You can get paddle controls without choosing a manual—but they do not all do the same thing. Some select gears in a conventional automatic, some request simulated shifts in a hybrid or EV, and some adjust regenerative braking. Here are eight North American-market examples supported by model-specific sources; check the exact year and trim before buying.
What paddle shifters actually control
In a conventional automatic, paddles let the driver request an upshift or downshift while the transmission remains automatic. A hybrid or EV may instead simulate gear changes, or use paddles to vary regenerative braking. Those experiences can all add interaction, but they are not mechanically equivalent. The models below are grouped by what their paddles do, not ranked by an objective measure of fun.
Conventional automatic gear selection
2026 Toyota GR86: a sports coupe with a six-speed automatic
Toyota lists a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters for the 2026 GR86. Its 2.4-liter boxer engine is rated at 228 hp and 184 lb-ft in Toyota’s specifications. The rear-drive sports coupe is the clearest choice here for someone seeking a traditional sports-car layout with automatic convenience. Toyota’s 2026 GR86 details.
2025 Toyota GR Corolla: an automatic performance hatchback
For 2025, Toyota announced an available eight-speed GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic Transmission with paddle shifters, alongside the six-speed manual. That makes the GR Corolla relevant to drivers who want a performance-oriented hatchback and an automatic transmission with driver-requested shifts. The automatic is an option, not a reason to assume every GR Corolla has paddles. Toyota’s 2025 GR Corolla announcement.
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2026 Honda Passport: a midsize SUV with a 10-speed automatic
Honda lists paddle shifters with the 2026 Passport’s 10-speed automatic and 285-hp V-6. Its appeal is versatility in a rugged midsize SUV, rather than sports-coupe handling. Consult the exact grade’s equipment list for the vehicle you are considering. Honda’s 2026 Passport page.
2026 Toyota Corolla Hatchback: ten preset ratios through a CVT
Toyota says every 2026 Corolla Hatchback trim has paddle shifters that engage ten preset ratios through its Dynamic Shift CVT. The paddles offer a way to request ratio changes, but the transmission is still a continuously variable transmission, not a conventional geared automatic. It is the practical compact-hatchback option on this list. Toyota’s 2026 Corolla Hatchback page.
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- 900-Degree Rotation: Lock-to-lock rotation of the Driving Force means you can turn the wheel around two and a half times, hand over hand on wide turns - just like a real F1 race car
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2026 Toyota Corolla XSE: check the grade
Toyota also lists paddle shifters engaging ten preset ratios on the 2026 Corolla XSE. This is a grade-specific claim; it should not be extended to every 2026 Corolla sedan grade. Verify the XSE designation and equipment for the market and vehicle in question. Toyota’s 2026 Corolla information.
Simulated shifts in hybrid and electric cars
2026 Honda Prelude: hybrid power with simulated shifts
Car and Driver describes the 2026 Prelude as a 200-hp hybrid with a CVT and Honda S+ Shift, which uses paddle controls to create a simulated shift experience. It does not have conventional fixed gears for the paddles to select. A road test also notes the computer may shift by itself, so treat the system as an added driving effect rather than a manual-transmission substitute. Car and Driver’s Prelude coverage and its 2026 Prelude road test.
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2025 Kia EV6 GT: Virtual Gear Shift in an EV
Car and Driver reports that the 2025 EV6 GT’s Virtual Gear Shift uses paddles to simulate an internal-combustion engine and paddle-shifted automatic. Its report lists 641 hp in GT mode. The paddles operate a simulation in an electric vehicle; they do not shift a multi-gear combustion-engine transmission. Car and Driver’s EV6 GT coverage.
Regenerative-braking adjustment
2026 Maserati Grecale Folgore: paddles for energy recovery
On the electric Grecale Folgore, Car and Driver says the paddles switch among four regenerative-braking modes. They adjust how the vehicle recovers energy as it slows, rather than selecting transmission gears. That can make the paddles useful in everyday speed control, but it is a different function from shifting. Car and Driver’s Grecale Folgore coverage.
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How to choose among these setups
| Model and year | What the paddles control | Powertrain and cited output | Availability note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Toyota GR86 | Six-speed automatic gear selection | 2.4-liter boxer; 228 hp and 184 lb-ft (Toyota) | Automatic listed by Toyota; confirm trim and market. |
| 2025 Toyota GR Corolla | Eight-speed automatic gear selection | Performance hatchback; cited announcement does not state output here | Eight-speed automatic announced as available alongside six-speed manual. |
| 2026 Honda Passport | 10-speed automatic gear selection | V-6; 285 hp (Honda) | Confirm exact grade and market. |
| 2026 Toyota Corolla Hatchback | Ten preset ratios through Dynamic Shift CVT | CVT; cited Toyota page does not state output here | Toyota says all trims have paddles. |
| 2026 Toyota Corolla XSE | Ten preset ratios | Cited Toyota page does not state output here | Feature specified for XSE; do not generalize to all Corolla grades. |
| 2026 Honda Prelude | Simulated shifts via S+ Shift | Hybrid; 200 hp (Car and Driver) | CVT with simulated shifting; not fixed-gear selection. |
| 2025 Kia EV6 GT | Virtual Gear Shift simulation | Electric; 641 hp in GT mode (Car and Driver) | Simulation feature, not conventional transmission shifting. |
| 2026 Maserati Grecale Folgore | Regenerative-braking modes | Electric; cited Car and Driver page does not state output here | Four modes reported; paddles adjust energy recovery. |
Choose by the kind of interaction you want: gear requests in an automatic, an engine-and-shift simulation, or control over regenerative braking. For any specific car, confirm the model year, grade, transmission and market on the automaker’s equipment page or window sticker; the same nameplate can have different equipment across trims and countries.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Using paddles without fighting the car
Downshifting can help provide engine braking on a descent or request more response on an uphill stretch, but the result depends on the car’s transmission and control logic. Toyota’s 2024 quick reference says Drive is recommended for best fuel economy in normal driving conditions; that guidance is specific to the vehicles covered by that guide, not a universal rule. Follow the owner’s manual for the exact model you drive. Toyota’s 2024 quick reference guide.
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