These are the crossovers that deserve manual transmissions – Jalopnik

Driving remains a fun way to spend life, but the opportunities to do so are disappearing quickly. Less than 2 percent of new cars even offer this option, and that’s a damn shame. Here at Jalopnik we love rowing with our own equipment, and you will too. We asked you last week which crossover doesn’t have a manual option but absolutely deserves it. The most popular answer? All. Manual for all cars.

Hard to argue with the logic of love. However, some of you have gotten very specific. Scroll through and see which cars your fellow Jalopniks would love to drive with a manual.

I think the most correct answer is ‘Yes’. Every crossover deserves an MT option. The same goes for any pickup, sedan, SUV and especially minivan. And every variation in between. I can’t think of a single non-commercial ICE passenger vehicle that shouldn’t have the option to choose your own adventure transmission.

And

I came here to say this. Manual transmissions last longer, are much cheaper to repair and much cheaper to replace.

When a slushbox needs to be replaced, it costs more than the value of the car. Your car becomes disposable. A manual transmission, new or rebuilt, costs at least a grand less.

One last thing: my car, being a manual, will sell for about a grand more than the slushbox version of it. And my car today costs $850 less than the slushbox.

From Chase and cones

Mazda CX-30. AWD and 227-250 hp. If it had one, it would almost be a hot hatch.

And

I just had a CX-30 without a turbo. Even that model would be great with a stick.

By Keith Schwerin and Jeremy Hamm

Bronco Sport 2-liter: Surprisingly fast and fairly light (3700 lbs with automatic, manual would be lighter) for both sporty on- and off-road driving. It would also be affordable.

Mazda CX-30 2.5T: Zoom zoom. With manual it would weigh less than 3500 kg. Also affordable.

BMW X1/X2 M35i: because they are supposed to be sports compacts.

From Fabey

Subaru should absolutely bring back the manual transmission option in a turbocharged Forester XT. I owned a 2006 Forester XT 5MT PP for ten years, and it was basically a WRX wagon with an even more practical body style. Plenty of room inside, remarkably fun to throw (especially in the snow!), surprisingly fast with the blown 2.5 liter engine, and no one was ever the wiser.

From angryAsian

On the other end of the spectrum, put manuals in the boring crossovers (RAV4, Rogue, Kicks, Corolla Cross) and give us a true base model.

From Scoobie2

Volkswagen Tiguan-A GTI version with 6-speed manual transmission.

From Merrill Frank

They’re all the right answer… but I vote for the 2nd generation Enclave with the 310 hp V6. It’s a very strong engine and would be an absolute blast.

From cintocrunch1

Toyota Highlander. Since its debut 25 years ago, it has been and continues to be popular for its versatility. And having a manual transmission option would be a great addition to that versatility.

From Giantsgiants