A long time ago, all trucks offered a manual transmission. In fact, most vehicles had a manual transmission as a standard transmission option, with the automatic being a $1,000 option. Today, the opposite is what we find. Very few vehicles, including trucks, offer a manual transmission, and this feature is usually only offered on some models.
Which two trucks still offer a manual transmission?
The only two trucks with this feature sold in the United States are the Toyota Tacoma and the Jeep Gladiator. Sure, you can find a stick shift if you drive in other markets, but when we focus on the US, here’s what we find.
The two trucks that offer a third pedal and lever are in the midsize truck class and both can be found on the trails. Some off-road enthusiasts still love using a stick shifter when away from paved and paved roads.
Let’s see what each of these manual transmission midsize trucks has to offer.
A stick shift only adds to the fun of the 2022 Toyota Tacoma
The Tacoma lineup has both engines and transmissions. If you want the six-speed manual transmission, you’ll also enjoy the benefits of the 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 278 horsepower. None of the models with this powertrain have 2WD. You won’t mind if you’re looking for this midsize truck for some fun on the trails.
motor trend tells us that the three models with the shifter sticking out of the floor are TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro. See a theme here? The TRD Sport is a bit shy of the off-road stuff, aside from 4WD, but the other two are hardcore trail riders. The TRD Off-Road brings:
- Multi-terrain selection system
- tracking control
- Electronic locking rear differential
- offroad suspension
As expected, the TRD Pro goes further with:
- multi terrain monitor
- rear diff lock
- Fox brand shocks
- TRD cat-back exhaust
- additional ground clearance
A manual transmission is expected in the Jeep Gladiator
The Jeep Gladiator is the truck version of the Wrangler. When you think of it this way, you could slap yourself on the forehead like the actors in V-8 commercials used to do. With that in mind, the Gladiator uses the venerable Pentastar V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission. This powertrain delivers 285 horsepower.
Unlike the Tacoma, the Jeep Gladiator starts with a manual transmission and a V6 engine. Other propulsion systems are optional. That makes it easy for you to choose the base model of the Gladiator, which is the Sport model. Whichever version of this midsize truck you choose, you’ll have the benefits of standard four-wheel drive and some great off-road features to take you out into the wilderness.
The standard version of the Gladiator Sport includes a limited slip rear differential and a cold air intake system. Add the Max Tow Package to this model and you have:
- heavy duty brakes
- Wide Dana 44 heavy-duty front and rear axles
- trailer hitch zoom
- Heavy Duty Engine Cooling
Will the manual transmission eventually disappear from all trucks?
We can speculate that this is certainly the case. The automotive market is moving towards electric powertrains, which do not require a multi-gear transmission. The manual transmission is a novelty these days, and soon that novelty will be gone forever.
Check out some stick shift muscle cars below or check out these two trucks with manual transmissions out in the wild in this video below: