Acura Manual Transmission Models: Integra, Type S, and TL SH-AWD
Shoppers looking for Acura manual transmission cars will find a short list of new options and a longer list of used ones. The modern Acura Integra is the current focus, offering a six-speed manual on selected trims, while the Integra Type S comes only with a clutch pedal. Older models, including the TL SH-AWD, add used choices, but buyers need to confirm the model year and factory configuration.
Where Manual Transmissions Fit in Acura’s US Lineup
For recent new-car shoppers, a manual transmission Acura essentially means the Integra. The compact liftback returned to the US lineup for the 2023 model year and has carried the brand's six-speed manual since then, with the performance-focused Type S joining later. Acura's SUVs and larger sedans from the same period use automatic transmissions. So a buyer who wants three pedals in a new Acura should start the search with Integra listings, and will usually end it there too.
Transmission availability is never true of a whole model. It depends on the model year, trim, installed package, and US-market specification, and Acura has changed those combinations over time. That is why each availability claim here names a specific year. Details confirmed for 2025 describe 2025 cars. They do not prove that a 2026 or later Integra offers the same gearbox choices, so check that year's official specifications before ordering a car or shopping new inventory.
Finding a Manual Acura Integra
In the current generation, the Integra's six-speed manual is offered on the A-Spec with Technology Package and on the Type S. Lower configurations use a continuously variable transmission. Because of that split, the Integra name alone tells you very little. A dealer listing, a classified ad, or a seller's casual description can say Integra without revealing whether the car has a clutch pedal. Confirm the gearbox instead of assuming it.
The most reliable proof is the original window sticker, which lists the transmission and package. Build records a dealer can pull from the VIN and the car's service history also help. Clear photos are useful as well: a manual car shows a gearshift with a printed shift pattern and three pedals in the footwell. Earlier US Integras, sold through the 2001 model year, are different vehicles with different engines and gearboxes, so current trim rules do not apply to them.
2025 Integra Trims Available With a Manual
For the 2025 model year, the Integra's manual transmission comes in two configurations. The A-Spec with Technology Package offers the six-speed manual as an alternative to the CVT, combining that package's added equipment with a clutch pedal. The 2025 Integra Type S is manual-only, so a genuine 2025 Type S should always have three pedals. The base Integra and the A-Spec without the Technology Package do not offer the manual that year.
Listings do not always make this clear. A 2025 Integra listed simply as an A-Spec may or may not have the Technology Package. A transmission field reading 'automatic' or 'manual' can also be wrong if it was filled in from a template. If the package name is missing, ask for the window sticker or a VIN-based build sheet. A listing that claims a manual base Integra for 2025 describes a configuration Acura did not offer, which points to either an error or a modification.
The Integra Type S Manual Transmission
The six-speed manual is central to the Integra Type S. Acura built this trim around it and offers no automatic, so the Type S is the choice for drivers who specifically want the most performance-oriented Integra with a clutch pedal. The Type S uses its own drivetrain hardware. Owners and buyers shouldn't assume its transmission parts, clutch components, or settings interchange with the A-Spec manual without confirming compatibility for the exact model year.
Driving it works like any manual: press the clutch pedal, choose a gear with the gearshift, then release the clutch to reconnect the engine to the wheels. The Type S adds automatic rev matching, which briefly adjusts engine speed during shifts, especially downshifts, so it lines up more closely with the next gear. That makes shifts smoother, but the car does not shift for you. The driver still works the clutch and selects every gear.
Locating an Acura TL SH-AWD With a Manual
Among discontinued models, the Acura TL SH-AWD with a manual transmission stands out because it paired a six-speed manual with Acura's torque-vectoring all-wheel drive in a midsize sport sedan. This combination was offered in the fourth-generation TL. The TL was also sold with automatic transmissions and front-wheel drive, so confirm the exact model year and the factory transmission before treating any TL listing as a match.
SH-AWD identifies the drivetrain, not the gearbox, so the badge on the trunk proves nothing about the transmission. Interior photos should show a manual gearshift and a clutch pedal. The seller should be able to back up the configuration with documents such as the original sticker, a VIN-based build record, or service invoices mentioning manual-transmission work. Ask directly whether the transmission, differential, or drivetrain has been swapped or modified, because a conversion changes what you are actually buying.
Other Past Acura Models With Manual Options
Used-car shoppers have several other options. Many US-market Integras from the 1986 through 2001 model years left the factory with manual gearboxes. The RSX that followed offered a manual on both its base and Type-S versions, and the TSX sedan offered a six-speed manual. In each case, the manual was a factory option rather than standard on every car, so check the specific year and trim before assuming a car was built with a clutch pedal.
Other historical examples include selected versions of the Legend, the CL coupe, the third-generation TL, and the first-generation NSX. Each offered a manual in certain US model years and trims. Availability varied, and some versions of these models were automatic-only. Use the model name as a starting point, then confirm the configuration with documents. Don't assume parts interchange between years or trims, and judge each car's condition on its own evidence rather than the model's reputation.
Checking a Used Manual Acura Before Purchase
Before buying any used manual Acura, check the service history for clutch replacements, transmission fluid changes, shifter repairs, or other drivetrain work. Documented work can explain how the car behaves and shows attentive ownership. Missing records don't prove neglect on their own, though, since many owners keep incomplete paperwork. Ask about modifications such as aftermarket clutches, lightened flywheels, short shifters, or engine tuning, because these change how the car drives and what an inspection should look at.
On a legal, unhurried test drive, notice where the clutch engages, whether it engages smoothly, and how easily each gear goes in. Listen for whines, clunks, or grinding, and watch for warning lights, but skip hard launches and high-speed runs. Grinding, slipping, or trouble selecting gears can come from clutch wear, hydraulic problems, fluid condition, linkage adjustment, or internal wear, so a symptom alone is not a diagnosis. If questions remain, arrange a professional prepurchase inspection.