A new study has found that just eight percent of new cars sold in 2024 have a manual handbrake (Image: Getty)
One car interior part that was once a total necessity is now almost extinct.
has rapidly declined so much in popularity that just 8% of come with one.
As new cars become increasingly , thanks to features like heated and massaging seats, smartphone mirroring, and lane keep assist, a study from the used vehicle buying service has found that very few models still feature a .
In a blog post, Chris Knapman, motoring expert at CarGurus, warned that the shift towards and means that manual handbrakes may eventually become extinct.
He explained: “Our research over the past seven years suggests that the days of the manual handbrake are numbered. Within the coming years we predict a continued decline in cars available to buy new with this once-standard feature.
“The manual handbrake’s demise is likely to be accelerated with the being offered, all of which bar the Dacia Spring use electronic parking brakes. With the impending 2030 ban on the sale of and we can expect that date to mark the end of the traditional manual handbrake.”
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Most new models use an electric handbrake, which requires less maintenance but can be costly to fix (Image: Getty)
Previously regarded as the only way to apply the brakes on a parked car, CarGurus found that 37% of new models featured a manual handbrake in 2018.
However, in recent years, the figure has fallen sharply to just eight percent in 2024, with just 49 models and variants currently on sale featuring the item.
Instead, the majority of new cars feature an electric handbrake, often controlled by a button, which uses more costly components but requires less routine maintenance and often helps the interior to look more attractive.
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Some small cars, like the Citroen C3 Aircross and Hyundai i10, still feature manual parking brakes (Image: Getty)
According to CarGurus, the majority of models that still come with a manual handbrake are small superminis and city cars, such as the Citroen C3, Dacia Spring, and Fiat 500, likely due to the low price point and limited profitability these models offer manufacturers.
However, a significant number of new SUVs and pickup trucks also still use manual handbrakes, including the Ford Puma, Jeep Wrangler, and Ssangyong Musso.
In these cases, the component could be fitted to help give drivers more control of their car, particularly when travelling on uneven surfaces off-road.
The 49 new cars available with a manual handbrake:
- Abarth: 595, 695
- Audi: A1 Sportback
- Citroen: Ami, C3, C3 Aircross
- Dacia: Duster, Spring, Sandero, Sandero Stepway
- Fiat: 500, 500C, Panda, Panda Cross
- Ford: Puma, Puma ST, Mustang
- Hyundai i10, i20, i20N, i30N, Bayon
- Jeep: Wrangler
- Kia: Picanto, Stonic
- Mazda, Mazda2, MX-5, MX-5-RF
- MG: MG3
- Mini: Mini Convertible
- Renault: Trafic Passenger
- SEAT: Arona, Ibiza
- Skoda: Fabia, Kamiq, Scala
- Ssangyong: Musso, Tivoli
- Suzuki: Ignis, S-Cross, Swift, Vitara
- Toyota: Aygo X, GR Yaris, Hilux
- Volkswagen: Polo, Polo GTI, T-Cross, Taigo