In a significant blow to driving enthusiasts, Volkswagen has announced that it will no longer offer a manual transmission option in its US market lineup starting with the 2027 model year. The decision comes as the automaker has confirmed that the Jetta GLI, a high-performance variant of its popular Jetta compact car, will be discontinued for the upcoming year. The Jetta GLI was one of the last remaining manual transmission options in Volkswagen's US lineup, and its disappearance marks the end of an era for enthusiasts who cherish the tactile experience of shifting gears. As a result, Volkswagen will join a growing list of manufacturers that have phased out manual transmissions in their US offerings, leaving some to wonder if the art of manual driving is becoming a thing of the past.
With the Jetta GLI gone for 2027, so too is VW's manual for America.
