THE new Celica is the first Toyota in Australia with a six-speed manual transmission - standard on both SX and ZR models - and the first with an electronically controlled four-speed automatic featuring a sequential manual shift option (called E-shift). The manual has close ratios from first to fifth gears and a tall sixth gear for better fuel economy when cruising at highway speeds. Forward gears in the manual transmission are constant mesh, which use an inertia lock key type synchromesh mechanism. Double-cone synchromesh on the first-second change aims to improve shift quality and gearbox durability. On the auto, gears can be shifted using the buttons on the steering wheel.

Downshift switches are located on the front of the steering wheel and upshift buttons are located on the rear surface of the tiller. The transmission calculates throttle opening angle and acceleration rate to determine whether the vehicle is travelling uphill and then adjusts the gear selection if necessary.