Mazda6 Says Goodbye to the Manual Transmission
Mazda is first and foremost a mainstream car brand, but if any of its cars could be said to approach premium territory, it would be the Mazda6 — and for the 2019 model year, which will come with various new technologies, the manual transmission is going away.
According to Mazda, the decision to drop the stick shift had nothing to do with a desire to distance themselves from their sporty roots. Rather, the customers who spend the extra cash to upgrade from a Mazda3 to a Mazda6 simply don’t seem interested in driving a manual.
According to Mazda, the decision to drop the stick shift had nothing to do with a desire to distance themselves from their sporty roots. Rather, the customers who spend the extra cash to upgrade from a Mazda3 to a Mazda6 simply don’t seem interested in driving a manual.
“As we have moved the Mazda6 upscale with the launch of the Grand Touring Reserve and Signature models, we have seen less demand for a manual transmission option,” a spokesperson told Jalopnik, before suggesting that if demand were to change, Mazda would likely bring the manual back.
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“We continue to support enthusiasts who enjoy driving with a manual transmission in the all-new 2019 Mazda3 Premium Hatchback model, and of course the ever iconic MX-5 Miata.”
Though it may be hard for enthusiasts to accept, the manual transmission is increasingly out of vogue in the United States. Less than 3 percent of new cars sold in the U.S. in 2016 had manual transmissions, compared to 7 percent in 2012 and 25 percent in 1992.
Sedans are also suffering in general amid the current crossover craze. While Mazda clearly remains committed to traditional passenger cars, the same can’t be said for every automaker. Forget, for instance, the lack of a manual option in the Ford Fiesta, Focus, or Fusion — Ford isn’t even selling those cars in the U.S. anymore.
At least Mazda isn’t giving up on the Mazda6. At the end of the day, it remains a pretty brilliant car.
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