Canada’s last VW with a stick shift going auto-only in 2027

When Volkswagen retired the manual transmission on the Golf R and GTI at the end of 2024, it left just one car in its Canadian lineup with three pedals.

2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI stick shift — *As of 2027, Volkswagen will no longer sell a car with a clutch pedal in Canada. – Volkswagen photo*

When Volkswagen retired the manual transmission on the Golf GTI and Golf R twins at the end of 2024, it left little hope for the automaker’s last vehicle with a stick shift.

Now it’s official, the last option is to be no more.

The Jetta GLI will go auto-only for the 2027 model year.

“Our venerable GLI loses the hand-shifting option for MY27,” a Volkswagen Canada spokesperson told this blog via email.

“With the arrival of the coming model year, there will no longer be any Volkswagens available in Canada with three pedals.”

Volkswagen Jetta GLI exterior — *The Volkswagen Jetta GLI is a sports-focused compact sedan. – Volkswagen photo*

About the Jetta GLI

The Jetta GLI is a sporty version of the Jetta compact sedan.

The car is powered by a 2-litre turbocharged engine producing 228 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque with front wheel drive.

Buyers can choose a six-speed manual transmission of a seven-speed automatic direct shift gearbox (DSG).

Starting with the 2027 model, the DSG will be the only option.

The 2026 Jetta GLI starts at $38,342 regardless of transmission choice. The starting price includes a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $35,395 plus fees and levies.

The automaker is advertising a finance rate of 1.99 per cent for 60 months until June 1.

Entire VW Group falls to one stick shift

The entirety of the VW Group – including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini and Bentley – will be down to just a single car in 2027 with an available manual transmission in Canada. (The article below mentions two cars because it still includes the Jetta GLI).

VW Group’s entire Canadian lineup down to two cars with a stick shift

Keep in mind, VW Group markets vehicles and brands in other markets that may still have the row-your-own-gear option, but they’re not offered in Canada.

List of manual options diminishing fast

The list of vehicles with an available manual transmission is diminishing quickly.

You can see below all the vehicles left with a stick shift in 2026. We’ve also taken pains to identify the models that will no longer be available in 2027, including adding such a rotation for the Jetta GLI.