The 10 cheapest new manual cars you can buy in Australia

Cars with manual transmissions haven’t been the mass-market choice for some time now, but that doesn’t mean they’re extinct.

Those in the market for a sports car, for example, may want to opt for a manual transmission for the adjusted driving dynamics they offer. Some such cars still allow you to do that without hassle, including – but not limited to – the Subaru WRX, Toyota Supra, Hyundai i30 N, Mazda MX-5, BMW M2, and the BRZ/86 twins.

But in many cases, manual cars are cheaper than their automatic counterparts, which means they also have a place in lower-end budget vehicles.

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If you simply want to get behind the wheel of a manual car while spending as little as possible, you’re in luck. In fact, Australia’s current cheapest new car comes with a manual transmission.

As such, this list is a compilation of the 10 cheapest new manual cars you can buy in Australia right now.

Some manufacturers list national drive-away prices, while others list prices excluding on-road costs. For consistency, however, this list is ranked based on drive-away prices for Victorian private buyers.

You’ll also notice this list is dominated by Japanese cars, with all but two sold by manufacturers from that country.

Click on a car’s name above to jump directly to its information on the page, or continue scrolling for the full list.

Kia Picanto

The bite-sized Kia Picanto is Australia’s cheapest car, which also means it’s Australia’s cheapest new car with a manual transmission at just $21,190 drive-away.

There are two distinct Sport and GT-Line grades, and both offer the same 1.2-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine which produces 62kW of power and 122Nm of torque.

Each variant also offers the choice of either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, with drive sent to the front wheels exclusively.

The Picanto’s four-star safety rating from 2017 has now expired, though standard features include autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and alloy wheels.

Moving to the GT-Line adds LED headlights instead of halogen, larger alloy wheels, and revised exterior styling. The Picanto is covered by Kia’s seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Interested in buying a Kia Picanto? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.

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Suzuki Ignis

The first Suzuki to appear on this list is just over $1000 more expensive than the Picanto. It’s the base Ignis GL, which with the cheaper manual transmission costs $22,490 drive-away.

There are only two distinct Ignis grades, with the top-spec GLX priced at $26,490 drive-away and only available with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

The range is powered by a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with 66kW and 120Nm, with the sole manual option offering a five-speeder. Drive is sent to the front wheels only across the range.

The Ignis remains untested by ANCAP, though standard features include a brake assist system, reversing camera, 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, cloth upholstery, and either 15-inch or 16-inch alloys depending on the variant.

Suzuki backs its Ignis range with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Interested in buying a Suzuki Ignis? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.

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Suzuki Swift Hybrid

The Suzuki Swift Hybrid is the newest model here, having been launched in June this year. Its cheapest variant is available with a manual and is priced at $24,490 drive-away.

Available with either a five-speed manual or CVT, all Swift Hybrids sold in Australia feature a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder engine with 12-volt mild-hybrid assistance. Outputs are quoted at 60kW and 110Nm.

Drive is sent to the front wheels exclusively, with features like a wireless phone charger and paddle shifters available on only the top-spec GLX.

The Plus features heated front seats and blind-spot monitoring, while all variants offer a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and wireless Apple CarPlay.

The Swift Hybrid is yet to be tested by ANCAP and is therefore unrated, while Suzuki offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Interested in buying a Suzuki Swift Hybrid? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.

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Mitsubishi ASX

The aging Mitsubishi ASX is the largest passenger car on this list, with a manual option available for $26,240 drive-away.

There are a total of seven variants available, with prices extending to $39,640 drive-away. All variants except the GSR and Exceed utilise a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with 110kW and 197Nm, and only the base GS features a five-speed manual transmission.

The GSR and Exceed up the engine displacement to 2.4 litres, boosting power to 123kW and 222Nm. All automatic variants utilise a CVT.

Since its five-star safety rating from 2014 has lapsed, the ASX is currently unrated. Standard features include autonomous emergency braking and a reversing camera, while higher grades add lane departure warning and blind-spot monitoring.

All variants feature an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with all but the base GS including 18-inch alloy wheels as standard. Mitsubishi backs the range with a 10-year, 200,000km warranty.

Interested in buying a Mitsubishi ASX? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.

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Mazda 2

Unlike its similarly numbered siblings, Mazda’s smallest car still offers a manual transmission but only in the base-spec Pure hatch. It’s priced at $26,674 drive-away.

All Mazda 2 variants utilise a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 81kW and 142Nm, which is bumped to 82kW and 144Nm in the Pure manual.

That base Pure is also the first car on this list to feature a six-speed manual transmission, while all other variants offer a six-speed automatic. Drive is sent to the front wheels in all Australian models.

Uniquely, there are also two sedan body styles available at the two extremities of the Mazda 2 lineup, which bring no additional costs over the hatches. As seems to be a theme here, the Mazda 2’s safety rating hasn’t been renewed since it lapsed.

It previously held a five-star rating, with features including autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. Also included as standard are alloy wheels, a 7.0-inch infotainment system, and LED headlights.

The Mazda 2 is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Interested in buying a Mazda 2? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.

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Hyundai Venue

Hyundai’s light SUV still offers a manual transmission, which is found in the base-spec Venue for $26,788.20 drive-away.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 90kW of power and 151Nm of torque, with drive sent to the front wheels through either a six-speed manual in the base Venue or six-speed automatic in all other variants.

It’s the first car on this list with a current safety rating, wearing a four-star score. Standard safety features include autonomous emergency braking and driver attention warning, while the Active adds blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert.

Standard equipment on the base grade includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, cloth upholstery, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Hyundai backs its Venue range with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Interested in buying a Hyundai Venue? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.

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Suzuki Vitara

The Suzuki Vitara crossover is getting on in years, but its base spec still offers a five-speed manual transmission for $29,990 drive-away.

The two base models use a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 86kW and 156Nm, mated with either the manual or a six-speed automatic transmission, with drive sent to the front wheels only.

Vitara Turbo variants use a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 103kW and 220Nm. It’s mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission, with both front- and all-wheel drive available.

Its five-star safety rating from 2015 has lapsed, with standard tech including a reversing camera, and Vitara Turbo models adding autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control.

Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloys, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and cloth upholstery. Suzuki backs its Vitara with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Interested in buying a Suzuki Vitara? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.

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Suzuki Swift Sport

The second Swift on this list is the hatch’s sporty version, which is yet to be updated alongside the new-generation Swift Hybrid. Its manual variant is available for $32,990 drive-away.

The Swift Sport utilises a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which produces 103kW and 230Nm. Drive is sent to the front wheels exclusively, via either a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic.

Like its Swift Hybrid relative, the Sport is currently unrated by ANCAP. Standard safety tech includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning.

Standard features include a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, semi-bucket seats, 17-inch alloys, LED headlights, a digital speedometer, and heated side mirrors.

The Swift Sport is backed by Suzuki’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Interested in buying a Suzuki Swift Sport? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.

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Toyota HiLux

The Toyota HiLux is the only ute on this list, with several different transmission options available across the range. If you’re after a manual, the cheapest is the base 2.7-litre petrol 4×2 single-cab/chassis WorkMate at $33,018 drive-away.

That variant is the only manual HiLux to be offered with a five-speed transmission; the rest of which include a six-speed instead. The cheapest six-speed manual is the 2.4-litre turbo-diesel 4×2 single-cab/chassis WorkMate Hi-Rider at $38,402 drive-away.

A handful of SR and SR5 variants are offered with manual transmissions, which are only available with a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. That combination produces 150kW and 420Nm, which is bumped to 500Nm when mated with a six-speed automatic.

The petrol 2.7-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine found in lower-grade WorkMate variants produces 122kW and 245Nm, while the 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel produces 110kW and 400Nm. Drive type is dependent on the variant.

The HiLux wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted in 2019, and is backed by Toyota’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Standard features and specifications vary greatly depending on the variant, so it’s worth checking out our price and specs article for the full details.

Interested in buying a Toyota HiLux? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.

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Suzuki Jimny

The loveable Jimny is the final car to crack the top 10 cheapest manuals in Australia, making it five Suzukis here in total. Its cheapest Lite variant is manual-only and costs $34,990 drive-away.

All variants use a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, which produces 75kW of power and 130Nm of torque.

The available transmissions are either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Other than the Picanto, the Jimny is the only car on this list to have the option of a manual in every variant.

The Jimny currently wears a three-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted in 2018. Standard features on all variants include autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, and fabric upholstery, while only the non-Lite Jimny and up offer a touchscreen infotainment system.

Like the other Suzukis here, the Jimny is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Interested in buying a Suzuki Jimny? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.

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