Manual transmission trucks sold in 2025 (Hint: 1)

And then there was one. When we first touched on this topic in 2023, there were two manual transmission trucks sold in the United States: The Jeep Gladiator and the Toyota Tacoma. However, with the 2025 Gladiator updates announced in September, we see that the manual transmission was axed from the lineup. Insert the sad trombone.

That leaves the Toyota Tacoma as the last man standing in the manual transmission trucks realm.

Even though Motor1 reported an increase of manual transmission sales in 2023, the number of manual transmissions offered on vehicles continues to dwindle. Even sports cars that only came with a manual transmission now have an automatic option.

The death of manual transmission trucks

Though I’ve only been writing about trucks for 20 years, I remember when pretty much every midsize truck had a manual transmission option in the base trim, at the very least. But as trucks become more bougie, automatic transmissions become more efficient, and less and less of the population learn how to drive a manual, the manual transmission trucks have dropped like flies.

The Dodge Dakota was the first manual transmission to die in 2006. Then Ford Ranger lost its manual transmission in 2011. The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon managed to hold on to the manual option until 2018. The last gasp for the manual in the Nissan Frontier was 2019. Now, the Gladiator manual is dead after 2024.

Since the Taco was redesigned for the 2024 model year with the manual transmission still in play, we’re hoping it’ll stick around for a couple more years.

How to get a manual transmission Tacoma

While the manual transmission is a live in the 2024 Tacoma, it’s not available on every trim. In fact, you can only get it on three trims: SR, TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road. And, even then, it’s not available on the base, base SR or in every configuration.

So, if you’re jonesing for a manual transmission on the Taco, here’s how you can get it.

• Option 1: SR trim with the double cab configuration and 4-wheel drive. Black fabric is your only interior option. If you add no other options, the least amount of money you can spend to get a manual transmission Taco is, according to the configurator, $36,195, including destination.
• Option 2: Upgrade to the TRD Sport, which opens up more color options and interior material choices as well as adds about $8k. Again, as soon as you select the manual transmission option, you upgrade to the double cab, 4WD configuration and will spend $44,095.
• Option 3: Go with the TRD Off-Road, which is standard with the double-cab, 4WD and the manual transmission. In fact, the automatic on this trim is a $1,100 option. Without other options, this truck comes in less than the TRD Sport at $43,295.

The only engine available with the manual transmission, no matter the trim, is the 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder turbo.

If I were spec’ing out a Taco with the manual, I’d opt for the TRD Off-Road, which has nicer available features. I’d opt for the Bronze Oxide paint, and add the TRD Off-Road Premium package ($8,940), which includes leatherette seats, heated-and-ventilated front seats, premium JBL audio, dual automatic climate controls, power front seats, 14-inch infotainment screen and heated steering wheel. That would take my price up to $52,235 but worth every penny with up-level features like heated-and-ventilated seats as well as the manual transmission.

The bottom line

Options for die-hard manual transmission drivers are dwindling. We expect, in the near future, there will be no new manual transmission trucks. However, if the surge in manual transmission purchases reported on by Motor1 continues, maybe, just maybe, there will be a manual transmission renaissance. Maybe. I mean a girl can dream, right?