual transmission, you’re pretty much left with sports cars. Many shoppers associate a sports car with rear- or all-wheel drive, which we’ve listed below, but there are also front-wheel drive sports cars that don’t disappoint, such as the Honda Civic Type R.

Related: Wanna Learn How to Drive a Manual Transmission Car? It’s Not Too Late … Yet

If you enjoy driving for driving’s sake, you still have time to buy a new car that enables driving in its purest form. We’ve included 2025 models on this list because new examples are generally still available on dealer lots as of this writing in early 2026. Now, let’s take a look at the new RWD and AWD sports cars on the market with manual transmissions and a base price of $50,000 or less.

New Sports Cars With Manual Transmissions Under $50,000

2025-26 Ford Mustang

• Power and torque: 480 horsepower, 415 pounds-feet of torque
• Peak power: 7,150 rpm
• Weight: 3,827 pounds
• Research the Ford Mustang
• Shop for a Ford Mustang

The V-8-powered Ford Mustang GT is a fun sports car with an enduring (and endearing) legacy. The Mustang used to be known for its value, but in 2026, the cheapest way to get a manual transmission is in the GT trim, which starts at $48,555 (all prices include destination); the entry-level Mustangs with the turbocharged four-cylinder engine are automatic only. It’s a two-door fastback with RWD, satisfying other common requirements for a true sports car.

2025-26 Mazda MX-5 Miata

• Power and torque: 181 hp, 151 pounds-feet
• Peak power: 7,000 rpm
• Weight: 2,366 pounds (convertible), 2,469 pounds (RF)
• Research the Mazda MX-5 Miata
• Shop for a Mazda MX-5 Miata

Can you imagine if the Mazda MX-5 Miata was no longer available with a manual transmission? That would defeat the entire purpose of this sprightly little rear-drive roadster. In fact, Mazda offers the Miata with a manual across the lineup. For 2025, the Miata MX-5 starts at $30,765 for the base Sport in its soft-top configuration. The retractable fastback RF requires a step up in the trim ladder and starts at $42,085. The trim line largely carries over for 2026 and runs about $1,000 more across the board.

2025-26 Nissan Z

• Power and torque: 400 hp, 350 pounds-feet of torque
• Peak power: 6,400 rpm
• Weight: 3,486 pounds
• Research the Nissan Z
• Shop for a Nissan Z

The Nissan Z’s tightly curated lineup means it’s a simple choice for a car enthusiast in search of a pure sports car. For 2025 and 2026, this two-door, RWD coupe’s Sport trim starts at $44,215.

2025-26 Subaru BRZ

• Power and torque: 228 hp, 184 pounds-feet of torque
• Peak power: 7,000 rpm
• Weight: 2,837 pounds
• Research the Subaru BRZ
• Shop for a Subaru BRZ

The Subaru BRZ is a RWD coupe with an affordable base price of $34,380 for the 2025 model, and the Limited trim adds more comfort and tech features for about $2,000 more. The 2025 lineup also includes the limited Series.Purple version ($38,730), while the 2026 lineup swaps it out for the Series.Yellow ($40,555). The top-end tS skims the $40,000 mark. For 2026, the Limited trim starts at $37,055 and the tS at $39,555.

2025 Subaru WRX

• Power and torque: 271 hp, 258 pounds-feet of torque
• Peak power: 5,600 rpm
• Weight: 3,351 pounds
• Research the Subaru WRX
• Shop for a Subaru WRX

Unlike most of the sports cars here, the Subaru WRX is a four-door sedan, which makes it somewhat more practical than its contemporaries in this segment. The 2025 model starts at $38,920 for the base Premium, hits $43,300 in Limited form and starts at $48,875 for the tS.

2025-26 Toyota GR86

• Power and torque: 228 hp, 184 pounds-feet of torque
• Peak power rpm: 7,000 rpm
• Weight: 2,811 pounds
• Research the Toyota GR86
• Shop for a Toyota GR86

The Toyota GR86 is a cousin of the aforementioned Subaru BRZ, featuring nearly identical engineering and some minor styling changes to reflect each brand’s look and feel. This two-door coupe starts at $31,595 for the 2025 model and $32,870 for the 2026 model. For 2025, the GR86 tops out at the limited Hakone Edition ($36,465), and the 2026 model gets the Yuzu Edition ($37,560).

2025-26 Toyota GR Corolla

• Power and torque: 300 hp, 295 pounds-feet of torque
• Peak power: 6,500 rpm
• Weight: 3,296 pounds
• Research the Toyota GR Corolla
• Shop for a Toyota GR Corolla

Americans aren’t accustomed to a Corolla that starts at the $40,000 mark, but the GR Corolla pays tribute to Toyota’s treatment of the Corolla nameplate as a sub-brand unto itself. This four-door hatchback isn’t quite the bargain we’d expect of a Corolla — or of a compact sports car — but it’s among the most practical and affordable manual-transmission cars you’ll find thanks to its four doors and hatchback configuration with open cargo area, plus AWD across the lineup. The 2025 lineup includes Core, Premium and Premium Plus trims at $40,355, $42,935 and $47,010, respectively. For 2026, it’s down to just the base and Premium Plus trims, with a modest price adjustment of less than $1,000.

Related Video:

Which Affordable Cars Come With a Manual Transmission That Aren’t Sports Cars?

• The affordable and practical Mazda3 is a noteworthy car that’s still available with a manual in 2026. The Acura Integra, Ford Bronco, Honda Civic Si, Jeep Wrangler, Toyota Tacoma and Volkswagen Jetta GLI are also available with a manual transmission for under $50,000.

What About FWD Sports Cars?

• What may seem like an oxymoron is nothing to laugh at: FWD cars like the Acura Integra Type S, Honda Civic Type R and Hyundai Elantra N can provide sports car fun for under $50,000, as well.

More From Cars.com:

• Video: 2025 Toyota GR Corolla Automatic Vs. Manual: How to Choose
• Is the 2023 Toyota GR86 a Good Sports Car? 6 Pros and 3 Cons
• 2024 Ford Mustang GT Review: Stomping Into the Future
• Is the 2023 Nissan Z a Good Sports Car? 6 Things We Like, 2 We Don’t
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